Ryujin (ITZY): Bio, Career Highlights, and Fun Facts

Ryujin's Profile

Full Name: Shin Ryujin
Native Name: 신류진
Nicknames: Ace, RyujGing, Ryusttaeng
Birthday: Apr 17, 2001 (24 years old)
Blood type: B
Height/Weight: 164 cm (5’4.5") / 49 kg (108 lb)
Gender: Female
Zodiac Sign: Aries
Debut: Feb 12, 2019
Position: Main Rapper, Lead Dancer, Sub-Vocalist, Center
MBTI: ENFP (The Campaigner)
Birthplace: Seoul, South Korea
Nationality: South Korean
Profession: Singer, Rapper, Dancer, Actress
Languages: Korean, English
Group: ITZY

Shin Ryujin, born on April 17, 2001, in Seoul, South Korea, is a member of the girl group ITZY under JYP Entertainment. Ryujin was exposed to the arts from a very young age. In third grade, she won first place in a dance competition at her elementary school in Mapo District, Seoul, and continued to perform at local events throughout her school years.

Career Highlights

In 2016, at just 15, Ryujin got cast by JYP Entertainment during a GOT7 fanmeeting—talk about a wild turn of events. That surprise moment kickstarted her journey into professional training. A year later, she joined YG’s survival show MIXNINE. She ended up ranking No.1 among the female contestants and scored the highest overall ranking, but oddly, didn’t make it to the final debut lineup. Even so, MIXNINE put her name out there before she had even officially debuted.

Fast forward to 2019—Ryujin debuted with ITZY as the center and main dancer. From their debut track “DALLA DALLA,” she was consistently placed front and center. Just a year later, her shoulder-shaking dance move in “WANNABE” went mega-viral, pulling in millions of views from international fans and sparking endless fancams. Her cool-girl image became a signature—standing out from the more bubbly, youthful vibes seen in groups like NewJeans or STAYC. On Korean forums like Theqoo and Pann, her name kept popping up as a trendsetter.

She also holds down the main rapper position in tracks like “DALLA DALLA,” “Mafia in the Morning,” and “LOCO,” often opening or centering the song’s rap segments. While her rapping has sparked heated threads on Reddit and Pann—some folks comparing her to other “it girl” centers like Karina (aespa) or Yujin (IVE)—Ryujin has steadily leveled up each comeback, cementing her role as a key player in ITZY.

Fashion Style

When it comes to styling, Ryujin’s looks are anything but predictable. From blunt short hair to bold fashion like bodysuits, corsets, leather jackets, or mesh-stocking shorts—she’s rocked it all. Stylist Lee Ah-reum once told 1st Look magazine that Ryujin can flip her stage presence from tough tomboy to sultry glam in a single performance. One of her most talked-about outfits? That triangle-cut piece at MAMA 2022 in a crinkled fabric. It lit up Korean forums with debates about whether it was edgy or just too much—but the general consensus respected her ability to own the stage.

Difficulties

Of course, some fans and netizens have dragged her for allegedly going too far with sexy stage outfits, especially those tight or revealing ones. Critics argue it’s pushing boundaries, while others clap back, saying she’s just killing the concept with full confidence. Ryujin herself has addressed the criticism head-on, saying she’s simply doing her job based on the group’s concept—not dodging or denying the commentary, just keeping it 100.

Despite mixed opinions on her skills or styling, Ryujin’s been surprisingly scandal-free offstage. When a JYP producer dropped a spicy comment about her rap skills, she hopped on a livestream to speak candidly, earning a lot of fan support. Rumors of drama with fellow member Chaeryeong also popped up in late 2021, sparked by a behind-the-scenes clip. But shortly after, ITZY dropped a vlog of the two hanging out and grabbing food—basically squashing the beef and proving they’re tight.

Ryujin remains a visual and emotional anchor for ITZY, especially during tougher moments like media backlash or lineup challenges. In 2022, during their U.S. promo tour without their leader, Ryujin stepped up as the go-to face for interviews and appearances, holding it down for the group internationally. She’s also made consistent appearances in major fashion campaigns and top magazines. Korean stylists frequently praise her for being adaptable, professional, and ridiculously photogenic.

Fun Facts

Her real name is Shin Ryujin, and friends usually call her “Ryu” or “Ryujinnie.”
She actually dreamed of being an actress first—she even had a cameo in BTS’s Love Yourself Highlight Reel back in the day.
Hardcore horror and crime show buff—she binged Stranger Things in under a week.
Left-handed queen: writes, eats, and does pretty much everything with her left hand, unlike her righty groupmates.
Meme royalty: her stage expressions and behind-the-scenes reactions have turned into some of the most viral K-pop GIFs and stickers online.
Has a low-key obsession with collecting rings, bracelets, and necklaces—she once said her accessory collection is over 100 pieces deep.
Blunt as hell—she’s known to do a 180 on her own statements at fanmeetings, leaving her members shaking their heads like, “girl, what?”
Gets teased for being a total tsundere—cold on the outside, soft on the inside.
Called a “duality goddess” by fans for how fast she can switch from badass to adorable.
Longtime fangirl of IU and G-Dragon (Big Bang)—she’s said she hopes to collab with them someday.

Photo Gallery