Karina Biography: Age, Net Worth, Height, Group, Songs, Albums, Ex-Boyfriend, Nationality

Yu Ji-min also known as Karina is a Singer, Rapper, Dancer, and Idol. She is a member and leader of the South Korean girl group aespa, formed by SM Entertainment in November 2020. She is also a member of the supergroup Got the Beat, which debuted in January 2022.

Quick Facts

• Full Name: Yu Ji-min
• Stage Name: Karina
• Born: April 11, 2000
• Age: 25 years old
• Birthplace: Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
• Nationality: South Korean
• Ethnicity: Korean
• Occupation: Singer, Rapper, Dancer, Idol
• Height: 168 cm
• Religion: Christianity
• Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Yu
• Siblings: One older sister
• Spouse: Unknown
• Children: None
• Relationship: Unknown
• Net Worth: $5 million USD

Early Life and Education

Yu Ji-min was born on April 11, 2000, in Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, to her parents Mr. and Mrs. Yu. She grew up in Suwon and later moved to areas including Bundang-gu, Seongnam, with her family consisting of her parents and an older sister.

From a young age, she showed interest in performance, dance, and music, influenced by K-pop and social media exposure. She attended Hansol High School in Bundang, where she completed her education before taking her GED to graduate early due to her trainee commitments.

She was discovered by SM Entertainment through social media at age 16 in 2016 and trained for four years. Her ethnicity is Korean. Her religion is Christianity.

Career

Karina debuted as the leader, main dancer, lead rapper, sub-vocalist, visual, and center of the SM Entertainment girl group aespa on November 17, 2020, with the digital single Black Mamba. She made her first public appearance in Taemin’s Want music video in 2019 and performed as a backup dancer during its promotions.

In 2022, she debuted as a member of the SM project unit GOT the beat with the single Step Back. She has contributed to aespa’s discography including albums like Girls (2021), MY WORLD (2023), and Armageddon (2024), with hits such as Next Level, Savage, Spicy, and Supernova.

She participated in SMTOWN’s 2022 Winter album with the track Hot & Cold. As a fashion icon, she has served as an ambassador for luxury brands and appeared in high-profile campaigns. Her work emphasizes powerful stage presence, dance skills, and charisma in fourth-generation K-pop.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @katarinabluu
• YouTube Channel: aespa Official (group)

Personal Life

Karina is 25 years old and stands at 168 cm tall. She was previously in a public relationship with actor Lee Jae-wook starting in February 2024, confirmed after meeting at a Prada fashion show in Milan, but the relationship ended shortly after due to public attention. No current relationship is confirmed. She has no children.

She keeps personal matters private, focusing on her career, group activities, and fan interactions while residing in Seoul, South Korea.

Net Worth

Karina’s net worth is estimated at $5 million USD. Her income primarily comes from aespa group activities through album sales, streaming royalties on platforms like Spotify and YouTube, music video production, and global tours; solo endorsements and brand ambassadorships for luxury fashion and beauty brands; music releases including group tracks and features; live performances, concerts, and fan meetings; merchandise sales and licensing tied to aespa branding; and group-related media appearances, variety shows, and promotions in the K-pop industry.

Discography

• Black Mamba (debut single, 2020)
• Next Level (single, 2021)
• Savage (single, 2021)
• Girls (mini album, 2022)
• MY WORLD (mini album, 2023)
• Armageddon (mini album, 2024)
• Step Back (with GOT the beat, 2022)
• Hot & Cold (SMTOWN track, 2022)
• Spicy (single, 2023)
• Supernova (single, 2024)
• Various music videos and aespa performances on YouTube
• Taemin Want MV appearance (2019)