Kahi (singer)

This is a Korean name; the family name is Park.
Kahi

Kahi at the press conference of MBC Music Son Dam-bi's Beautiful Days, on March 5, 2013
Born Park Ji-young
(1980-12-25) December 25, 1980
Daegu, South Korea
Occupation
  • Singer
  • dancer
  • choreographer
  • songwriter
  • actress
Agent
Spouse(s) Yang Jun-mu (m. 2016)
Children 1

Musical career

Genres
Years active 2000–present
Labels Pledis Entertainment
Associated acts
Korean name
Hangul 박지영
Hanja
Revised Romanization Bak Ji-yeong
McCune–Reischauer Pak Chi-yŏng
Stage name
Hangul 가희
Revised Romanization Ga-hui
McCune–Reischauer Ka-hŭi

Park Ji-young (Korean: 박지영; born on December 25, 1980), better known by her stage name Kahi (Korean: 가희), is a South Korean singer and actress. She is best known for being the former leader of the girl group After School before embarking on a solo singing and acting career.

Early life

Kahi was born in Daegu on December 25, 1980.[1] She was raised by her grandparents. She found her passion for dancing when she was 16 and also around this time became fascinated by the hip hop group Roo'ra, which would motivate her to become a singer. However, due to family opposition and practical conditions, she could not receive professional training, so during high school she trained herself in singing and dancing. Her father prevailed upon her go to a university in a rural area. At first she obeyed his wishes, however, she was unable to endure being a college student and eventually left her hometown to pursue a dancing career. She did not speak with her father for the next seven years. She went to Seoul alone and without funds. One day a friend took her to an interview to be a backup dancer. She did well at the audition and got the job. She started her dancing career at age 18.

Career

2000–2007: Dancing and S.Blush

In 2000, Kahi was chosen as the main dancer for DJ Doc's mega-hit, "Run to You". However, this instant success also brought her huge stress, and eventually forced her leave. For a period of time, to make an income, she worked as a cleaner, waitress, and sales clerk. A choreographer in SM Entertainment gave her a chance to become a temporary dancer for BoA, which became a full-time position. She gradually gained fame as a dancer and her work with BoA lasted more than three years. Besides BoA, she was also an important backup dancer for Country Kko Kko, Jinusean, 1TYM, Lexy, Chae Yeon, Eun Ji Won, and many others. She was also the dance teacher for Son Dam Bi, May Doni, and Kim Jung Ah, her former bandmate.

Around 2006, after more than five years career as a professional dancer, she began working also as a singer. She joined the Korean American girl group "S. Blush", whose first digital single peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Dance Chart in May 2007.[2] However, due to various reasons, the band soon disbanded.

2007–present: After School and solo career

In late 2007, Kahi contacted some friends in the industry at Pledis Entertainment. Together, they planned for and produced a new group. In January 2009, after years of work and selection of members the group After School was introduced. After School would undergo many member changes and image changes, but Kahi remained as the leader. Rumours of her leaving the group had begun as early as 2010 when Pledis Entertainment initially announced she would release a solo album.[3] In 2010, Kahi joined the cast of reality-variety series Yeongunghogeol (영웅호걸, "Heroes").[4]

The promotional campaign for Kahi's solo debut started in mid-February 2011, with the album jacket photos released on February 9[5] and a teaser video on February 12.[6] The album photos were noted for highlighting the singer's "S-line",[7] while netizens and news articles commented on the contrasting "black vs. white" images and "charisma" in the teaser.[6][8] The mini-album was then released on February 14, 2011.[9] The music video for "Come Back, You Bad Person" was released on February 14, 2011 and Kahi began promotional activities on 18th.[10]

In early 2012, Kahi was cast in Dream High 2, playing a teacher at Kirin Art School. In June 2012, it was announced Kahi would be leaving After School to pursue a solo singing and acting career.[11]

In March 2013, Kahi was rumoured to be having a solo comeback, but it was put on hold.[12] Later over a year from her last solo release, Pledis Entertainment announced on September 25, 2013 that Kahi would be releasing her second mini album, titled "Who Are You?", on October 10.

In 2014, Kahi acted as the lead role of Bonnie in the musical and Korean adaptation of Bonnie & Clyde alongside ZE:A's Hyungsik. In 2016, she was a dance trainer on the girl group survival show Produce 101.[13][14]

Personal life

On March 26, 2016, Kahi married entrepreneur Yang Jun-mu (CEO of Incase Korea) in a private ceremony in Hawaii.[14][15] In May 2016, Kahi announced that she and her husband were expecting their first child.[16] On October 3, Kahi gave birth to a son.[17]

Discography

Kahi discography
Compilation albums 1
Music videos 2
EPs 2
Singles 2
Featured artist 4

Compilation albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
JPN
[18]
Who Are You? & Come Back You Bad Person
  • Released: March 26, 2014
  • Label: Avex Trax
  • Format: CD, digital download
201
  • JPN: 720+
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Extended plays

Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
KOR
[19]
Come Back, You Bad Person (돌아와 나쁜 너)[20] 6
Who Are You?
  • Released: October 10, 2013
  • Label: Pledis Entertainment
  • Format: CD, digital download
13
  • KOR: 2,824+
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Singles

