Kang Ji-young facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kang Ji-young
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Kang in July 2025
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| Born | January 18, 1994 Paju, South Korea
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| Other names | JY |
| Education | Sungkyunkwan University |
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| Years active | 2008–present |
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| Relatives | Kim Yoon-ji (cousin) |
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| Korean name | |
| Hangul |
강지영
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| Hanja |
姜知英
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| RR | Gang Jiyeong |
| MR | Kang Chiyŏng |
Kang Ji-young (Hangul: 강지영; born January 18, 1994) is a South Korean singer, songwriter, and actress. She is also known as Jiyoung or by her stage name JY in Japan.
When she was 14, Kang Ji-young became famous as a member of the South Korean girl group Kara. She joined the group in 2008. Kara became very successful across Asia, especially in Japan. They had ten songs that reached the top five on the Oricon music chart. Kara was also the first South Korean girl group to perform at the Tokyo Dome.
Kang Ji-young left Kara in April 2014. However, she rejoined the group for their 15th anniversary album, Move Again, released in 2022. She also took part in their concert tours in 2024 and 2025.
After leaving Kara, Kang Ji-young moved to Japan. She started focusing on her acting career there. She became well-known for her roles in movies and TV shows based on popular manga comics. These roles included Yukime in Hell Teacher: Jigoku Sensei Nube (2014) and Irina Jelavić in the Assassination Classroom films (2015–2016). She also played Itori in the movie Tokyo Ghoul S (2019). Kang Ji-young also had a main role in the science-fiction series Orphan Black – 7 Genes (2017–2018).
Besides her Japanese roles, Kang Ji-young has acted in Korean dramas. She had a main role in the JTBC series Sweet Munchies (2020). She also made special appearances in Let Me Be Your Knight (2022) and Doctor Cha (2023).
In 2015, Kang Ji-young signed with Sony Music Japan as a solo artist. She released her first album, Many Faces, in 2017. This album included two songs, "Saigo no Sayonara" and "Suki na Hito ga Iru Koto", that reached the top ten in Japan. "Suki na Hito ga Iru Koto" was certified twice for its success.
Kang Ji-young also worked as a model. She was an exclusive model for the fashion magazine Non-no from 2014 to 2016. She also became a global ambassador for the chocolate brand Kit Kat.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Kang Ji-young was born on January 18, 1994, in Paju, South Korea. She grew up in a Buddhist family with two older sisters. When she was 14, Kang Ji-young auditioned for DSP Media and became a trainee in June 2008. Her cousin, actress Kim Yoon-ji, who was also a trainee there, encouraged her to audition.
Kang Ji-young speaks fluent Japanese in addition to her native Korean. She also knows some English and Mandarin Chinese.
She attended Bongilcheon Middle School in Paju. After moving to a dormitory in Seoul with her Kara group members, she transferred to Kwanghee Middle School. She then went to Muhak Girls' High School and graduated in 2012. In February 2013, she started studying performing arts at Sungkyunkwan University.
Career Highlights
Joining Kara and Early Success (2008–2014)
After just one month of training, Kang Ji-young joined the girl group Kara in 2008. This happened after a former member left the group. She made her first TV appearance with new member Goo Hara on July 24, 2008. They performed on the music show M Countdown.
Kara's first mini-album as a five-member group, Rock U, was released the next day. The group became very popular after their hit song "Mister" came out in 2009. This song was a big success in South Korea and helped Kara start their career in Japan.
Kara was called "Hallyu Queens" because of their popularity. They were even listed among the most influential celebrities in South Korea by Forbes Korea. In 2012, they ranked 4th, and in 2013, they were 13th. Kara was also the first South Korean girl group to perform at the Tokyo Dome.
In April 2009, Kang Ji-young was featured on the hip-hop duo Jumper's song "Dazzling". In September, she became a regular guest DJ on the KBS Cool FM radio show Kiss the Radio with fellow Kara member Park Gyu-ri. She also hosted a segment on the MBC Standard FM radio show Stop the Boring Time that same year.
In July 2010, Kang Ji-young started hosting the MBC Every1 variety show I Love Pets with member Han Seung-yeon. She also appeared on the SBS variety show Haha-Mong Show.
