Karina

Who Is Karina? Meet aespa’s Leader and All-Rounder Ace

Karina is the leader of the South Korean girl group aespa, and honestly, if you’ve watched even one aespa stage, you already know why she’s called the group’s “ace.” Born Yu Ji-min on April 11, 2000, in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, Karina grew up as a normal kid who loved dance and performance long before the world knew her name. She joined SM Entertainment as a trainee in 2016 after being spotted through her social media presence, and she spent four solid years honing her skills before she ever stepped on stage as an idol.

From Trainee to Center Stage

Before aespa even existed, Karina was already turning heads. She appeared in SHINee’s Taemin “Want” music video back in 2019, working as a backup dancer during promotions — a small preview of the star power she’d soon bring to her own group. Then, on November 17, 2020, she debuted as the leader of aespa with the digital single “Black Mamba,” a song whose music video shattered the record for the most-viewed K-pop debut MV in 24 hours. That’s a pretty wild way to start a career.

Leader, Dancer, Rapper, Visual — She Does It All

Within aespa, Karina wears a lot of hats: she’s the leader, main dancer, lead rapper, sub-vocalist, visual, and center. That’s an unusually long list of roles for one member to hold, and it’s exactly why fans and industry insiders alike consider her the group’s all-rounder. In December 2021, she expanded her reach even further by joining GOT the Beat, SM’s supergroup project featuring senior artists like BoA, Taeyeon, and Wendy — a huge vote of confidence for someone still so early in her career.

Going Solo (Sort Of)

In October 2024, Karina released her first official solo track, “Up,” as part of aespa’s special single SYNK: Parallel Line. The song gave her a top-ten hit on the Circle Digital Chart and her first individual music show win, cementing her as more than just “the leader” — she’s a genuine solo threat too.

Life Beyond the Stage

Off stage, Karina holds a black belt in taekwondo, keeps a daily diary, and has a well-known soft spot for gummy candy. She’s Catholic, and her stage name actually comes from her baptismal name, Katarina. Fans often describe her as an introvert who transforms into pure confidence the moment the spotlight hits — a contrast that makes her performances even more magnetic.

Whether she’s leading aespa through a stadium tour or dropping a solo hit, Karina keeps proving that she’s one of the defining K-pop idols of her generation — the kind of fourth-generation leader who can do a bit of everything and still make it look effortless.