Yu Jimin Biography: Age, Height, Songs, Net Worth, Boyfriend, Album, Nationality

Yu Ji-min, known professionally as Karina, is a South Korean singer, rapper, dancer, and actress, celebrated as the leader of the K-pop girl group aespa under SM Entertainment.

Karina’s magnetic stage presence and versatile talents have made her a standout figure in K-pop’s fourth generation.

Profile

• Full Name: Yu Ji-min
• Stage Name: Karina
• Born: April 11, 2000
• Age: 25 years old
• Birthplace: Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
• Nationality: South Korean
• Occupation: Singer, Rapper, Dancer, Actress, TV Host
• Height: 5 feet 5 inches (167.6 cm)
• Religion: Christianity
• Parents: Unknown
• Siblings: One
• Spouse: None
• Children: None
• Relationship: Single
• Net Worth: $1 million to $2 million

Early Life & Education

Yu Ji-min was born on April 11, 2000, in Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, into a supportive middle-class family.

Her ethnicity is Korean, and she was raised in a Protestant Christian household, attending church regularly.

Growing up with an older sister, Karina was a lively child who loved dancing and performing. From the age of eight, she trained in modern dance and taekwondo, achieving a black belt by her teenage years.

Karina attended Seongnam Shingi Elementary School and Hansol High School in Seongnam, where she was recognized for her academic diligence and participation in extracurricular activities.

She balanced school with dance and taekwondo training, showcasing her work ethic. No public records confirm higher education, as her career took precedence post-high school.

Career

Karina joined SM Entertainment in 2016, training for four years before debuting as aespa’s leader on November 17, 2020, with the digital single “Black Mamba,” which set a record for the most-viewed K-pop debut video in 24 hours (21.4 million views).

As aespa’s prominent rapper, lead dancer, sub-vocalist, and visual, she helped pioneer the group’s “metaverse” concept, featuring virtual avatars in songs like “Next Level” (2021) and “Savage” (2021).

She contributed lyrics to tracks like “Illusion” and “Hot Mess,” showcasing her creative input. aespa’s success includes topping South Korea’s Circle Chart and achieving global recognition with albums like Girls (2022) and Whiplash (2024).

Beyond music, Karina made her acting debut in the web drama Fragrant Love (2025), playing a lead role alongside Park Solomon.

She co-hosted MMTG (2022–present) and starred in My ARTi Film (2024), where she interviewed stars such as IU and NewJeans’ Minji.

She performed as a virtual avatar in the Hollywood film Tetris (2023) and appeared in SHINee’s Key’s “Gasoline” music video (2022).

Karina is a global ambassador for Prada, Converse, and E.L.F. Cosmetics, and in 2024, she walked the runway for Prada’s Milan Fashion Week.

Her pre-debut work includes dancing in Taemin’s “Want” music video (2019). Despite a 2024 dating controversy with actor Lee Jae-wook, which ended after five weeks due to fan backlash, Karina’s professionalism has kept her career thriving.

Social Media

• Instagram handle: @katarinabluu

Personal Life

Karina, 25, lives in Seoul, South Korea, standing at 5 feet 5 inches and weighing approximately 103 lbs (47 kg).

An Aries with an ENFP MBTI, she’s known for her confident yet warm personality, earning nicknames like “Karomi” and “Leader-nim.”

She’s single, following a brief relationship with actor Lee Jae-wook in 2024, which ended due to public scrutiny.

Karina loves video games (League of Legends, Valorant), anime (Attack on Titan), and spicy food like tteokbokki. She’s close to her sister and aespa members, particularly Winter, and admires IU and f(x)’s Krystal.

Net Worth

Karina’s net worth is estimated to be between $1 million and $2 million.

Her income comes from aespa’s music sales, tours (e.g., Synk: Parallel Line tour), and endorsements with Prada, Converse, and E.L.F. Cosmetics.

Acting in Fragrant Love, hosting MMTG, and runway appearances add to her earnings. aespa’s commercial success, with albums selling millions, supports her financial growth.

Discography

• aespa: Black Mamba (2020), Savage (2021), Girls (2022), My World (2023), Whiplash (2024)
• Lyricist: “Illusion” (2022), “Hot Mess” (2024)
• Collaborations: SHINee Key’s “Gasoline” (2022, music video)

Filmography

• Tetris (2023) – Virtual avatar (film)
• Fragrant Love (2025) – Lead role (web drama)
• MMTG (2022–present) – Co-host (YouTube show)
• My ARTi Film (2024) – Host (TV show)
• Synk Road (2022) – Herself (reality show)
• Inkigayo (2021) – Special MC (SBS music show)