Kim Ji-yeon (Korean: 김지연; born March 20, 1995), known professionally as Kei, is a South Korean singer and musical actress. She rose to fame as a member of South Korean girl group Lovelyz in November 2014. Kei officially made her solo debut with released EP on October 8, 2019 titled Over and Over.[1] On November 16, 2021, she left Woollim Entertainment after deciding not to renew her contract, following Lovelyz's disbandment.[2] She joined Palm Tree Island in January 2022 to focus on her musical career.
Kei | |
|---|---|
김지연 | |
Kei in 2021 | |
| Born | Kim Ji-yeon (1995-03-20) March 20, 1995 (age 27) Bupyeong District, Incheon, South Korea |
| Education | Incheon Youngsun High School |
| Occupation |
|
| Musical career | |
| Genres | K-pop |
| Years active | 2014–present |
| Labels | Woollim |
| Member of | Lovelyz |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | |
| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | Gim Ji-yeon |
| McCune–Reischauer | Kim Chiyŏn |
|
Musical artist | |
Kei was born Kim Ji-yeon on March 20, 1995 in Incheon, South Korea.[3][4] She graduated from Incheon Youngsun High School.[5]
In November 2014, Kei debuted as the main vocalist of girl group Lovelyz with the release of the debut studio album, Girls' Invasion.[6] In December 2015, she recorded the song Love Is Like That for the drama Oh My Venus.[7]
She was a contestant for JTBC's main vocal competition Girls Spirit in 2016,[8] and was cast for a lead role in the web drama Matching! Boys Archery Club in the same year.[9] On September 1, she released the collaborative song "Y".[10] On October 26, she released a collaboration with The Solutions titled Beautiful as a part of HIGHGRND label project PLAYGRND.[11]
In 2017, she made appearances on a variety of shows. She appeared on King of Mask Singer as the contestant "Agiley Mouse Jerry" for episodes 107–108.[12] She also went on Duet Song Festival covering Kim Tae-yeon's song "I".[13] Other shows she guested on was Running Man and Idol National Singing Competition.[14]
On June 8, 2018, it was announced that Kei would be the new MC for Music Bank alongside actor Choi Won-myeong, starting from June 15.[15]
In 2019, she released the extended play (EP) Over and Over, under her real name Kim Ji-yeon.[16] The album and the lead single "I Go" music video were released on October 8.[17]
On November 1, 2021, Woollim Entertainment announced that Kei would not renew her contract and she left the company on November 16, 2021, following Lovelyz's disbandment.[18]
On January 10, 2022, it was confirmed that Kei signed with Palm Tree Island, signaling her debut as a full time musical actress.[19][20]
In May 2022, Kei released a ballad, R&B project's 11th single 'Star Road' featuring KozyPop (along with KozyPop), which will be released on May 29, 2022.[21]
In July 2022 it was announced that Kei will hold a Kei from Kei fan meeting, her first face-to-face fan meeting, Ever since she announced her steps as a musical actress, and her first solo fan meeting since debut, which will be held on August 20, 2022.[22]
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOR [23] | |||
| Over and Over |
|
7 |
|
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Sales (DL) |
Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR [25] | ||||
| "I Go" | 2019 | —[upper-alpha 1] | — | Over and Over |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. | ||||
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Sales (DL) |
Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR [25] | ||||
| "Y" (with Myundo featuring Bumzu)[10] |
2016 | 49 |
|
Non album-singles |
| "Beautiful" (with The Solutions)[28][11] |
— | — | ||
| "Wanna Date" (연애하고 싶어) (with Hong Dae-kwang)[29] |
2017 | — | Story About: Some, One Month Eps 5 | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. | ||||
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Sales (DL) |
Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR [25] | ||||
| "Love Moves On" (사랑은 그렇게)[7] | 2015 | — | — | Oh My Venus OST Part 6 |
| "Tingle" (찌릿찌릿)[30] | 2016 | — | Lucky Romance OST Part 1 | |
| "Star and Sun" (별과 해)[31] | 2017 | — |
|
The Emperor: Owner of the Mask OST Part 4 |
| "These Days You & I" (요즘 너 요즘 나)[33] | 2018 | — | — | Queen of Mystery 2 OST Part 2 |
| "Let's Pray"[34][35] | — | Rich Man OST Part 3 | ||
| "If I Convey My Heart" (마음을 전하면)[36] | — | The Last Empress OST Part 3 | ||
| "My Absolute Boyfriend" (초능력 나의 그대)[37] | 2019 | — | My Absolute Boyfriend OST Part 4 | |
| "Ride Or Die" [38] (with Joohoney (Monsta X)) |
2020 | — | Run On OST Part 2 | |
| "Good-Bye Days" (with Wonpil (Day6)) |
2021 | — | Midnight Sun OST Part 2 | |
| "Good-Bye Days" (with Baekho (NU'EST)) |
— | Midnight Sun OST Part 3 | ||
| "Good-Bye Days" (with Onew (Shinee)) |
—[upper-alpha 2] | Midnight Sun OST Part 4 | ||
| "Will My Day Ever Come" (그런 날이 오게 될까?) | —[upper-alpha 3] | Midnight Sun OST Part 5 | ||
| "Good-Bye Days" (with Youngjae (Got7)) |
— | |||
| "A Fairy Tale" (동화 속 이야기) | — | Starting Point of Dating OST Part 2 | ||
| "As I Become Your Wind – Noi Theme" (나 그대의 바람 되어) | — | Blade & Soul 2 - I Become Your Wind OST | ||
| "As I Become Your Wind – Noi Theme (Acoustic Ver.)" (나 그대의 바람 되어 - 노이 테마 (Acoustic Ver.)) | — | Blade & Soul 2 - Pieces of Memory OST | ||
| "Just Stay" (이렇게 그대로) | — | History of The Bible OST | ||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. | ||||

| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Matching! Boys Archery Club | Hong Shi-ah | [9] | |
| 2021 | ONAIR - Secret Contract | Cameo | Sitcom | [41] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Idol Lyricist Idol | Main Cast | with Exy | [42] |
| Year | Title | Role | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | At The Age of Thirty | Okhee | [43] |
| 2021 | Midnight Sun | Seo Haena | [44] |
| 2022 | Xcalibur | Guinevere | [45] |
| Death Note | Amane Misa | [46] | |
| ONAIR | DJ | [47] |
| |
|---|---|
| Studio albums |
|
| Extended plays | |
| Compilation albums | |
| Single albums | |
| Singles |
|
| Television |
|
| |
Woollim Entertainment | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Artists |
| ||||
| Former |
| ||||
| |||||
| General |
|
|---|---|
| National libraries | |
| Other |
|