Yeri’s Profile
- Real Name: Kim Ye-rim
- Native Name: 김예림
- Nicknames: Yerim, Squirtle, Yeriana
- Birthday: Mar 05, 1999 (26 years old)
- Blood type: O
- Height/Weight: 160 cm (5’3") / 49 kg (108 lbs)
- Gender: Female
- Zodiac Sign: Pisces
- MBTI: INTP
- Birthplace: Seoul, South Korea
-
Nationality:
South Korean
- Profession: Singer, Actress
- Language Skills: Korean, English
- Current Agency: Blitzway Entertainment
- Debut: Mar 10, 2015
- Fandom: ReVeluv
- Years Active: 2015–present (10 years)
Yeri, born Kim Ye-rim (김예림) on March 5, 1999, is a South Korean singer and actress. She is signed under SM Entertainment and is best known as the youngest member (maknae) of the girl group Red Velvet, officially joining the lineup in 2015.
Beyond her music career, Yeri has taken part in various television and web drama projects, while also pursuing solo activities that highlight her versatility as an all-around entertainer. Among Gen Z idols, she stands out for her youthful charm and distinctive personality, which have consistently drawn public attention.
Early Life
From an early age, Yeri showed a strong passion for music and performing arts. She attended Hanlim Multi Art School, a prestigious arts-focused high school in South Korea known for nurturing many K-pop idols and young artists.
During her time there, she trained in both singing and dance, while actively participating in school-related artistic activities. In 2018, Yeri graduated from Hanlim Multi Art School and went on to fully dedicate herself to Red Velvet’s promotions as well as her individual projects.
Career
Kim Ye-rim joined SM Entertainment in 2011 after passing the company’s official audition. During her trainee period, she was introduced as a member of SM Rookies, the pre-debut team of trainees publicly unveiled by the agency.
In 2014, Yeri made her first on-screen appearance in Red Velvet’s music video for Happiness and also performed with fellow SM artists at the SM Town Live Tour IV concert in Seoul.
In March 2015, SM Entertainment officially announced Yeri as the newest member of Red Velvet. She debuted with the group through the mini-album Ice Cream Cake and, shortly after, took on the role of MC for the music program Show! Music Core, hosting from May to November of the same year.
Between 2016 and 2018, Yeri actively promoted with Red Velvet on a series of hit releases, including Russian Roulette (2016), Rookie (2017), Peek-A-Boo (2017), and Bad Boy (2018). The group also expanded into the Japanese market with the release of their first Japanese album #Cookie Jar in 2018. That same year, Yeri appeared in the music video for J-Min’s Way Back Home, released as part of the SM Station project.
In 2019, Yeri unveiled her first solo track Dear Diary under SM Station Season 3. She also joined the cast of the reality program Law of the Jungle in Thailand and collaborated with rapper Giant Pink on the single Tuesday is Better Than Monday.
In 2020, Yeri launched her own YouTube variety show, Yeri’s Room, which ran from June 2020 to February 2021 with a total of 22 episodes. The program featured her hosting conversations with various celebrity guests and fans.
Yeri began her acting career in 2021, appearing in the one-act drama Drama Stage: Mint Condition on tvN before taking on her first leading role in the fantasy romance web drama Blue Birthday, released on Naver TV and YouTube.
Continuing her path in acting, Yeri starred as Baek Je-na in the teen mystery drama Bitch X Rich (2023) on Wavve, and later appeared as Eun-seo in the KBS1 television drama Applause.
In 2024, Red Velvet celebrated their 10th anniversary with the release of the mini-album Cosmic in June, followed by the fan-dedicated single Sweet Dreams in July. From August to September, the group held their Asia fan-concert tour HAPPINESS: My Dear, ReVe1uv, with shows in Seoul, Bangkok, Jakarta, Manila, and Macau. That same year, Yeri was confirmed as the lead actress in the horror film Next, portraying the character Park Ja-young, with filming beginning in September.
In April 2025, SM Entertainment announced the conclusion of Yeri’s exclusive contract, while clarifying that she would continue group activities with Red Velvet. On May 1, 2025, she signed an exclusive contract with Blitzway Entertainment under her real name, Kim Ye-rim, to focus on her acting career.
Fun Facts
- Fans often call her “Squirtle” because she looks like the cute water turtle Pokémon.
- Before filming the “Automatic” MV, she had never worn high heels — her first time was on set.
- Within the group, she’s known for being a little “messy”, in a charming and relatable way.
- When she debuted with Red Velvet, she was still in 12th grade, balancing school and idol life.
- Fans gave her the nickname “Yeriana” because she’s a huge Ariana Grande fan.
- Her official color in Red Velvet is purple — cute, simple, and very her.
- Yeri’s quirky breakfast routine includes mixing ghee, coconut oil, almond milk, and dried fruit detox water.
- She’s considered the group’s “mood maker”, always sparking laughter with the smallest actions.
- On “Yeri’s Room”, she once turned bright red because of Seulgi and Irene — fans memed it as “evolving_into_wartortle.jpg”.
- International fans often call her an “agent of chaos and laughter”, since her presence always leads to funny moments.
- She once playfully tricked Nayeon (TWICE) in a video, creating the popular “NaRim moment” among fans.
- In the “Cosmic” MV, the scene where she and Seulgi break the bed and run off like nothing happened instantly became a meme.
- Yeri’s best friend is Kim Yoo-jung, and the two often hang out together over fried chicken.