Year Title Peak chart positions Album
KOR
Gaon

[19]
KOR
Billboard

[21]
2011 "Come Back, You Bad Person" 17 Come Back, You Bad Person
2013 "It's ME" 45 51 Who Are You?
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Collaborations

Year Title Peak chart positions Album
KOR
2008 "Bad Boy"
(Son Dambi featuring Kahi)
30 Mini Album Vol.1
2009 "I Want to Buy It"
(E.Bul featuring Kahi of After School)
Non-album release
"Starry Night"
(One Two featuring Kahi of After School)
2010 "One Love"
(Suki featuring Kahi of After School)
First Experience
2015 "Runway"
(Chae Yeon featuring Kahi)
Obvious
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Music videos

Year Music video Length
2011 "Come Back, You Bad Person" 3:11
2013 "It's Me" 3:51

Writing credits

Filmography

Variety shows

Title Notes
Champagne Eps. 82
Happy Together Eps. 156
Heroes Member
Idol Show Season 3 Guest (with After School)
Idol Show Season 5 Guest (with After School)
Infinite Challenge Eps. 32 (with After School)
PlayGirlz School Member (with After School)
Radio Star with Son Dam-bi, Jungah and Nana
Secret
Shin PD's Variety World with After School members
Star Golden Bell
Star King
Strong Heart Eps. 17, 18, 27, 28, 39, 40
Taxi with After School members
Produce 101 Trainer

TV drama

Year Title Role
2009 You're Beautiful Guest role
2012 Dream High Season 2 Hyun Ji Soo
2013 Because We Haven't Broken Up Yet Shim Jae Hee

Music videos

Awards

Years Awards Notes Results
2010 SBS Entertainment Awards Best Newcomer - Variety New Star Award Won

References

  1. 가희(박지영) 가수. Naver (in Korean). 29 July 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  2. Chung, Ah-young (29 April 2007). "Korean Group Ranks 2nd in Billboard Chart". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
  3. (Korean) Park, Yeong-ju. After School, 가희 솔로설에 네티즌 “가희, 졸업하나?” (After School's Kahi Debuts Solo; Netizens Ask, "Kahi, Are You Graduating?"). Korea Economic Daily. June 3, 2010. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
  4. (Korean) Lee, Mi-hye. SBS '영웅호걸', 걸그룹 예능 선봉장 KBS '청춘불패' 뛰어넘을까? (Can SBS's Heroes Leap Over Predecessor Invincible Youth?). Kyunghyang Shinmun. July 5, 2010. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
  5. (Korean) Kim, Won-gyeon. 애프터 스쿨 가희 솔로음반, 베일 벗었다 (After School's Kahi's Solo Album, Veil Removed). The Dong-a Ilbo. February 9, 2011. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
  6. 1 2 (Korean) 가희, 블랙 섹시 vs 청순 화이트..'돌아와 나쁜너' 티저공개 (Kahi Releases Teaser for "Come Back, You Bad Person"...Black Sexy vs. Innocent White) Stoo.com/Asia Economy. February 12, 2011. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
  7. (Korean) Kim, Yong-seub. '환상적 보디라인' 가희, 도발적 섹시미 발산 ("Fantastic Body Line" Kahi, Radiates Provocative Sexiness). Sports Seoul. February 11, 2011. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
  8. (Korean) 가희, '돌아와 나쁜 너' 티저 공개…"가희 여신" (Kahi Releases "Come Back, You Bad Person" Teaser... "Kahi is a Godddess"). Money Today. February 11, 2011. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
  9. (Korean) 돌아와 나쁜 너 (EP). Mnet store listing. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
  10. (Korean) Kim, Won-gyeon. 걸그룹 대세?…여자 솔로들이 움직인다 (Girl Group Trend?... Female Solo Artists are Moving. The Dong-a Ilbo. February 13, 2011. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
  11. "Kahi to graduate from After School". allkpop. June 5, 2012. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  12. "AfterSchoolDaze". Retrieved 2016-01-15.
  13. Kim Jae-heun (25 January 2016). "Produce 101, another Mnet tearjerker". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
  14. 1 2 Bahk Eun-ji (March 15, 2016). "K-pop diva Kahi to marry millionaire". The Korea Times. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  15. Jeong Byung-ki (March 16, 2016). "Singer Kahi to be wed in Hawaii". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  16. Lee Kyung-ho (May 13, 2016). "[단독]가희, 임신 3개월 째.."11월 출산 예정"" [[Exclusive] Kahi, 3 months pregnant... "due date in November"]. Star News (in Korean). Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  17. "가희 측 "오늘(3일) 득남, 병원서 안정 취하는 중"". 2016-10-03. Retrieved 2016-10-04.
  18. "Oricon Chart" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
  19. 1 2 "Gaon Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Chart. Retrieved 2010-12-03.
  20. "Come Back, You Bad Person (돌아와 나쁜 너) at Daum Music" (in Korean). Daum Music. 2011-02-14. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
  21. "Billboard Korea" (in Korean). Billboard. Retrieved 2013-10-18.
  22. "Kahi grinds up on Eun Ji Won in his old MV | allkpop.com". www.allkpop.com. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
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