Kim Ji-woo (Korean pronunciation:[kimd͡ʑiu]; Korean: 김지우, born October 20, 1999), known professionally by her stage name Chuu (츄), is a South Korean singer, actress and television personality. She is a former member of the South Korean girl groupLoona and its sub-unit, yyxy.
Kim Ji-woo was born on October 20, 1999, in Cheongju, North Chungcheong, South Korea. She is the eldest of three children, with two younger brothers. For her audition she sang "Halo" by Beyoncé.[2] Her stage name "Chuu" is derived from saying her given name quickly.[3] She graduated from Cheongju's Saet-byul Elementary school (샛별초등학교) and San-nam Middle school (산남중학교).[4][5]
On December 14, 2017, Chuu was revealed as the tenth member of the Korean idolgirl groupLoona. As part of the group's pre-debut release strategy, on December 28, she released her self-titled single album with "Heart Attack" as its title track.[6]Chuu reached number 8 on the Gaon Album Chart.[7] She was introduced as part of Loona's third sub-unit Loona yyxy. The sub-unit includes members Yves, Gowon and HyeJu,[8] and their EP, Beauty & the Beat, was released on May 30, 2018,[9] reached number 4 on the Gaon Album Chart.[10] She officially debuted with the whole group on August 20 with the EP [+ +],[11] which peaked at number 2 on the Gaon Album Chart.[12]
On May 10, 2019, Chuu made her acting debut and starred in the web drama Dating Class as Han Eun-sol.[13][14] In July to September, she co-hosted the second season of the variety show Insane Quiz Show with MJ of Astro and Il-hoon of BtoB. The show brings in two celebrity guests each episode and have them partake with them in various challenges.[15][16]
In January 2020, Chuu appeared at MBC's 2020 Lunar New Year Idol Star Championships. However, MBC was inundated with criticism because it was discovered that a male staff pulled her hair.[17][18][19] In March 2020, Chuu competed in King of Mask Singer under the name "Spring Girl", a character who dressed in a spring outfit with flowers in her hair and a flat paper mask that covers her eyes and mouth. She was eliminated in the second of the two days of competition.[20] In December 2020, she co-starred in Running Girls, a Mnet show where five K-pop idols form a running team and try out different running courses in South Korea.[21]
In 2021, Chuu started to host her own web series on YouTube called Chuu Can Do It where she spreads awareness about the need to protect the Earth through environmentally friendly practices.[3][22] Chuu also hosted Hauteur, a web series that was made in collaboration with Lotte Department Store to help promote their store among generation Z.[23] In March 2021, Chuu was a regular panelist in the Channel A show Steel Troops where she comments on teams from Korea's armed forces competing against each other.[24] She appeared as a model for a television commercial of Dong-a Otsuka's Pocari Sweat.[25] She also appeared in a television commercial of Samsung Galaxy Store in May 2021,[26] South Korean chicken brand "Chicken Maru",[27] mobile RTS game "Warpath",[28] and BC Card.[29] She participated in the reality documentary show Law of the Jungle for the episodes titled "Spring Special in Jeju".[30] At the end of 2021, Chuu filed an application for a provisional injunction against her agency, Blockberry Creative, to suspend the exclusive contract. It was also reported that in April 2022, she had founded her own company, with herself as the CEO.[needs update?][31][32]
On June 27, 2022, Chuu released the single "Lullaby" with B.I as a collaboration with Dingo Music.[33] On August 11, it was announced that Chuu would release "One and Half", a remake of the 1994 track by Two Two, on September 4.[34] On October 16, Chuu released a remake of the 1999 Park Hye-kyung song "Confession" as the theme song of the 2022 film Similar.[35] On November 25, Blockberry Creative announced on the official fancafe that Chuu had been expelled from Loona, citing "reports of abuse of power, such as Chuu's abusive language towards our staff."[36] Chuu was then caught up in rumors of power abuse, transfer, and bullying within her company. Blockberry Creative refused to reveal evidence concerning the rumors of power abuse to the public,[37] facing criticism and skepticism from fans, with some industry professionals who had previously worked with Chuu questioning the allegations made against her.[38] On December 5, Chuu released "Dear My Winter" with South Korean R&B singer George as part of Lotte Shopping's "Songs for You" series.[39]
On February 23, 2023, Chuu released "Let's Love" with Kim Yo-han, which is part of Project Restless.[40] In April 2023, Chuu signed an exclusive contract with a new entertainment company, ATRP.[1] On September 18, ATRP announced that Chuu would be making her debut as a solo artist on October 18, with her first extended play Howl and the lead single of the same name.[41]
On February 13, 2024, Chuu released a digital single "Chocolate", with an English-language version of the song being released the next day.[42] On May 22, ATRP confirmed Chuu was filming a music video in Australia for her second album, to be released in June.[43] On May 29, it was officially announced that Chuu would be releasing her second extended play Strawberry Rush on June 25.[44] The music video for the lead single of the same name was released together with the album.[45] On August 2, it was announced that Chuu would be returning to acting in the fantasy romance drama My Girlfriend is a Real Man, based on webtoon of the same name.[46]
On December 28, 2022, Chuu announced through her YouTube channel that all proceeds from the merchandise sold at the Jiwoo store were donated to the Korea Music Power Plant to improve the welfare of musicians.[47]
In the wake of a wave of bullying allegations against various stars in the K-pop industry, Chuu was one of the people accused of bullying at school in February 2021. However, the accuser apologized for the false claims as they were found to be unfounded after Blockberry Creative announced that they would be taking legal action against the accuser.[49][50]
^"Lullaby" did not enter the Circle Digital Chart, but appeared at number 81 and 103 on the component Download chart and BGM chart, respectively.[55][56]
^"Howl" did not enter the Circle Digital Chart, but appeared at number 30 on the component Download chart.[57]
^"Chocolate (English Ver.)" was released on February 14, 2024.
