Kang Hae-rin (Korean: 강해린; born May 15, 2006), known mononymously as Haerin, is a South Korean singer. She is best known as a member of the South Korean girl group NewJeans, which debuted on July 22, 2022, under the record label ADOR.
Kang Hae-rin was born on May 15, 2006, in Seoul, South Korea.[1][2] Her family consists of her parents and a younger sister, born three years apart.[3] She initially attended Seoul Boramae Elementary School [ko] before transferring to Kwiin Elementary School [ko].[3] She attended Pyeongchon Middle School before dropping out, although she later passed the middle school and high school qualification exams to obtain a GED equivalent certificate.[4] She was a trainee at another agency before officially joining Source Music in early 2020.[5]
On July 1, 2022, ADOR teased the launch of their first girl group, NewJeans, by posting three animated featuring the numbers "22", "7" and "22" on their social media accounts, fueling speculation that content would be released on July 22.[6] Haerin debuted alongside the group with the surprise-released music video for their debut single "Attention" on July 22, 2022, without any prior promotion or information regarding the group's members.[7][8] On July 21, 2023, NewJeans released their second extended play, Get Up, in which Haerin was credited for the first time as a lyricist for her contribution to the song "New Jeans".[9][10]
On June 2, 2024, Haerin debuted as a special MC for SBS' K-Wave Concert Inkigayo held at the Inspire Arena in Incheon, South Korea, alongside Yunho and Han Yu-jin of boy groups Ateez and Zerobaseone respectively.[11]
Following her debut, Haerin quickly went viral in South Korea and abroad for her distinctive facial features, reminiscent of a cat, which have become a defining characteristic of her persona.[4][12]The Times of India noted that "as NewJeans breaks barriers and re-defines standards, Haerin stands at the forefront, a beacon of talent and style".[13]
On April 26, 2023, Haerin was appointed by Dior as a global ambassador in jewellery and house ambassador in beauty and fashion.[14] She is the first K-pop artist to be simultaneously named ambassador for all three categories.[12]
^Kim, Ye-eun (July 23, 2024). "이 연습생 귀신 씌였니?"...민희진, 무속인 손잡고 뉴진스 데뷔? [엑's 이슈] ["Is this trainee possessed by a ghost?"...Min Hee-jin, debuting with NewJeans by joining hands with a shaman? [X's issue]] (in Korean). Xports News [ko]. Archived from the original on August 21, 2024. Retrieved August 8, 2024 – via Naver.
^Ahn, Jung-hoon (August 3, 2022). 걸그룹 뉴진스, 데뷔 초부터 돌풍...한국 스포티파이 1위 [Girl group New Jeans, a blast from the beginning of their debut #1 on Spotify in Korea]. Yonhap News Agency. Archived from the original on August 12, 2022. Retrieved August 13, 2022 – via Naver.
^ abPark, Gyeol (May 27, 2024). 스트레이 키즈→뉴진스...내달 'K-웨이브 콘서트 인기가요' [Stray Kids → New Jeans... Next month's 'K-Wave Concert Popular Song'] (in Korean). Newsen. Archived from the original on May 27, 2024. Retrieved July 11, 2024 – via Naver.
^Seo, Dong-beom (May 4, 2024). 뉴진스 해린과 눈 맞추다 [Make eye contact with New Jeans Haerin]. Design Scene (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 21, 2024. Retrieved August 13, 2024.