Choi Yu-na (Korean: 최유나; born October 4, 1997),[1] better known by her stage name Yuju (Korean: 유주), is a South Korean singer-songwriter. She participated in various singing competitions and signed with Source Music in 2014. She is a former member of the South Korean girl groupGFriend and is currently active as a soloist.
Yuju is the first Korean female idol to be declared as the winner on Fantastic Duo 2.
2011–2021: Pre-debut and career with GFriend[edit]
In 2011, she competed in the first season of K-pop Star, where she was eliminated in the first round.[2]
In January 2015, Yuju made her debut as a member of GFriend[3] with the song "Glass Bead". A few months later the group released their second single, named "Me Gustas Tu". During the promotions of the song, while performing on a slippery stage, GFriend members fell on the stage eight times, gaining international attention. The group was praised for their professionalism, especially Yuju, who suffered a twisted finger during the performance.[4][5][6][7] Their next song, "Rough", won 15 times on music show programs.
Yuju sang "Spring Is Gone by Chance" for the South Korean television drama A Girl Who Sees Smells with Loco. The song won "OST Chart First Place" ten weeks in a row on Music Bank and "Best OST" at the 2015 Melon Music Awards.[8] An acoustic version of the song was also released. The soundtrack has already achieved 100M+ Digital Index and 2.5M+ Downloads on Gaon, making it the one of the several OSTs whose given a Streaming and Downloads Certifications on the platform.[9]
Yuju recorded "Billy & The Brave Guys", for the soundtrack of the animated movie Chicken Hero, which was released on February 18, 2016.[10] In March 2016, she collaborated with Sunyoul of Up10tion for a song called "Cherish".[11]
In October 2017, she collaborated with Jihoo of IZ for a song titled "Heart Signal".[12]
She also appeared on South Korean television show SBS' Fantastic Duo (Season 2) Ep. 27-28 and declared as the Final Winner of the episode, along with Wheesung performing their winning piece "The Heartbreaking Story". She is the first and only K-pop Female Idol to win on the said television show, competing among 5 contentants whose picked over 8 potential nominees on Everysing app. The duo won $10,000 as a prize.[13]
In June 2018, she released a digital single entitled "Love Rain" featuring Suran.[14]
On May 4, 2021, she became the host and protagonist of "Yuju is Halli Queen", as the defending champion in Halli Galli; her gaming name is Hallelujah.[15]
On May 5, 2021, Yuju served as MC for KBS "Korean Children's Song Contest".[16]
2021–present: New agency, solo debut with Rec., and O[edit]
On September 1, 2021, Yuju signed an exclusive contract with Konnect Entertainment, following GFriend's disbandment and departure from Source Music.[17]
Yuju debuted as a soloist on January 18, 2022, with the extended play Rec. and its lead single "Play" (놀이).[18] This is her first solo release under Konnect Entertainment and after GFriend's disbandment. In July 2022, music production and publishing company MZMC Inc. Korea shared that Yuju joined the team, having written Yurina Kawaguchi's "Look at Me" Korean version lyrics.[19] On July 28, 2022, she released her second digital single "Evening" featuring rapper Big Naughty.[20] From August to December 2022, Yuju was a fixed radio DJatKBS Cool FM's Station Z.[21] In December 2022, it was revealed Yuju participated in the main theme song for Lotte World's The Magic Match & A Night Full of Dreams, a stage adaptation of "The Little Match Girl".[22]
On February 13, 2023, it was announced Yuju would be releasing her second extended play titled O,[23] alongside the lead single "Without U" on March 7.[24] On August 16, 2023, Yuju released the single "Rewind" as part of the +memory project.[25] On September 8, 2023, it was announced that Yuju would be releasing her new single "Dalala" on September 20.[26] In mid-April 2024, Yuju decided not to renew her contract with Konnect.[27]
^Choi Jin-shil (February 14, 2015). "여.친.소① 여자친구를 소개합니다". TenAsia (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 17, 2015. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
^ abSon, Bong-seok (May 3, 2021). "KBS '창작동요대회' 어린이날 방송, 유주·나태주 진행" [KBS'Korean Children's Song Contest ' broadcast on Children's Day, Yuju and Na Taejoo] (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 6, 2021. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
^Lee, Jae-hoon (January 3, 2022). 여자친구 유주, 솔로 데뷔…18일 'REC.' 발매 [GFriend Yuju, solo debut...18th 'REC.' Release]. Newsis (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 3, 2022. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
^Lee, Hwan-joo (December 23, 2022). "클래식은 영원하다... 크리스마스에는 역시 놀이동산 [Weekend 레저]" [Classics are forever... An amusement park at Christmas [Weekend Leisure]] (in Korean). Financial News. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2023 – via Naver.
^Yoon, Jun-ho (February 14, 2023). "유주(YUJU), 3월7일 컴백...14개월 만에 새 앨범" [YUJU, comeback on March 7th...New album in 14 months] (in Korean). Ten Asia. Retrieved February 15, 2023 – via Naver.
^Kim, Myung-mi (February 27, 2023). "'컴백 D-10' 유주, 트랙리스트 공개...타이틀곡은 'Without U'" ['Comeback D-10' Yuju, track list revealed...The title song is 'Without U'] (in Korean). Newsen. Archived from the original on February 27, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2023 – via Naver.
