Karina's Biography

Yu Ji-min, born April 11, 2000, known professionally as Karina, is a South Korean singer and rapper. She is the leader of the South Korean girl group Aespa, formed by SM Entertainment on November 17, 2020. She is also a member of the supergroup Got the Beat, which debuted on January 3, 2022.

Early life and Education

Karina was born and raised in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, in a family consisting of her parents and an older sister. She attended Hansol High School until she was discovered by an SM Entertainment representative through social media and trained for 4 years before her debut. She then dropped out to focus on training and later obtained a GED equivalent certificate. Karina is Catholic and stated that her baptismal name is Katarina, which is the inspiration for her stage name

Career

Pre-debut

Karina was active on Social Media and was a former ulzzang recruited by an SM casting manager and she became an SM trainee in 2016. In February 2019, Karina appeared in Taemin's "Want" music video and also acted as dancer for the song's promotional stages. On November 1, 2020, she performed alongside EXO's Kai for the virtual showcase held by Hyundai Motors and appeared with him in 'Beyond DRIVE - The all-new TUCSON', a collaboration virtual showcase between Hyundai Motor Company and SM Entertainment.

2020: aespa debut

On October 27, 2020, S.M. Entertainment revealed Karina as the second member of aespa. "Black Mamba" is the debut digital single by aespa. It was released on November 17, 2020.

2021: GOT the beat debut

At the 2021 Mnet Asian Music Awards, Karina opened the award show alongside some 4th generation idols with a collaborated special dance performance. On December 27th, it was announced that Karina would be debuting in the first unit, GOT the beat, of the female project group, Girls On Top. She went on to debut alongside Winter, BoA, Taeyeon and Hyoyeon of Girls' Generation, and Wendy and Seulgi of Red Velvet. The members performed their debut digial single, "Step Back", at the SMTOWN Live 2022 : SMCU Express@Kwangya online concert on January 1, 2022 before the single would be officially released on January 3, 2022

2022-2023: GOT the beat Comeback

On December 23, 2022, Sport TV News reported that GOT the beat would be having their first comeback the following year, set to release sometime in January 2023. A couple of hours later, SM Entertainment confirmed the reports.On December 29, 2022 it was announced that GOT the beat would be releasing their first mini album Stamp On It, on January 16. The album includes six tracks.

Karina's Belief, and Advocacy

Hard Work and Perseverance: Karina has emphasized the importance of hard work and perseverance in achieving her goals. She believes in putting in the effort required to improve and grow as an artist.

Authenticity and Honesty: Karina values authenticity and honesty, encouraging her fans to be true to themselves and not pretend to be someone they're not.

Respect and Kindness: She believes in treating others with respect and kindness, promoting a positive and supportive environment within the aespa fandom.

Self-Improvement and Learning: Karina has expressed her desire to continuously learn and improve, whether it's in terms of her music, performances, or personal growth.

Teamwork and Collaboration: As a member of aespa, Karina understands the importance of teamwork and collaboration. She believes in working together with her fellow members to achieve their goals.

Embracing Individuality: Karina promotes the idea of embracing one's individuality and not being afraid to stand out from the crowd.

Mental Health Awareness: She has spoken about the importance of taking care of one's mental health and has encouraged her fans to prioritize their well-being.

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