Lee Chae-yeon (Korean: 이채연; born January 11, 2000), known mononymously as Chaeyeon, is a South Korean singer, dancer, rapper and songwriter. She is a former member of the South Korean–Japanese girl group Iz*One, which she joined after placing 12th place on Mnet's girl group survival show Produce 48.[1] Chaeyeon made her solo debut with the extended play Hush Rush in October 2022.
Early life
Chaeyeon was born on January 11, 2000, in Yongin, South Korea.[2][unreliable source?] She attended Seocheon High School and graduated in February 2020.[citation needed] She has two younger sisters, Chaeryeong of Itzy and Lee Chae-min.[3]
Chaeyeon appeared for the first time on television along with her younger sister, Chaeryeong, during the 3rd season of K-pop Star. Both she and her sister were eliminated from the show, however, they were able to join JYP Entertainment as trainees.[4][5]
Then in 2015, she participated in Mnet's reality survival show Sixteen, which eventually determined the members of girl group Twice.[6] She was eliminated in the 3rd episode of Sixteen and was unable to debut. Sometime after being eliminated from Sixteen, she eventually left JYP and joined WM Entertainment.[citation needed]
2018–2021: Produce 48, debut with Iz*One, and solo activities
On April 29, 2021, Iz*One disbanded after the group's contract expired.[10] On July 11, 2021, it was announced that she would be participating in the reality TV show Street Woman Fighter as one of the Want dance crew members.[11] The crew was eliminated on the 6th episode.[12] In September, it was announced Lee and former Iz*One members Jo Yu-ri and Kang Hye-won would-be hosts in a new web show titled Adola Travel Agency: Cheat-ing Trip.[13]
On December 13, 2021, Lee acted alongside Kang Chan-hee in a short promotional video for Busan Tourism Organization.[14]
2022–present: Debut with Hush Rush, and Over the Moon
On September 15, 2022, WM Entertainment confirmed that Chaeyeon would be making her solo debut in October.[15][16] On September 21, a teaser was posted announcing her debut extended play, Hush Rush, which was released on October 12, 2022. Along with an accompanying music video and three additional songs: "Same but Different", "Danny" and "Aquamarine".[17][18]
On March 21, 2023, it was announced that Chaeyeon would be releasing her second extended play titled Over the Moon on April 12.[19] Despite a slow start, "Knock," the lead single off of Over the Moon, achieved a remarkable rise on South Korean music charts. The single debuted at number 521 on Melon Daily Chart before rising to number 50 on May 2, nearly a month after the single's release, at which time it also entered the Melon Real-time Chart at number 17.[20] On Circle Digital Chart, "Knock" debuted at number 197 and peaked at number 26.[21][22] On April 24, it was announced that Chaeyeon would be a contestant on the Mnet reality competition show Queendom Puzzle.[23] However, on May 19, it was announced that Chaeyeon would be leaving the show prior to its airdate.[24] She went on to appear in the episodes that she had filmed prior to her withdrawal. On September 6, Chaeyeon released her first single album titled The Move: Street, with the lead single "Let's Dance".[25] On July 3, 2024, she released her 3rd extended play, Showdown with the title track "Don't."[26]
^Yoon, Sang-geun (December 1, 2013). "'K팝★3' 타고난 댄서 자매 등장..심사위원 극찬". Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 19, 2023. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
^"[단독]이채연, '골때녀' 합류...'FC 탑걸' 막내로 힘차게 '노크'" [[Exclusive] Lee Chae-yeon joins 'Goal Girl'... 'FC Top Girl' youngest member, 'Knocks' with power]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Jeong Bit. May 8, 2024. Archived from the original on September 9, 2024. Retrieved August 16, 2024.