Chaeyeon

Lee Chae-yeon (이채연), promoted mononymously as Chaeyeon, is a South Korean singer, dancer, and actress under DOD Entertainment. Widely regarded as one of the strongest performers to emerge from IZ*ONE, Chaeyeon has carved out a solo career defined by powerful choreography, genre-blending pop production, and standout appearances on Korea’s biggest dance-competition stages.

Early Life and Trainee Years

Born January 11, 2000, in Yongin, South Korea, Chaeyeon is the older sister of Chaeryeong of the girl group Itzy. The sisters first appeared together on K-pop Star 3 in 2013 and trained at JYP Entertainment, competing on the reality show Sixteen in 2015 before Chaeyeon left to join WM Entertainment.

IZ*ONE Era (2018–2021)

Chaeyeon represented WM Entertainment on Produce 48 in 2018, debuting with IZ*ONE that October as the group’s main dancer and a lead vocalist, earning the nickname “Feather” for her fluid, feather-like choreography. Following IZ*ONE’s disbandment in April 2021, she quickly proved her performance credentials as a member of the “WANT” crew on Mnet’s Street Woman Fighter.

Solo Career

Chaeyeon debuted solo on October 12, 2022, with the EP Hush Rush under WM Entertainment, followed by Over the Moon (2023, featuring the single “Knock”), the single album The Move: Street (2023), and the EP Showdown (2024). In September 2025 her contract with WM Entertainment ended by mutual agreement, and in December 2025 she signed with DOD Entertainment, home to BTOB members, marking a new chapter in her career. Her fourth EP, Till I Die, is set for release on April 28, 2026, under DOD and Universal Music Korea.

Acting and Variety

Beyond music, Chaeyeon has built a parallel career in television, taking her first lead drama role in the one-act drama Let’s Dance (2025) and appearing on shows such as Kick a Goal and Queendom Puzzle. She has also contributed vocals to several drama OSTs, including for Fresh Romance and Spirit Fingers.