Jennie Kim

January 16, 2025

Fast Facts
Background
Career Timeline
Why We Love
Surprising Facts
FAQs

Jennie Kim, popularly known as Jennie and born on January 16, 1996, is a K-pop star who’s all the rave right now. She was born and raised in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul, but studied in New Zealand for five years before returning to South Korea in 2010. She is a singer and rapper who started her career in 2012 as a trainee for YG Entertainment, a Korean entertainment agency. In August 2016, she debuted as a member of the girl group BLACKPINK, which went on to become the biggest K-pop girl group in the world today. In November 2018, Jennie made her debut as a solo artist when she released the chart-topping single ‘Solo.’ Having conquered the music world, she set her sights on acting and made her acting debut in the American series “The Idol” in 2023. She’s a phenomenal singer and performer and we’re celebrating her and her achievements today!

Fast Facts

Full Name:

Jennie Kim

Nickname:

J, Human Gucci, Jendeugi

Birth date:

January 16, 1996

Age:

Zodiac Sign:

Capricorn

Height:

5' 4"

Relationship Status:

Single

Net Worth:

$10 million

Background

Born on January 16, 1996, Jennie Kim is a recognized Korean pop star who only seems to burn brighter with time. Her beauty, talent, personality, interests, and drive have endeared her to fans worldwide. Like a true Capricorn, she’s always been a go-getter: Jennie moved halfway across the world to pursue her dreams. She was born and raised in South Korea but she grew up in New Zealand and during these years, she dreams about being a ballet dancer rather than a vocalist.

While living and schooling in New Zealand, she became interested in K-pop. When she was 14, her mother wanted her to move to Florida, attend school there, and become a teacher. However, Jennie declined her mother’s plan. She moved back to South Korea in 2010, where she enrolled at Cheongdam Middle School. Shortly after, she auditioned for YG Entertainment and became a trainee in April 2012. She covered songs and was the lead in music videos before being announced as a new artist for the entertainment agency in January 2013

On June 1, 2016, she became the first member of YG Entertainment’s newest girl group. The group, BLACKPINK, featured Jennie, Lisa, Jisoo, and Rose, and their debut single, ‘Square One,’ was released on August 8, 2016. Over the years, BLACKPINK has garnered numerous prestigious accolades and awards. These include 13 Circle Chart Music Awards, seven Golden Disc Awards, eleven MAMA Awards, three Seoul Music Awards, and eleven Guinness World Records, among others. Notably, they achieved the title of being the first Korean girl group to win an MTV Video Music Award and to secure a nomination at the Brit Awards.

In October 2018, Jennie announced her solo debut and her debut single, ‘Solo,’ was released a few months later, on November 12. Because of its massive success, she became the only Korean solo artist to perform at Coachella. In 2023, Jennie made her acting debut in “The Idol,” starring the Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp.

Regarding her personal life, speculation about her relationship with BTS’ Taehyung initially began in 2021, when he followed her briefly on Instagram. He denied the rumors, however, they sprang up again in May and August 2022 when she was reportedly seen driving around Jeju Island with him, and when alleged photos of them together were leaked from her phone. Again in May 2023, they were allegedly spotted taking a stroll in Paris. However, neither side has confirmed a relationship.

Career timeline

2012

She Auditions for YG Entertainment

She auditions with ‘Take a Bow,’ by Rihanna; she succeeds and joins the label as a trainee in 2012.

2013

She Becomes the Label’s New Artist

Following her increased popularity as a trainee, she is announced as YG Entertainment’s new artist in January.

2016

She Joins BLACKPINK

Jennie is announced as a member of the new girl group; the group drops their first single soon after.

2018

She Goes Solo

News of her solo career hits the media.

2021

She Joins Calvin Klein

She becomes the face of Calvin Klein’s Spring 2021 collection on May 18.

2023

Her Acting Debut

She features in the U.S. series "The Idol" alongside the Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp.

Why We Love Jennie Kim

She's multi-talented
Jennie is a woman of many talents. She can sing and dance, she plays the guitar and piano, and she can write and compose songs. It's no wonder she's so successful.
Her charismatic stage presence
Jennie's stage presence is captivating. She exudes confidence and charisma when performing, which draws fans in and leaves a lasting impression.
Her endearing personality
Fans often describe Jennie as sweet, charming, and relatable. Her interactions with them, both online and in-person, have contributed to her likeability.

5 Surprising Facts

She is fluent in three languages
Because of her childhood migrations, she speaks Korean, English, and Japanese fluently.
She idolizes Rihanna
She is a massive fan of Rihanna, which explains why she picked her song for her audition.
Her pre-debut job
Jennie worked as a model before her debut as an idol and appeared in commercials and fashion magazines.
Stage name inspiration
She chose the stage name "Jennie" because of its simplicity and ease of pronunciation in multiple languages.
She has no siblings
Jennie is an only child.