Choi Yoo-jung (
Korean: 최유정;
Hanja: 磪有情; born November 12, 1999), known
mononymously as Yoojung, is a South Korean singer, dancer, rapper and actress signed under
Fantagio. She debuted as member of
I.O.I in May 2016 after achieving third place in the 2016 survival program Produce 101. In January 2017, I.O.I officially disbanded after eleven months of promotion. Following disbandment, she returned to her respective agency and eventually debuted with
Weki Meki in August 2017. Choi debuted as a solo artist with the
single albumSunflower in September 2022.
Early life and education
Choi Yoo-jung was born in
Guri,
Gyeonggi Province, South Korea on November 12, 1999 as an
only child.[1] When she was younger, she wanted to become either a
teacher or
police officer but started to take an interest in performing.[5] She joined
Fantagio and trained for four years and seven months under the company before joining Mnet's girl group survival show Produce 101 in 2016 wherein she ended up debuting as a member of
I.O.I.[6] She attended Guri Girls' High School but eventually transferred to
School of Performing Arts Seoul along with fellow I.O.I and
Weki Meki member
Kim Do-yeon after debuting due to their promotional activities.[7]
In January 2016, Choi joined Produce 101 along with
Kim Do-yeon and three other Fantagio trainees with the hopes of debuting in an eleven-member girl group which would promote for a year under
YMC Entertainment.[8] Choi initially gained popularity for being chosen by vote as the center for the show's theme song "
Pick Me", which had its music video premiere a month before the first show aired on the December 17, 2015 episode of M Countdown.[9] Both Choi and Kim rose to high ranks during the program and eventually placed 3rd and 8th respectively in the show's finale on April 1, 2016, which allowed them to debut as members of
I.O.I.[10] On May 4, 2016, I.O.I released their debut single "
Dream Girls" which had its rap parts penned by Choi and
Im Na-young. Both members also wrote the lyrics for the EP's intro track "I.O.I". The group also promoted as a seven-member unit which Choi was also a part of with Kim, releasing the single "
Whatta Man" on August 9, 2016.[11][12] As part of I.O.I, Choi also released an OST with the unit and also collaborated with fellow members
Chungha,
Jeon Somi and fellow Produce 101 contestant
Ki Hui-hyeon for the digital single "
Flower, Wind and You".[13] The song charted at number 42 on the
Gaon Digital Chart.[14] She also appeared in the music video of her label-mate
ASTRO's song "Breathless" which was released on July 1, 2016.[15] In November 2016, Choi joined the cast of Mnet's music variety show Golden Tambourine.[16] She then released the single "Rise and Fall" together with
Yoo Se-yoon,
Shim Hyung-tak and
Jo Kwon as part of the show's official soundtrack.
After I.O.I parted ways on January 29, 2017, and ended their contract with YMC Entertainment,[17] Choi and Kim Do-yeon filmed a reality show in the United States titled Dodaeng's Diary in LA which aired on TVING.[18] Months later, Fantagio announced their plans to debut a new girl group, which they later revealed would be called
Weki Meki. Both Choi and Kim made their official debut with the group on August 8, 2017, with the release of the single "I Don't Like Your Girlfriend" and the six-track EP Weme which had some of its lyrics written by Choi.[19][20]
On May 2, 2018,
Starship Entertainment and Fantagio revealed their plans to form a special four-member unit with members of their respective girl groups
Cosmic Girls and Weki Meki, which they eventually revealed will be called
WJMK. Weki Meki's Choi and Kim and Cosmic Girls' Seola and
Luda released the single "Strong" on June 1, 2018, along with its accompanying music video.[21][22] On August 8, she joined the
JTBC reality program Secret Unnie with
EXID's
Hani.[23]
Choi was part of My Mad Beauty 3 alongside
Park Na-rae,
Mijoo and
Han Hye-jin.[24] She was also part of the variety show The Gashinas. In September 2019, Choi participated in the survival program show, V-1, to select the Vocal Queen among the various girl group members, where only the top twelve girl group members in votes would progress and perform on the show.[25][26] However, she was eliminated in the first episode, after losing out to bandmate Suyeon.
2020–present: Acting career and solo debut
In 2020, Choi starred in the web drama Cast: The Golden Age of Insiders.[27] Later that year, she starred in the web drama Single and Ready to Mingle alongside Kim Doyeon.[28] On May 4, 2021, Choi and the members of I.O.I celebrated their fifth debut anniversary with a reunion live stream show titled "Yes, I Love It!".[29] On September 17, Choi featured on Dotoli's "With a Summer Night".[30] On October 11, Choi featured on
Raiden's song "It Wasn't Me" from his debut
extended playLove Right Back.[31] On January 17, 2022, Choi featured on
Jinjin's "Lazy" from
Jinjin & Rocky's debut EP Restore.[32] On August 13, 2022, Choi released the digital single "Uh-ra?" along with rapper Ahn Byung-woong.[33]
On August 23, it was reported that Choi would make her solo debut in September.[34] On August 26, it was confirmed that her debut single album Sunflower would be released on September 14, 2022.[35]
^"2016년 36주차 Digital Single Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association.
