- For other people known as 'Yena', see Yena.
| “ |
Ye to the Na! Hello, I am Choi Yena! |
” |
| —Yena | ||
Yena (Korean: 예나, Japanese: イェナ), also known by her full name Choi Ye Na, is a South Korean singer-songwriter, rapper and actress under Yue Hua Entertainment. She is a former member of the project girl group IZ*ONE.
She made her solo debut with the mini album ˣ‿ˣ (SMiLEY) on January 17, 2022.
Career[]
2018-2021: Produce 48, IZ*ONE, acting debut[]
On May 11, 2018, she was revealed as a contestant on Produce 48, where she would be representing Yue Hua Entertainment. She ranked 4th overall, thus becoming a member of IZ*ONE.[2] The group officially debuted on October 29 with their first mini album Color*IZ.
On April 29, 2021, IZ*ONE disbanded after their special contract was concluded. Yena then returned to Yue Hua as a trainee.
On August 10, StarNews reported that Yena would be making her solo debut in the second half of 2021.[3][4] On October 6, StarNews revealed that her solo debut was postponed and it would now be taking place in the first half of the following year.[5]
On October 7, Yena was officially confirmed to make her acting debut in the second season of Naver TV Cast's The World of My 17, in which she will be playing the female lead role.[6]
2022: Solo debut with ˣ‿ˣ (SMiLEY), fandom name, Smartphone[]
On January 1, 2022, with a New Year's greeting message, she announced that she will make her solo debut on January 17.[7] On January 2, her debut was confirmed with a teaser poster for her first mini album ˣ‿ˣ (SMiLEY), which was released on January 17.[8] That same day, Yena announced her solo fanclub name would be Jigumi.[1]
On July 17, Yena released a teaser for her upcoming comeback with her second mini album Smartphone, which was released on August 3.[9]
2023: "Love War", "Hate XX", Japanese debut[]
On January 2, 2023, a coming soon poster was released announcing Yena's comeback on January 16.[10] The next day, it was revealed that she will be releasing her first single album, "Love War".[11]
On June 8, a coming soon poster was posted onto Yena's social media accounts which revealed that she will be releasing her second single album, "Hate XX", on June 27.[12]
On June 16, Yena's Japanese Twitter announced that she would be making her Japanese debut on August 9 with the single "Smiley -Japanese ver.- (feat. Chanmina)".[13]
2024: Good Morning, "DNA", "Nemonemo"[]
On December 4, 2023, it was announced that Yena will be releasing her second Japanese single "DNA" on February 7.[14][15]
On December 22, 2023, it was announced that Yena will be making her comeback on January 15, 2024.[16] The title of her third mini album, Good Morning was later confirmed.[17]
On September 19, 2024, Yena announced her third single album "Nemonemo", which will be relased on September 30.[18]
2025: YENA 1st Concert, Blooming Wings, "Being a Good Girl Hurts (Chinese Ver.)"[]
Yena held her first solo concert on January 25-26, 2025 at Yonsei University Grand Auditorium.[19]
On July 1, 1theK revealed that Yena would comeback in July.[20] The next day, Yena announced her fourth mini album, Blooming Wings, set for release on July 29.[21]
On July 4, Yena announced that she will release the Chinese version of "Being a Good Girl Hurts" from her fourth mini album, on August 8.[22]
Discography[]
Korean[]Mini albums[]
Single albums[]Participation releases[]
Features[] |
Japanese[]Singles[]
Chinese[]Digital singles[]
|
Writing credits[]
| Artist | Song | Album | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | |||
| IZ*ONE | "With*One" | Oneiric Diary | Writing |
| 2021 | |||
| IZ*ONE | "Lesson" | N/A | Composing |
| 2022 | |||
| Herself | "Before Anyone Else" | ˣ‿ˣ (SMiLEY) | Writing Composing |
| "Smiley" (feat. BIBI) | Writing | ||
| "Lxxk 2 U" | |||
| "PRETTY BOYS" | |||
| "Make U Smile" | Smartphone | Writing | |
| "Smartphone" | |||
| "WithOrWithOut" | Writing Composing | ||
| 2023 | |||
| Herself | "Wash Away" | "Love War" | Writing Composing |
| "Love War" (feat. Be'O) | |||
| "Hate Rodrigo" (feat. Yuqi) | "Hate XX" | ||
| "Smiley -Japanese ver.-" (feat. Chanmina) | "Smiley -Japanese ver.- (feat. Chanmina)" | Writing | |
| 2024 | |||
| Herself | "Good Morning" | Good Morning | Writing Composing |
| "The Ugly Duckling" | |||
| Smartphone -Japanese ver.- | "DNA" | Writing | |
| 2025 | |||
| Herself | "Blooming Wings" | Blooming Wings | Writing |
| "Hello, Goodbye" | |||
Choreographing credits[]
| Year | Song | Album | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | "Gangsta" | - | IZ*ONE |