In December 2010, Kang Ji-young sang "My Love" for the drama Big Thing with Park Gyu-ri. That same month, she released a song called "Merry Love" with Kim Sung-je from the group Supernova. This song was later re-recorded in Japanese.
In January 2011, Kang Ji-young and two other members announced they would end their contracts with DSP Media. They said the company made them perform against their will. However, the issue was resolved peacefully in April 2011, and the members returned to DSP Media.
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Kang Ji-young joined the TV show Invincible Youth in October 2011. The show aired from November 2011 to November 2012. Also in October 2011, she was cast as the main character in the drama series Rainbow Rose. This show was made by both South Korea and Japan. It premiered in Japan in April 2012 and in South Korea in September 2012. Kang Ji-young also recorded the main theme song for the show, "Rainbow Rose".
In September 2012, Kang Ji-young was cast in the thriller series Iris II: New Generation. However, she left the project in January 2013 due to disagreements.
Kang Ji-young released her solo song "Wanna Do" on November 30, 2012. This song was part of the album Kara Solo Collection. She performed the song on the SBS music show Inkigayo in December. As part of the 2012 SBS Gayo Daejeon music festival, Kang Ji-young joined other idols to form the group Mystic White. They performed the song "Mermaid Princess", which became very popular.
On January 15, 2014, Kang Ji-young announced she was leaving Kara. She wanted to study abroad and focus on acting. After her contract with DSP Media ended in April 2014, she moved to London to study English. Kang Ji-young also starred in the TV series Secret Love, which aired in June 2014. This series was filmed before she left the group.
Acting in Japan and Solo Music (2014–2018)
While in London, Kang Ji-young was contacted by a Japanese talent agency called Sweet Power. She signed with them as an actress in August 2014 and then moved to Japan. In September, she got her first Japanese acting role as Yukime in the TV show Hell Teacher: Jigoku Sensei Nube. The show started airing in October. For this role, Kang Ji-young was nominated for Best Supporting Actress. She also starred in the TV movie Higanbana: Women's Crime File in October.
In 2015, Kang Ji-young played Irina Jelavić in the science-fiction comedy movie Assassination Classroom. This movie was based on a popular manga. Kang Ji-young was chosen for the role because she could speak several languages. The movie was released in March and was very successful. The next month, she had a small voice role in the anime movie Detective Conan: Sunflowers of Inferno.
In May, Kang Ji-young was cast in the TV series Tamiou. She played Erika Murano, a college student. The series premiered in July 2015. Kang Ji-young was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for this role too. Her last role of the year was in the short film How Is the Sky Over There?, which promoted Kit Kats in Japan. She took classes to learn Mandarin and Cantonese for this role.
In December 2015, Kang Ji-young signed with Sony Music Japan to restart her music career. She used the stage name JY. In January 2016, she played Kaoruko Nagami again in Whispers from a Crime Scene, a sequel to Higanbana: Women's Crime File. She also sang the theme song for the series, "Saigo no Sayonara", which was her first Japanese solo song. It was released in February and reached number seven on the Oricon music chart. Her next song, "Radio", was also used in the series and was her first English song. It was released in March and reached number one on the iTunes Top Pop Songs chart in Japan.
In March 2016, Kang Ji-young returned as Irina Jelavić in Assassination Classroom: Graduation, the sequel to the 2015 movie. This film was also very successful. Her next role was in the short film Life Is..., where she played Yuna, a photography student. In July, she acted in the movie Unrequited Love.
Continued Success and Kara Reunion (2016–Present)
Kang Ji-young released her second Japanese single, "Suki na Hito ga Iru Koto", in August 2016. The music video was filmed in Guam. This song was the main theme for the TV drama A Girl & Three Sweethearts. The song became very popular, reaching number one on many music platforms. It also peaked at number three on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart and number six on the Oricon Singles Chart. The song was certified platinum for digital sales and gold for streaming.
That same year, Kang Ji-young played the main role in the musical Sweet Charity in Tokyo. The show ran from September to October 2016. She also starred in the TV movie Mission Commander Ayaka Goma in October. In November, she made a guest appearance in the TV drama Doctor-X: Surgeon Michiko Daimon. She played a deaf woman and studied Japanese Sign Language for the role. Kang Ji-young released two more Japanese singles, "Fake" and "Koiwo Shiteitakoto", in December 2016.
