Jennie Kim, better known simply as Jennie, is a prominent K-pop idol. Born in 1996 in Seoul’s upscale Gangnam District, she is an only child. Her mother is a director and shareholder at CJ ENM, a leading media conglomerate, while her father runs a hospital. At a young age, Jennie moved to New Zealand, where she became fluent in English.
She returned to Seoul around 2010 and soon joined YG Entertainment. In 2016, she debuted as a member of BLACKPINK, a group that quickly rose to global fame. As the main rapper and lead vocalist, Jennie stood out for both her talent and charisma. In 2018, she launched her solo career with the single “SOLO,” which amassed over 300 million YouTube views in just six months—a record for a South Korean female solo artist at the time. While working on “SOLO,” she contributed creative input to the choreography and put together all the outfits featured in the music video.
In addition to her success in music, Jennie made her television debut in 2023 as part of the cast of HBO’s The Idol. The role earned her the distinction of being the first Korean idol to appear in an American drama series. In March 2025, Jennie released her debut solo album, Ruby, which blends pop, hip-hop, and R&B. The album features collaborations with global artists such as Dua Lipa and Childish Gambino. In its first week, Ruby sold one million copies and reached the top 10 on the charts in 19 countries.