Umji (VIVIZ)'s Profile
- Real Name: Kim Ye Won
- Native Name: 김예원
- Nicknames: Mary
- Birthday: Aug 19, 1998 (27 years old)
- Blood type: O
- Height/Weight: 164.5 cm (5’5″) / 48 kg (106 lbs)
- Gender: Female
- Zodiac Sign: Leo
- MBTI: INFJ (The Advocate)
- Birthplace: Incheon, South Korea
-
Nationality:
South Korean
- Profession: Singer, Dancer
- Language Skills: Korean, English
- Debut: January 15, 2015 (with GFRIEND)
- Group: VIVIZ
- Current Agency: BPM Entertainment
- Years Active: 2015–present (10 years)
Umji, whose real name is Kim Ye-won (김예원), was born on August 19, 1998, in Incheon, South Korea. She is a singer and dancer currently under BPM Entertainment.
She first debuted in 2015 as a member of the girl group GFriend, where she actively promoted until the group’s disbandment in 2021. Later, she, along with fellow members Eunha and SinB, formed VIVIZ, officially debuting in 2022.
Within VIVIZ, Umji serves as the youngest member (maknae), as well as the main dancer and sub-vocalist.
Early Life
From an early age, Umji attended an English-language kindergarten under the English name “Mary,” specifically at SLP English Kindergarten. Since she initially couldn’t speak English, she once cried because she wanted to open a window but couldn’t express it, until a native teacher taught her the phrase “Open the window.” During this time, she also learned to sing pop songs such as “Oops!… I Did It Again” and even won an English speech contest, though it was not a singing competition.
Umji studied the cello for about three years and can also play the piano and guitar. She attended Shinsong Elementary and Middle School, later graduating in 2017 from the Seoul School of Performing Arts, majoring in Theatre, alongside SinB.
Career
Umji’s career began in 2014 when she was scouted on the street by the CEO of Source Music and invited to audition.
After one year of training, on January 15, 2015, Umji debuted as GFriend’s lead rapper, sub-vocalist, and maknae through their first EP Season of Glass.
In September 2016, she expanded her career into drama soundtracks by releasing her first solo track, “The Way,” for the series Shopping King Louie. The following month, she took a temporary hiatus due to a sartorius muscle injury but returned a month later at the Melon Music Awards.
In 2017, Umji appeared on King of Mask Singer, advancing through two rounds before being eliminated by Sunwoo Jung-a. From June to August that year, she hosted her own V LIVE show Ohmu now, which aired nine episodes.
In 2018, she co-hosted the youth talk show Yogobara with ASTRO’s Sanha and also appeared as a guest on SBS’s Running Man.
In March 2020, she released her second solo OST, “Welcome,” for the drama of the same name. The following month, she temporarily replaced Eunha as DJ of Naver Now’s Avenger Girls.
In October 2020, she appeared with Eunha on Knowing Bros and promoted GFriend’s track “Mago” from the album 回:Walpurgis Night.
After GFriend disbanded in May 2021, Umji, SinB, and Eunha signed with Big Planet Made Entertainment in October 2021. On October 8, the new group name VIVIZ was officially revealed.
On February 9, 2022, Umji made her second debut with VIVIZ through their first EP Beam of Prism, featuring the title track “BOP BOP!”. The group quickly earned their first music show win on Show Champion just one week later.
In April 2022, VIVIZ joined the survival reality show Queendom 2, where they finished in third place. Umji was noted for her steady improvement throughout the competition.
That same year, her activities expanded into radio as she became the exclusive DJ of Umji’s Cells on Spoon Radio, airing live every Tuesday at 9 PM.
In November 2023, VIVIZ released their fourth EP Versus with the title track “Maniac.” The song experienced a remarkable reverse run, climbing from outside the top 500 to the top 10 on major music charts, generating an estimated 8 billion won in streaming revenue.
From June to September 2024, Umji and VIVIZ embarked on their first world tour V.hind: Love and Tears, performing 28 shows across seven countries.
In July 2025, her career reached a new milestone as VIVIZ released their first full-length studio album A Montage of ( ). The album featured Umji’s solo track “Love Language,” showcasing her vocal ability and artistic maturity.
That same month, VIVIZ launched their second world tour New Legacy in Seoul, scheduled to run through November with performances across North America, Asia, and Australia. Umji continued to demonstrate growth in her stage presence and ability to connect with international audiences.
Fun Facts
- In GFriend, Umji was often called the “Consultant” because members came to her for advice.
- She once disliked the stage name “Umji” and considered using another name for debut.
- “Umji” in Korean literally means “thumb.”
- Since she’s only two months younger than SinB, fans sometimes confuse who is actually the youngest.
- Her naturally tanned skin became a distinct feature compared to her GFriend days.
- Her “Ooh ooh ooh” part in Maniac went viral as the “Pop your ongdong” meme.
- As the shortest trainee in GFriend, she once had to ask members for dance help on Queendom 2.
- She’s the member who takes the most selfies in VIVIZ.
- Umji loves Disney movies, especially Rapunzel and The Little Mermaid.
- As a child, she cried once because she didn’t know how to say “Open the window” in English.
- Her playful interaction with the camera during a concert became a viral fancam.
- She once covered Sunmi’s Gashina in her own unique style.
- Fans nicknamed her the “goddess of embarrassing moments” for her cute awkwardness.
- The group name was once considered to be “Bi-Bi-Ji,” from the last syllables of the members’ stage names.
- She enjoys looking at the sky and spending quiet moments lost in thought.
Photo Gallery
