Choi Ye-na
South Korean singer (born 1999)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Choi Ye-na (Korean: 최예나, born September 29, 1999), known mononymously as Yena, is a South Korean singer and actress. She is a soloist and actress under YH Entertainment, and a former member of South Korean–Japanese girl group Iz*One, having finished fourth on Mnet's reality girl group survival show Produce 48. Yena made her solo debut on January 17, 2022, with the release of her first EP Smiley.
_–_2024.09.30_–_P2_(cropped).jpg)
- Singer
- actress
Choi Ye-na | |
|---|---|
Choi in September 2024 | |
| Born | September 29, 1999 Seoul, South Korea |
| Education | Hanlim Multi Art School |
| Occupations |
|
| Relatives | Choi Sung-min (brother) |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instruments |
|
| Years active | 2018–present |
| Labels | |
| Formerly of | Iz*One |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 최예나 |
| Hanja | 崔叡娜 |
| RR | Choe Yena |
| MR | Ch'oe Yena |
Early life
Choi was born on September 29, 1999, in Gil-dong, Gangdong, South Korea.[3] She is the younger sister of singer and actor Choi Sung-min.[4] As a child, she was diagnosed with lymphoma.[5]
Career
Pre-debut
Choi is a former Polaris Entertainment trainee before joining YH Entertainment. She was a host for SBS' Cooking Class in 2017.[6]
2018–2021: Produce 48, Iz*One, solo activities
From June 15 to August 31, 2018, Choi (together with Everglow members Kim Si-hyeon and Wang Yiren) represented YH Entertainment on reality girl group survival show Produce 48. She eventually placed fourth and debuted with Iz*One. The group's debut extended play (EP) Color*Iz was released on October 29, 2018, with "La Vie en Rose" serving as its lead single.[7][8][9]
Following her debut with Iz*One, Choi became a cast member for Prison Life of Fools, alongside Got7's JB, Jang Do-yeon, Jeong Hyeong-don and many more.[10]
On December 21, 2020, Choi was announced as one of the cast members for mystery variety show Girls High School Mystery Class. The show is TVING's first original content variety show.[11]
After Iz*One's disbandment in April 2021, Choi became a cast member of TVING's Idol Dictation Contest.[12][unreliable source?][13] She also joined the fixed MC panels for tvN Story's Fireworks Handsome and MBC's Game of Blood.[14][15] On August 6, 2021, Choi was confirmed as the sole MC of Studio Waffle's web variety show Yena's Animal Detective. The web show started airing on August 24.[16] Choi made her acting debut later that year portraying Oh Na-ri in the second season of the web series The World of My 17.[17]
2022–present: Solo debut
On January 1, 2022, Choi announced through her social media that she would make her solo debut with the EP Smiley on January 17.[18] She made her broadcast debut on Mnet's M Countdown on January 20 performing "Smiley".[19] On February 10, 2022, Choi earned her first ever music show win on Mnet's M Countdown.[20] Choi released her second EP, Smartphone, on August 3.[21][22]
In January 2023, Choi released a poster confirming her comeback with her first single album, Love War, on January 16.[23] That month, she was also cast in the ENA variety show HMLYCP.[24] Choi released her second single album Hate XX on June 27.[25] The title track, "Hate Rodrigo," which Choi co-wrote, refers to American pop-singer Olivia Rodrigo, and the lyrics describe the concept of a "cute jealousy" towards Rodrigo, who is an object of envy and admiration.[26][27] The music video for "Hate Rodrigo," posted on June 27, also prominently features images of Rodrigo. Two days after the music video was released, Yuehua Entertainment set the video to private to address "possible violations of trademark rights, portrait rights and copyright."[28] The music video was later re-uploaded with significant edits, including the removal of "many shots that included posters of Rodrigo on the walls."[29] In August 2023, Choi made her Japanese debut with the single "Smiley" (Japanese version), which featured Chanmina.[30]