^"Chocolate" did not enter the Circle Digital Chart, but appeared at number 27 on the component Download chart.[58]
^"Strawberry Rush" did not enter the Circle Digital Chart, but appeared at number 23 on the component Download chart.[59]
^ abKim, Min-ji (April 7, 2023). 츄, 신생 기획사 ATRP와 전속계약 체결 [공식] [Chuu signs an exclusive contract with the new agency ATRP [Official]]. News 1 (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved April 7, 2023 – via Naver.
^Lee, Chang-kyu (February 23, 2021). ""도벽도 있었다" 이달의 소녀(LOONA) 츄 학폭 추가 폭로글 등장...김립도 가담?" ["She was also a theft." Loona Chuu additional school violence revelation appeared. Kim Lip joined?]. Top Star News. Archived from the original on February 23, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
^Kim, Su-hyoung (July 8, 2021). "'이달의 소녀' 츄, 진짜 김재원이랑 잇몸까지 똑 닮았네! ('라디오스타')" [Loona Chuu's gums looks exactly like Kim Jaewon's! (Radio Star)]. Osen. Archived from the original on August 4, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
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^Jeon, Hyo-jin (April 7, 2018). "이달의 소녀 세 번째 유닛 'yyxy', 티저 공개" [Loona's third unit, 'yyxy', teaser release.]. Sports Donga (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
^Ahn, Jin-yong (May 30, 2018). "'빌보드가 주목한' 걸그룹 이달의 소녀, 30일 새 유닛 베일 벗는다" ["Billboard's Attention" girl group Loona, will take off her new unit's veil on the 30th.]. Munhwa (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
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^ abJeong, Hee-yeon (May 2, 2019). "웹드라마 '필수연애교양' 10일 첫 공개...강의로 연애 배웠어요" [Web drama 'Essential Love Culture' will be released for the first time on the 10th. I learned how to date in class.]. Sports Donga (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 29, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
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^Choi, Hee-jae (March 30, 2021). "이달의소녀 츄, 포카리스웨트 모델 발탁...손예진·한지민 계보 잇는다 [공식입장]" [Loona Chuu selected as a model for Pocari Sweat...Son Ye-jin and Han Ji-min's genealogy [Official position]]. Xsports News (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
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^Kim, Ye-na (August 12, 2022). "이달소 츄, 투투 대표곡 '일과 이분의 일' 재해석...9월 4일 발표" [Lee Dalso Chuu, reinterpreting Tutu's representative song 'One and a half'... Announced on September 4th]. X-ports News (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 12, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022 – via Naver.
^Jang, Woo-young (October 5, 2022). "이달의 소녀 츄, 박혜경 대표곡 '고백' 리메이크...16일 공개" [Loona Chuu, Park Hye-kyung's representative song 'Confession' remake... open on the 16th] (in Korean). Osen. Archived from the original on October 5, 2022. Retrieved October 5, 2022 – via Naver.
^Myung, Hee-seok (October 6, 2023). "'솔로 데뷔' 츄, 다크한 비주얼로 변신...파격적 가사까지" ['Solo debut' Chu transforms into a dark visual... Even unconventional lyrics] (in Korean). Xports News. Archived from the original on October 10, 2023. Retrieved October 7, 2023 – via Naver.
^Seon, Mi-gyeong (February 13, 2024). "츄, 오늘(13일) 츄표 러브송 'Chocolate' 발매..밸런타인데이 선물" [Chuu releases love song 'Chocolate' today (13th)..Valentine's Day gift] (in Korean). Osen. Archived from the original on May 29, 2024. Retrieved May 29, 2024 – via Naver.
^Kim, Ji-won (May 22, 2024). "츄, 6월 솔로 컴백 확정 "호주서 MV 촬영 중"" [Chuu confirms solo comeback in June, "filming MV in Australia"] (in Korean). Tenasia. Archived from the original on May 22, 2024. Retrieved May 22, 2024 – via Naver.
^Seon, Mi-gyeong (May 29, 2024). "츄, 6월 25일 컴백 확정..'Strawberry Rush' 발매[공식]" [Chuu's comeback confirmed on June 25th...'Strawberry Rush' to be released [Official]] (in Korean). Osen. Archived from the original on May 29, 2024. Retrieved May 29, 2024 – via Naver.
^Jang, Woo-young (June 25, 2024). "히어로 소녀 츄의 질주, 꿈을 향해 'Strawberry Rush' [퇴근길 신곡]" [Hero girl Chuu's run towards her dream, 'Strawberry Rush' [New song on the way home from work]] (in Korean). Osen. Archived from the original on June 25, 2024. Retrieved June 30, 2024 – via Naver.
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^Jung Hye-won (December 28, 2022). "이달소 제명' 츄, '지켜츄' 수익금 전액 기부 "성원에 힘입어" [Lee Dalso's exile' Chuu donated all proceeds from 'Keep Chuu' "Thanks to your support] (in Korean). SpoTV News. Archived from the original on December 28, 2022. Retrieved December 28, 2022 – via Naver.
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^ abcHowl (EP) (photobook). CHUU. South Korea: ATRP, Genie Music. 2023. Credits.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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