In January 2017, Kang Ji-young appeared in an episode of the TV series Osaka Loop Line: Part 2.
In February 2022, it was reported that Kang Ji-young did not renew her contract with KeyEast. On April 6, 2022, she signed with ELRIS Entertainment. In July 2022, Kang Ji-young released her solo project Lucid Dream.
In 2025, Kang Ji-young served as a judge on the reality singing competition Korea–Japan King of Singers: Japan Round. This show premiered on Fuji TV on January 16.
Impact and Philanthropy
Early in her career, Kang Ji-young was noticed for being tall compared to her bandmates, even though she was young. The media lovingly called her "Giant Baby". In August 2011, she was the only Korean artist to be featured on the Count Down TV Top 30 Annual Favourite Female Artist Ranking, placing 21st.
Kang Ji-young was the third most-tweeted about female celebrity in Japan in 2016. In November 2016, she was listed as seventh among the biggest female breakout artists of that year in Japan by Oricon News.
In November 2024, Kang Ji-young was named the film industry ambassador for the 2025 Seoul Barrier-Free Film Festival. This organization creates and shows films for people who are blind and deaf.
Modeling and Endorsements
In October 2011, Kang Ji-young made her first appearance on a fashion runway for Lie Sang Bong's collection at Seoul Fashion Week. She also attended Seoul Fashion Week the next year. In September 2014, she walked the Reebok runway at the Tokyo Girls Collection show. That same year, Kang Ji-young became an exclusive model for the women's fashion magazine Non-no. She appeared on its December cover by herself. In March 2016, she was named an official ambassador for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Tokyo. Kang Ji-young also modeled at the Kansai Collection fashion show in 2017. In May 2017, she appeared at the GirlsAward fashion show as both a model and a musical guest.
Kang Ji-young has been the face of brands like Union Bay, Nature Republic, and Karaya. In 2015, she was chosen as a global brand ambassador for the chocolate brand Kit Kat. She appeared in several Japanese commercials to promote Kit Kat stores. She also appeared in promotional materials for Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan, including short films. Since 2022, Kang Ji-young has been a spokesmodel for the hair care brand Unda Hair. In 2025, she was appointed as a brand ambassador for the sportswear company Mizuno. That same year, she was announced as a model for the beauty brand Osaji.
Music Releases
Albums
Kang Ji-young has released studio albums and extended plays. Her first studio album, Many Faces ~Tamensei~, was released in Japan in May 2017. Her extended play, Hoshi ga Furu Mae ni, came out in March 2018.
Songs
Kang Ji-young has released several songs as a lead artist and has been featured on others.
- "Merry Love" (with Kim Sung-je) - 2010
- "My Love" (with Park Gyu-ri) - 2010
- "Rainbow Rose" - 2012
- "Wanna Do" - 2012
- "Radio" - 2016
- "Saigo no Sayonara" - 2016
- "Suki na Hito ga Iru Koto" - 2016
- "Fake" - 2016
- "Koiwo Shiteitakoto" - 2016
- "Joshi Modoki" - 2017
- "Goldmine" - 2017
- "Secret Crush - Koi Yamerarenai / My ID" - 2017
- "Namida no Riyuu" - 2018
- "Lucid Dream" - 2022
She was also featured on:
- "Nunibusyeo" (Jumper feat. Ji-young) - 2009
- "Mermaid Princess" (with Yoon Bo-ra, Lizzy, Han Sun-hwa, Heo Ga-yoon) - 2012
Songwriting
Kang Ji-young has also written or co-written several songs for herself and for Kara.