On January 15, 2024, Choi released her third EP Good Morning.[31] A second Japanese single, titled "DNA", was released on February 7.[32] In September 2024, it was announced that Choi would be releasing her third single album Nemonemo on September 30.[33] On December 18, it was announced that Choi would be returning to acting in the family sitcom Villains Everywhere.[34]
On May 16, 2025, Choi was featured in BTS's Jin's song, "Loser" in the album Echo.[35] Choi released her fourth EP Blooming Wings on July 29.[36] Choi released the Japanese digital single "STAR!", featuring Vocaloid Hatsune Miku, on November 26, under Victor Entertainment.[37]
On January 21, 2026, Choi released the Japanese version of Nemonemo.[38] Choi released her fifth EP Love Catcher on March 11.[39]
Discography
Extended plays
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Sales | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR [40] |
JPN Hot [41] |
SWE Phy. [42] | |||
| Smiley |
|
2 | 48 | — |
|
| Smartphone |
Track listing
|
3 | —[A] | — |
|
| Good Morning |
Track listing
|
2 | —[B] | — |
|
| Blooming Wings |
Track listing
|
10 | —[C] | — |
|
| Love Catcher |
Track listing
|
5 | 87 | 18 |
|
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. | |||||
Single albums
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOR [40] | |||
| Love War |
Track listing
|
6 |
|
| Hate XX |
|
11 |
|
| Nemonemo |
Track listing
|
5 |
|
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Sales | Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR [54] |
KOR Hot [55] |
JPN [56] |
JPN Heat. [57] |
NZ Hot [58] | ||||
| Korean | ||||||||
| "Smiley" (featuring Bibi) |
2022 | 8 | 9 | — | 9 | — | N/a | Smiley |
| "Smartphone" | 119 | — | — | — | — | Smartphone | ||
| "Love War" (featuring Be'O) |
2023 | 71 | — | — | — | — | Love War | |
| "Hate Rodrigo" (featuring Yuqi) |
117 | — | — | — | — | Hate XX | ||
| "Good Morning" | 2024 | 178 | — | — | — | — | Good Morning | |
| "Nemonemo" (네모네모) | 35 | — | — | 8 | — | Nemonemo | ||
| "Being a Good Girl Hurts" (착하다는 말이 제일 싫어) | 2025 | —[D] | — | — | — | — | Blooming Wings | |
| "Catch Catch" (캐치 캐치) | 2026 | 11 | 70 | — | 4 | 26 | Love Catcher | |
| Japanese | ||||||||
| "Smiley" (Japanese version) (featuring Chanmina) |
2023 | — | — | 10 | 12 | — |
|
Non-album singles |
| "DNA" | 2024 | — | — | 7 | — | — |
| |
| "Star!" (featuring Hatsune Miku) |
2025 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Nemonemo" (Japanese version) | 2026 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Mirror Mirror" (ミラミラ) | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||||||
Production credits
All song credits are adapted from the Korea Music Copyright Association's database unless stated otherwise.[62]
| Title | Year | Artist | Album | Lyrics | Music |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "With*One" | 2020 | Iz*One | Oneiric Diary |  |
 |
| "Lesson" | 2021 | Non-album single | |
| |
| "Before Anyone Else" | 2022 | Choi Ye-na | Smiley | |
|
| "Smiley" | |
| |||
| "Lxxk 2 U" | | | |||
| "Pretty Boys" | |
| |||
| "Make U Smile" | Smartphone | |
| ||
| "Smartphone" | |
| |||
| "WithOrWithOut" | |
| |||
| "Wash Away" | 2023 | Love War | |
| |
| "Love War" | |
| |||
| "Hate Rodrigo" | HATE XX | |
| ||
| "Smiley -Japanese Ver.-" | Smiley -Japanese Ver.- | |
| ||
| "Good Morning" | 2024 | Good Morning | |
| |
| "The Ugly Duckling" | |
| |||
| "Being a Good Girl Hurts" | 2025 | Blooming Wings | |
| |
| "Hello Goodbye" | |
| |||
Videography
Music videos
| Title | Year | Director(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Smiley" (featuring Bibi) |
2022 | Kim Zi-yong (FANTAZYLAB) |
[63] |
| "Smartphone" | Kwon Yong-soo (Studio Saccharin) |
[64] | |
| "With or Without (Performance Video) |
[65] | ||
| "Love War" (featuring Be'O) |
