HeeJin (Hangul: 희진) is the first revealed member of LOONA and a member of its first sub-unit, LOONA 1/3.

She was born as Jeon Hee-Jin (Hangul: 전희진) on October 19, 2000 in Bundang District, Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.

She debuted on September 26, 2016 as a member and subsequently released her solo single album HeeJin on October 5, 2016.

Early life (2000–2016)

HeeJin was born as Jeon Hee-Jin on October 19, 2000 in Bundang District, Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. She is the youngest of three daughters in her family. She attended Baek-suk Elementary School and Saint Paul Girls’ Middle School in Chungnam, South Korea. At some point during her childhood, she lived for one month in Brazil.

HeeJin first wanted to become a singer when she was in middle school. At one time, both her sisters had similar dreams, but those dreams were ultimately unrealized. HeeJin has stated that one of the reasons she became a singer was to make her sisters’ unfulfilled dreams come true, and has cited her sisters as being her biggest supporters.

In pursuit of her goals, HeeJin traveled long distances in order to attend a dance academy. Her father began discouraging her dreams of becoming a singer after she was rejected at 20 different auditions. However, in 2015 she was cast through social media by BlockBerryCreative and became a trainee. HeeJin trained for one year before she was selected to be the first member of the agency’s upcoming girl group.

2016: Reveal, solo debut, “I’ll Be There”, “The Carol”

On September 25, 2016, a video teaser titled “LOONA’s 1st Member ‘HeeJin’ SeoulTeaser” was released on YouTube featuring promotional posters of HeeJin on the streets of Seoul.

She released her solo single album HeeJin on October 5, 2016 and subsequently debuted as a member of girl group LOONA.

On October 2, a video teaser titled “Paris” was released on YouTube to tease the acoustic mix of “ViViD”, featuring HeeJin while filming in Paris.

On November 10, HeeJin had a cameo in the alternate version of the music video for HyunJin’s “Around You”. She additionally released a song with HyunJin titled “I’ll Be There,” which was included on HyunJin’s debut single.

On December 15, HeeJin released “The Carol” alongside HyunJin and HaSeul as a track on HaSeul’s debut single.

HeeJin is the only member to not have a “Who’s Next Girl?” teaser image; as she was first member, such a teaser was unnecessary.

2017: “My Sunday”, commercial films, LOONA 1/3, “Singing in the Rain”, Woomanna, MIXNINE

On January 16, HeeJin and HyunJin released their second duet, “My Sunday”, as a part of member YeoJin’s debut single.

On February 14, HeeJin was revealed as a member the sub-unit LOONA 1/3, and debuted with “Love & Live” on March 13.

HeeJin has had cameos and supporting roles in the highest number of solo music videos out of all members of LOONA. On April 17, HeeJin was included in member ViVi’s music video “Everyday I Love You”, alongside HyunJin, HaSeul, and YeoJin. On June 23, she was featured on a special version of JinSoul’s “Singing in the Rain” where she covered the rap portion of the song. On December 9, she appeared in HyunJin’s special music video “Around You - Woomanna Special Ver.” which featured scenes from the web drama Woomanna; HeeJin starred in first season and second seasons of Woomanna in a main role.

In October, HeeJin, along with fellow LOONA members HyunJin and HaSeul, auditioned for the survival reality show MIXNINE. After passing the audition, she became a contestant as a representative of her agency and idol group. HeeJin made it until the final episode, but was eliminated when the boys’ team won against the girls’.

HeeJin starred in a number of commercial films in 2017, including for Innisfree on January 18, Law of Creation on May 16 (with LOONA 1/3), HANYUL on May 21, and HIGH CUT on September 4.

2018: AVAJAR, “Rosy”, LG QT/QT/ + TV, debut in LOONA

In March 2018, BlockBerry Creative announced HeeJin had signed an advertising model contract with Korean cosmetics brand AVAJAR. She advertised the company’s products along with Kyulkyung (formerly of PRISTIN) and Cheng Xiao of WJSN (Cosmic Girls). Shortly afterwards, a commercial film featuring HeeJin along with HyunJin, Cheng Xiao, Kyulkyung, and members of Super Junior was released for the brand.

On March 7, HeeJin appeared on one episode of Woomanna’s third season, reprising her role from seasons 1 and 2.

On March 30 she was featured on Olivia Hye and Go Won’s duet “Rosy”, where she covered the rap part of the song. She also was featured in the music video for Olivia Hye’s “Egoist”.

On July 13, HeeJin starred in a commercial film for LG’s LG Q7/Q7 + TV. This commercial became an inside joke between the LOONA members, making an appearance in LOONA Kick #89.

On August 18, HeeJin officially debuted as a member of the completed group LOONA as their unofficial center. She and her members released the mini-album , featuring title track “Hi High”.

2019: High school graduation, HI MART

On January 1, 2019, HeeJin starred in a commercial film for HI MART.

On January 7, HeeJin graduated from Hansung Girls’ High School alongside HyunJin.

2020: "Bad"

On April 26th, HeeJin starred as the main role in BEN's music video 'Bad'