^Hwang, Mi-hyun (September 8, 2023). "유주, 20일 컴백 확정…6개월만의 신곡 '따라랏'" [Yuju comeback confirmed for the 20th..."Dalala", a new song in 6 months] (in Korean). News1. Archived from the original on September 30, 2023. Retrieved September 9, 2023 – via Naver.
^"[단독]유주·위댐 결별→강다니엘도 떠난다..껍데기만 남은 커넥트 폐업 [종합]" [[Exclusive] Yuju and WeDem part → Kang Daniel is also leaving.. Konnect shuts down, leaving only a shell [Summary]]. Star News (in Korean). May 21, 2024. Archived from the original on May 25, 2024. Retrieved May 27, 2024 – via Naver.
"Rec". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). January 16–22, 2022. Archived from the original on January 27, 2022. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
"O". Circle Chart (in Korean). March 5–11, 2023. Archived from the original on March 16, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
^"2022년01월 Album Chart" [January 2022 Album Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 10, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
^"2022년04주차 Download Chart" [Week 4 of 2022 Download Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). January 16–22, 2022. Archived from the original on January 27, 2022. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
"2016년11주차 Download Chart" [Week 11 of 2016 Download Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). March 6–12, 2016. Archived from the original on December 27, 2020. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
"2016년12주차 Download Chart" [Week 12 of 2016 Download Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). March 13–19, 2016. Archived from the original on April 2, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
"2016년13주차 Download Chart" [Week 13 of 2016 Download Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). March 20–26, 2016. Archived from the original on April 9, 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
"2016년14주차 Download Chart" [Week 14 of 2016 Download Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). March 27 – April 2, 2016. Archived from the original on December 27, 2020. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
"2016년15주차 Download Chart" [Week 15 of 2016 Download Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). April 3–9, 2016. Archived from the original on December 27, 2020. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
^"2017년43주차 BGM Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). October 22–28, 2017. Archived from the original on June 21, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
"2017년49주차 Download Chart" [Week 49 of 2017 Download Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). December 3–9, 2017. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
"2017년50주차 Download Chart" [Week 50 of 2017 Download Chart]. Gaon Music Chart. December 10–16, 2017. Archived from the original on December 27, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
^"Download Chart 2021 Weeks 48". Circle Music Chart (in Korean). November 21–27, 2021. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
^Peak chart positions on Gaon Digital Chart: Soundtrack appearances
^Cumulative Sales for "Spring Is Gone by Chance (Acoustic Ver.)":
"2015년22주차 Download Chart" [Week 22 of 2015 Download Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). May 17–23, 2015. Archived from the original on May 28, 2015. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
^"2018년52주차 BGM Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). December 23–29, 2018. Archived from the original on June 21, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
^"BGM Chart 2020 Weeks 13". Circle Music Chart (in Korean). March 22–28, 2020. Archived from the original on April 8, 2023. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
^"2020년30주차 BGM Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). July 19–25, 2020. Archived from the original on June 21, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
^"2020년35주차 BGM Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). August 23–29, 2020. Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
^"2020년51주차 BGM Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). December 13–19, 2020. Archived from the original on June 21, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
^"2021년23주차 BGM Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). May 30 – June 5, 2021. Archived from the original on June 10, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
^"남아있어 (경찰수업 OST Part.5)" [Remaining (Police Class OST Part.5)] (in Korean). Kakao Entertainment. Flex M. August 30, 2021. Archived from the original on August 30, 2021. Retrieved August 30, 2021 – via Melon.
^"Download Chart 2021 Weeks 36". Circle Music Chart (in Korean). August 29 – September 4, 2021. Archived from the original on September 9, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
^"Download Chart 2022 Weeks 40". Circle Music Chart (in Korean). September 25 – October 1, 2022. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
^[MV] YUJU - DALALA. novvkim. September 20, 2023. Archived from the original on September 30, 2023. Retrieved September 23, 2023 – via Vimeo.
^유주(YUJU) - 따라랏(DALALA) M/V. Konnect Entertainment. September 20, 2023. Archived from the original on September 20, 2023. Retrieved September 23, 2023 – via YouTube.
^유주(YUJU) - 복숭아꽃 ART FILM. Konnect Entertainment. March 21, 2023. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023 – via YouTube.
^유주는 할리퀸. 뉴프 NEW-NORMAL Project. July 4, 2021. Archived from the original on June 27, 2022. Retrieved April 6, 2023 – via YouTube.
^Kim, Saet-byeol (February 11, 2023). "'한터뮤직어워즈' 개막, 김호중2관왕으로 첫날 장식(종합)" ['Hanteo Music Awards' opens, decorates the first day with Kim Ho-joong's 2 crowns (comprehensive)] (in Korean). The Fact. Archived from the original on February 11, 2023. Retrieved February 11, 2023 – via Naver.
^Ahn, Byung-gil (August 26, 2022). "하트드림 어워즈' 강다니엘3관왕-임영웅 트롯 인기상[종합]" ['Heart Dream Awards' Kang Daniel 3 crowns - Lim Young-woong Trot Popularity Award [General]] (in Korean). Sports Kyunghyang. Archived from the original on August 27, 2022. Retrieved August 27, 2022 – via Naver.