Kang Ji-young
Kang Ji-young (born January 18, 1994), also known as Jiyoung or JY, is a South Korean singer and actress based in Japan. She is a former member of the South Korean girl group Kara. Life and career. Kang Ji-young was born on January 18, 1994, in Paju, South Korea. She is the cousin of the K-pop singer NS Yoon-G. She attended Bongilcheon Middle School and Muhak Women's High School, graduating from the latter in February 2012. 2008–2014: Kara. Jiyoung joined the girl group Kara in 2008 along with member Hara, following the  departure of former member Kim Sung-hee. She was 14 years old at the time, making her the youngest member of the group. Jiyoung was the only Korean female singer to be featured on CDTV Japan's Favorite Female Artist Ranking for 2011, where she was ranked at #21. On January 15, 2014, it was announced that she would leave the group once her contract expired in April 2014 to focus on her studies with acting and language skills in London. 2014–present: Solo career. After leaving Kara, Jiyoung signed with the agency Sweet Power to resume her activities in  Japan as an actress, using her name in kanji, 知英. She made her first appearance in the 19th Tokyo Girls Collection fashion show in the Saitama Super Arena on September 6. Jiyoung's first work in Japan was the live-action of "Hell Teacher Nube", where she played the heroine, Yukime. In December 2015, Sony Music announced that Jiyoung would debut as a singer under the name of JY. Her first solo single was "The Last Farewell" (最後のサヨナラ, saigo no sayonara), for the OST for the Japan NTV drama "Higanbana". On March 18, 2016, she released her debut solo EP  as JY, "Radio", consisting of three tracks. Two of the three tracks were released with music videos. "Radio" was written by London-based songwriter and producer MNEK, while Darren Craig directed its music video. "Radio" peaked at #2 on the iTunes Pop Top Song Chart. It was marketed in the US and other parts of Asia in addition to South Korea and Japan. On February 2022, it is reported that Kang has decided not to renew her contract with KeyEast. On April 6, 2022, it was announced that Kang signed with Elrise Entertainment.