Archived from the original on September 10, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
^Jo, Hyun-joo (June 20, 2016).
"최유정, 아스트로 지원 사격 '통통 튀는 매력'". tenasia (in Korean).
Archived from the original on September 9, 2018. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
^"김도연X최유정 걸그룹 위키미키, 8월 8일 데뷔 확정(공식)" [Kim Do-yeon and Choi Yoo-jung girl group Weki Meki debut confirmed for August 8 (official)]. Naver (in Korean). July 10, 2017.
Archived from the original on September 3, 2018. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
^"여름밤과 함께였지". Melon (in Korean). September 17, 2021.
Archived from the original on March 14, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
^"It Wasn't Me". Melon (in Korean). October 11, 2021.
Archived from the original on March 14, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
^"Lazy". Melon (in Korean). January 17, 2022.
Archived from the original on March 14, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
^Park, Dong-sun (August 12, 2022).
"위키미키 최유정, '위드 코지팝' 가창자 참여…신곡 '어라?' 금일 발표" [Weki Meki Choi Yoo-jung, 'With Cozy Pop' singer participation... New song 'Huh?' announced today] (in Korean). electronic newspaper.
Archived from the original on August 12, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022 – via
Naver.
^Yoo, Jeong-min (August 26, 2022).
"위키미키 최유정, 데뷔 6년만 솔로 데뷔…9월 '선플라워' 발매" [Weki Meki's Choi Yoo-jung to debut solo after 6 years of debut... September 'Sunflower' release] (in Korean).
iMBC.
Archived from the original on August 27, 2022. Retrieved August 27, 2022 – via
Naver.
^Peak chart positions on Circle Digital Chart (formerly Gaon Digital Chart):
"Flower, Wind and You". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). August 28 – September 9, 2016.
Archived from the original on September 10, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
^"2016년 36주차 Download Chart" [36th week of 2016 Download Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association.
Archived from the original on December 21, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
^"2022년 04주차 Download Chart" [Week 4 of 2022 Download Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. January 16–22, 2022.
Archived from the original on January 27, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
^"2022년 18주차 Download Chart" [Week 18 of 2022 Download Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. April 24–30, 2022.
Archived from the original on May 5, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
^Han Hyeon-jeong (November 17, 2023).
"영화 '백수아파트', 11월14일 크랭크인[공식]" [Movie ‘Unemployed Apartment’ begins on November 14th [Official]]. 매일경제 (in Korean).
Archived from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
^Lee Jung-hyun (June 3, 2021).
"김신영·유이·써니·최유정, 예능 '스파이시걸스' 출연" [Kim Shin-young, Uee, Sunny, Choi Yoo-jung to appear in the variety show 'Spicy Girls'] (in Korean).
Yonhap News Agency.
Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2021 – via Never.
^Lee Min-ji (October 19, 2021).
"오프 더 레코드' 이적-김숙-최유정, 공동 MC 확정(공식)" ['Off the Record' Lee Jeok-Kim Sook-Choi Yoo-jung confirmed as co-MCs (official)] (in Korean). Newsen.
Archived from the original on October 19, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2021 – via
Naver.
^Jeong Hee-yeon (November 4, 2021).
"이홍기·최유정·이인권, '롤 더 넥스트 2021' 진행" [Lee Hong-ki, Choi Yoo-jung, and Lee In-kwon to host ‘Roll the Next 2021] (in Korean). Sports Donga.
Archived from the original on November 4, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2021 – via
Naver.
^Yoon, Hyo-jeong (September 4, 2022).
"달인vs달인' 김병만 "'달인'은 내 호…'개콘'과 달리 진지하게 임할 것" [Master vs Master' Kim Byung-man "'Master' is my issue... Unlike 'Gacon', I will take it seriouslly] (in Korean). News1.
Archived from the original on September 4, 2022. Retrieved September 4, 2022 – via
Naver.
^Park Soo-in (November 23, 2022).
"박은혜 장도연→은혁 강승윤 '수학여행' MC, 한류팬 취향저격 라인업" [Park Eun-hye, Jang Do-yeon → Eun-hyuk, Kang Seung-yoon, MC of ‘School Trip’, Korean wave fan taste sniping lineup] (in Korean). Newsen.
Archived from the original on November 23, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022 – via
Naver.
^tenasia.hankyung.com, Digital (August 17, 2023).
"위키미키 최유정, 오늘(17일) 첫 단독 웹예능 '유댕S 웤웤' 첫 공개" [Weki Meki Choi Yoo-jung, today (17th) premieres her first solo web entertainment 'Yoodaeng's Work Work']. 텐아시아 연예뉴스 (in Korean).
Archived from the original on August 20, 2023. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
^Hwang, Mi-hyun (August 17, 2023).
"최유정, 단독 웹예능 선봬…특정 직군 체험 에피소드기" [Yoojung Choi launches solo web show...a series of episodes that explore specific job roles] (in Korean). News1.
Archived from the original on August 24, 2023. Retrieved August 24, 2023 – via
Naver.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Choi Yoo-jung.