Concerts[]
Showcase concerts[]
- Yena Japan Debut Showcase "SMILEY" (2023)
- Yena Japan Showcase "DNA" (2024)
Fan concerts[]
Concert participation[]
- 2022 UNI-KON (2022)[23]
- 2022 Someday Festival (2022)[24]
- KCON Japan 2023[25] (2023)
- KPOP LUX x SBS Super Concert in London (2023) (canceled)[26][27]
- KCON 2024 Hong Kong (2024)[28]
- KCON Japan 2024 (2024)[29]
- UTO FEST in Fukuoka 2024 (2024)[30]
- KCON Japan 2025 (2025)[31]
- RunSeokJin EP.Tour (June 28, 2025 only) (2025)[32]
Filmography[]
Dramas[]
- The World of My 17 Season 2 (Naver TV, 2021)
- Villains Everywhere (KBS2, 2025)[33]
Reality shows[]
- Produce 48 (Mnet, 2018) - contestant
Variety shows[]
- Prison Life of Fools (tvN, 2019) - main host
- Idol Dictation Contest (tvN, 2021)
- New Festa (JTBC, 2022) - guest (ep. 2)
- Music Universe K-909 (JTBC, 2023) - guest (ep. 18)
Music video appearances[]
- Produce 48 - "Nekkoya (Pick Me)" (2018)
- Produce 48 - "Nekkoya (Pick Me)" Gym Uniform ver. (2018)
- BIBI - "Sugar Rush" (2024)
Endorsements[]
On May 15, 2022, Lilybyred, a makeup brand, announced that they have selected Yena as their brand model.[34]
- Lilybyred (2022–present)
Trivia[]
- Prior to debuting with IZ*ONE, she trained for 3 years and 5 months.[35]
- Her hobby is games and watching movies alone.[35]
- Her specialty is her lip's personal use (?).[35]
- Her Produce 48 motto was "Yena; now born as a person of many talents", while her catchphrase was "I shall become a person like you've never seen before."[35]
- Yena is a cancer survivor. She had childhood lymphoma. Her illness was so severe that doctors told her parents to give up. Due to her family's financial situation and medical costs, her parents never got the chance to have a honeymoon and went out every morning to sell gimbap. Due to this, she has an old tracheal tube scar visible on the lower front of her neck.[36]
- Her older brother, Choi Sung Min, is an actor and a former member of the co-ed group Coed School and the boy group SPEED.[37]
- She is best friends with Park Sang Ha and Yoo Seonho.[38]
- She is good friends with i-dle's Yuqi, LOONA's Heejin and Hyunjin, EVERGLOW's Yiren and DIA's Jooeun.
Gallery[]
- Main article: Yena (singer)/Gallery
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Soompi: Choi Ye Na Announces Official Fan Club Name
- ↑ Produce 48: Episode 1-12
- ↑ Naver (KR): 단독 최예나, 하반기 솔로 데뷔 확정..'포스트 아이즈원' 두번째 주자
- ↑ Soompi: Choi Ye Na Reportedly Preparing For Solo Debut + Agency Comments
- ↑ (KR) Star News: 최예나, 솔로 데뷔 내년 상반기로..위에화, 형섭·의웅 新보이그룹 템페스트 하반기 론칭
- ↑ (KR) Naver: 최예나, 첫 연기 도전…‘소녀의 세계2’ 출연
- ↑ @yena_official on Twitter (January 1, 2022)
- ↑ Soompi: Choi Ye Na Announces Her Solo Debut Is Coming Soon With Teaser Poster
- ↑ Soompi: Choi Ye Na Announces 1st-Ever Solo Comeback With Fun Teaser
- ↑ Soompi: Choi Ye Na Announces January Comeback Date With Mysterious Teaser Poster
- ↑ @YENA_OFFICIAL on Twitter (January 3, 2023)
- ↑ Soompi: Choi Ye Na Announced June Comeback Date With 1st Teaser For "Hate XX"
- ↑ @JP_YENA on Twitter (June 16, 2023)
- ↑ @JP_YENA on Twitter (December 4, 2023)
- ↑ Yena Japanese Website: JAPAN 2nd Single「DNA」リリース&SHOWCASE決定！
- ↑ Soompi: Choi Ye Na Announces January Comeback Date With 1st Teaser
- ↑ @YENA_OFFICIAL on Twitter (December 26, 2023)
- ↑ Soompi: Choi Ye Na Announces September Comeback With Schedule And Track List
- ↑ @YENA_OFFICIAL on Twitter (December 17, 2024)
- ↑ @1theK on X (July 1, 2025)
- ↑ @YENA_OFFICIAL on X (July 2, 2025)
- ↑ @YENA_OFFICIAL on X (July 4, 2024)
- ↑ @into_universe on Twitter (June 23, 2022)
- ↑ @somedayfestival on Twitter (September 23, 2022)
- ↑ @KCON_official on Twitter (April 5, 2023)
- ↑ @KPOPLUX_ on Twitter (August 31, 2023)
- ↑ Soompi: KPOP LUX SBS Super Concert In London Officially Canceled
- ↑ @KCON_official on Twitter (February 7, 2024)
- ↑ Soompi: KCON Japan 2024 Announces 1st Lineup
- ↑ @UTO_FEST on Twitter (March 22, 2024)
- ↑ Soompi: Update: KCON JAPAN 2025 Announces 3rd Lineup
- ↑ Soompi: Choi Ye Na To Join BTS's Jin At His Fan Concert As Guest Performer
- ↑ Soompi: Choi Ye Na Confirmed To Star In New Family Sitcom
- ↑ @lilybyred_official on Instagram (May 15, 2022)
- ↑ 35.0 35.1 35.2 35.3 Choi Ye Na's Produce 48 Profile
- ↑ IZ*ONE CHU: Episode 4
- ↑ Kpopmap: Brother Of "Produce 48" Choi YeNa Used To Be An Idol?
- ↑ YouTube: Who are Yena's close friends...? You might be surprised l DNA Mate Ep 36 [ENG SUB]
Official links[]
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