- "Wanna Do" - 2012
- "Sayonara Watashino Shojyo" - 2016
- "Suki na Hito ga Iru Koto" - 2016
- "Hello Mr." - 2016
- "Koiwo Shiteitakoto" - 2016
- "Konomamade" - 2017
- "Letter" - 2017
- "Secret Crush" - 2017
- "Lucid Dream" - 2022
- "Happy Hour" (for Kara) - 2022
- "When I Move" (for Kara) - 2022
- "Oxygen" (for Kara) - 2022
Film and Television Roles
Movies
- Assassination Classroom (2015) as Irina Jelavić
- Detective Conan: Sunflowers of Inferno (2015) as Museum Guide (voice)
- How Is the Sky Over There? (2015) as Ena (Short film)
- Assassination Classroom: Graduation (2016) as Irina Jelavić
- Life Is... (2016) as Yuna (Short film)
- Unrequited Love (2016) as So-yeon
- DC Super Heroes vs. Eagle Talon (2017) as Harley Quinn (voice)
- Reon (2018) as Reon Takanashi
- Though It Is My Life (2018) as Mizuho Kaneshiro
- Yaru Onna: She's a Killer (2018) as Aiko
- Tokyo Ghoul S (2019) as Itori
- And Life Goes On (2019) as Han Yu-ri
- Boom! Sukehira (2019) as Ayane Sukehira
- Love and the Grand Tug-of-war (2021) as Yeo Ji-hyun
- Love Reset (2023) as Sang-ah
- Ginseng Boy (2024) as Jenny
- I Kill You (2025) as Kang Sun-woo / Han Ji-yeon
Television Shows
- Here He Comes (2008) as School girl (Cameo)
- Hero (2009) as Herself (Cameo)
- Urakara (2011) as Ji-young (Main role)
- Rainbow Rose (2012) as Han Yu-ri (Main role)
- Kara the Animation (2013) as Herself (voice) (Main role)
- Secret Love (2014) as Park So-yeol (Episode: "Lilac")
- Hell Teacher: Jigoku Sensei Nube (2014) as Yukime (Main role)
- Higanbana: Women's Crime File (2014) as Kaoruko Nagami (Television film)
- Tamiou (2015–2016) as Erika Murano (Main role)
- Whispers from a Crime Scene (2016) as Kaoruko Nagami (Main role)
- A Girl & Three Sweethearts (2016) as Jun Yoshioka (Episode: "That's All")
- Doctor-X: Surgeon Michiko Daimon (2016) as Yuka Nanase (Cameo)
- Mission Commander Ayaka Goma (2016) as Sonia (Television film)
- Osaka Loop Line: Part 2 (2017) as Ji-hyun
- Orphan Black – 7 Genes (2017–2018) as Sara Aoyama / Maoko Shiina / various (Main role)
- Wish Upon a Star (2018) as Himeno
- Your Home Is My Business! Second Attack (2019) as Nana Miyadera (Cameo)
- And Life Goes On (2019) as Han Yu-ri (Main role)
- Sweet Munchies (2020) as Kim Ah-jin (Main role)
- Let Me Be Your Knight (2022) as Nina (2 episodes)
- Doctor Cha (2023) as Yoo Ji-seon (6 episodes)
- Korea–Japan King of Singers: Japan Round (2025) as Herself (Judge)
Radio Shows
- Kiss the Radio (2009–2010) as Fixed guest DJ
- Stop the Boring Time (2009–2011) as Fixed guest DJ
- Jiyoung's Season of Knowledge (2015–2017) as Host
Stage Performances
- Sweet Charity (2016) as Charity Hope Valentine
- Love Letters (2018) as Melissa
Concert Tours
Kang Ji-young has had her own concert tour and has been a featured act at festivals.
Headlining Tour
- JY 1st Live Tour "Many Faces 2017"
Featured Act
- LuckyFes (2024)
Awards and Recognition
Kang Ji-young has received several awards and nominations for her work.
- 2012: Nominated for 20's Upcoming 20's at the Mnet 20's Choice Awards
- 2015: Nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Television Drama Academy Awards for Hell Teacher: Jigoku Sensei Nube and Tamiou
- 2016: Nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Television Drama Academy Awards for Whispers from a Crime Scene
- 2016: Nominated for Best Drama Song at the Television Drama Academy Awards for "Radio" and "Saigo no Sayonara"
- 2016: Won the Next Artist Award at the Model Press Readers' Choice Awards
- 2018: Won the Big Audience Award at the Okinawa International Movie Festival for Reon
Images for kids
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Kang in July 2025
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Kang performing at the 2010 Asia Song Festival
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Kang performing at the 2013 DSP Festival
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Kang at the 2018 Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival
See also
In Spanish: Kang Ji-young para niños