2023 | Soze Yoon (Studio GA•ZE) |
[66] |
| "Wicked Love" | Song Jung-hwan | [67] | |
| "Hate Rodrigo" (featuring Yuqi) |
Kim Zi-yong (FANTAZYLAB) |
[68] | |
| "Smiley" (Japanese version) (featuring Chanmina) |
Unknown | [69] | |
| "Good Morning" | 2024 | Kim Zi-yong (FANTAZYLAB) |
[70] |
| "DNA" | Naive | [71] | |
| "Nemonemo" (네모네모) | Yang Soonsik | [72] | |
| "Being a Good Girl Hurts" (착하다는 말이 제일 싫어) | 2025 | Jan Lee | [73] |
| "Star" (featuring Hatsune Miku) |
Hong Seok Zoo | [74] | |
| "Catch Catch" (캐치 캐치) | 2026 | Jooyeong Yun (EARTHLUK) | [75][76] |
Filmography
Television series
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Villains Everywhere | Gu Won-hee | Sitcom | [77] |
Web series
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | The World of My 17 | Oh Na-ri | Season 2 | [78] |
Television shows
| Year | Title | Role | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Cooking Class | Host | [79][80] |
| 2018 | Produce 48 | Contestant | [81] |
| 2019 | Prison Life of Fools | Cast member | [82] |
| 2021 | Fireworks Handsome | Host | [14] |
| Game of Blood | [83] | ||
| 2022 | New Festa | Participant | [84] |
| Fantastic Family | Panelist | [85] | |
| Family Register Mate | Special member | [86] | |
| Is the parting will be a recall? | Judge | [87] | |
| 2023 | M Countdown | Special host | [88] |
| Webtoon Singer | Panelist | [89] | |
| HMLYCP | Cast member | [24] | |
| Girls Night Out | Host | [90] |
Web shows
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Girls High School Mystery Class | Cast member | Episode 1–16 / Season 1 | [11] |
| Yena's Animal Detective | Host | [16] | ||
| 2021–2022 | Idol Dictation Contest | Cast member | DoReMi Market spin-off / Season 1–2 | [13][91] |
| 2021–2024 | Girls High School Mystery Class | Season 1–3 | [92][93] | |
| 2022 | The Door: To Wonderland | Season 2 | [94] |
Radio shows
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Idol Radio 2 | Temporary DJ | June 23 – July 30 | [95] |
Awards and nominations
| Award ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asia Artist Awards | 2022 | Best Musician Award | Choi Ye-na | Won | [96] |
| 2025 | Best Musician – Solo | Won | [97] | ||
| Blue Dragon Series Awards | 2022 | Best New Female Entertainer | Girls High School Mystery Class | Nominated | [98] |
| Brand Customer Loyalty Award | 2021 | Best Female Idol Entertainer | Choi Ye-na | Won | [99] |
| 2022 | Best Rookie Female Singer | Won | [100] | ||
| Best Female Idol Entertainer | Won | ||||
| 2023 | Most Influential Female Solo Artist | Won | [101] | ||
| Most Influential Female Entertainer Idol | Won | ||||
| Brand of the Year Awards | 2021 | Entertainer Idol of the Year (Female) | Nominated | [102] | |
| 2022 | Best Rookie Solo Artist | Won | [103] | ||
| Circle Chart Music Awards | 2023 | New Icon of the Year | Won | [104] | |
| Song of the Year – January | "Smiley" (feat. Bibi) | Nominated | [105] | ||
| Genie Music Awards | 2022 | Best Female Solo Artist | Choi Ye-na | Nominated | [106] |
| Golden Disc Awards | 2023 | Digital Song Bonsang | "Smiley" (feat. Bibi) | Nominated | [107] |
| Rookie Artist of the Year | Choi Ye-na | Nominated | [108] | ||
| Hanteo Music Awards | 2023 | Trend Wannabe Icon Award | Won | [109] | |
| Korea First Brand Awards | 2023 | Most Anticipated Female Solo Artist | Won | [110] | |
| MAMA Awards | 2022 | Best New Female Artist | Nominated | [111] | |
| Worldwide Fans' Choice Top 10 | Nominated | ||||
| Artist of the Year | Longlisted | ||||
| Song of the Year | "Smiley" (feat. Bibi) | Longlisted | |||
| Best Dance Performance – Solo | Nominated | ||||
| Melon Music Awards | 2022 | Best Female Solo Artist | Choi Ye-na | Nominated | [112] |
| Top 10 Artist Award | Nominated | ||||
| Artist of the Year | Longlisted | ||||
Notes
Footnotes
- "Being a Good Girl Hurts" did not enter the Circle Digital Chart, but it peaked at number 17 on the component Circle Download Chart.[59]
