Karina (musician) Biography: Boyfriend, Age, Height, Net Worth, Songs, Parents, Dating, Career

Yu Ji-min, known professionally as Karina, is a South Korean singer, rapper, and dancer celebrated for her role as the leader, main dancer, lead rapper, sub-vocalist, visual, and center of the K-pop girl group Aespa under SM Entertainment.

Debuting with Aespa in 2020 with the record-breaking single “Black Mamba,” she has become a prominent figure in K-pop, known for her dynamic performances and contributions to the group’s metaverse-inspired concept.

Karina is also a member of the supergroup Got the Beat and has made waves as a solo artist with her 2024 single “Up,” earning her first solo music show award.

Profile

• Full Name: Yu Ji-min
• Stage Name: Karina
• Born: 11, April 2000
• Age: 25 years old
• Birthplace: Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
• Nationality: South Korean
• Occupation: Singer, Rapper, Dancer
• Height: 1.68m
• Parents: Mr. Yu and Mrs. Yu
• Siblings: One older sister (b. 1995)
• Spouse: None
• Boyfriend: Lee Jae-wook (ex)
• Children: None
• Relationship: Single
• Net Worth: $2 million

Early Life and Education

Karina was born on April 11, 2000, in Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, and raised in Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, in a family with her parents and an older sister.

She attended Seongnam Shingi Elementary School, Jeongja Middle School, and Hansol High School until she was scouted by SM Entertainment via social media in 2016.

A former ulzzang (known for her striking looks online), she dropped out of high school to focus on her four-year training and later obtained a GED equivalent certificate.

Her ethnicity is Korean, and she is Catholic, with her stage name derived from her baptismal name, Katarina.

Career

Karina’s career began as an SM Entertainment trainee in 2016. She first gained attention in February 2019, appearing in SHINee’s Taemin’s “Want” music video and performing as a backup dancer during its promotions.

In 2020, she starred alongside EXO’s Kai in Hyundai’s virtual showcase Beyond DRIVE. On October 28, 2020, SM introduced her as the second member of Aespa, and she debuted as the group’s leader on November 17 with “Black Mamba,” which set a record for the most-viewed K-pop debut video in 24 hours.

Aespa’s subsequent releases, like “Next Level” (2021) and “Savage” (2021), earned critical and commercial success, with “Next Level” winning a Daesang at the 19th Korean Music Awards.

In January 2022, Karina debuted with the SM supergroup Got the Beat, alongside Aespa’s Winter and artists like BoA and Taeyeon, releasing “Step Back.”

Her solo career took off in 2024 with “Up,” a track from Aespa’s Synk: Parallel Line, which she co-wrote and performed at their world tour. The song hit the top ten on the Circle Digital Chart and won her a solo award at Show! Music Core on October 19, 2024.

She also released “Sad Waltz” for the Netflix series Song of the Bandits (2023) and contributed to SMTOWN’s “The Cure” and “Hot & Cold” (2022).

Beyond music, Karina hosted Travel Diary Soul: Seoul (2021), served as a special MC for Show! Music Core (2023), and joined Netflix’s Agents of Mystery (2024). Her endorsements include Givenchy, YSL Beauty, and Converse Korea.

Karina faced public scrutiny in 2024 after a brief relationship with actor Lee Jae-wook, confirmed in February and ended in April due to fan backlash, prompting a handwritten apology.

In May 2025, an Instagram post featuring a red jacket with “No. 2” sparked political controversy, misinterpreted as support for the People Power Party. SM Entertainment clarified it was unintentional, and Karina apologized, highlighting the intense pressure on K-pop idols to remain apolitical.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @katarinabluu
• Twitter Handle: @aespa_official

Personal Life

Karina remains single as of now, having not entered into any confirmed romantic relationships since her breakup with Lee Jae-wook in April 2024.

Over the past year, she has focused on her personal growth and career, choosing to keep her private life away from the public eye.

Despite occasional rumors and speculation about potential partners, none have been substantiated or publicly acknowledged by Karina herself.

Additionally, she does not have any children, which aligns with her current lifestyle and priorities.

Discography

• “Black Mamba” (2020)
• “Next Level” (2021)
• “Savage” (2021)
• “Dreams Come True” (2021)
• “The Cure” (2022)
• “Hot & Cold” (2022)
• “Sad Waltz” (2023)
• “Up” (2024)
• “Whiplash” (2024)
• “Dirty Work” (2025)

Net Worth

Karina has an estimated net worth of $2 million, earned through her music career with Aespa and Got the Beat, including album sales, tours, and royalties.

Additional income comes from endorsements with brands like Givenchy, YSL Beauty, and Converse Korea, as well as television appearances and her role in Agents of Mystery.