The breakthrough yearAfter four years of training, she debuted with IVE the year she turned 19, and a week later the group won first place on MBC M’s Show! Champion. YTN wrote that it was the shortest time to a win by a girl group so far.
In 2022, she took part in the rap-making for “Royal,” a track on Love Dive, and her name appeared in the lyricist credits for the first time. In August she tried something new with her rap on After Like, and in November IVE won Song of the Year and Best New Female Artist at the MAMA Awards. In 2023, the first studio album I’ve IVE came out, and in October she held a press conference in Seoul ahead of the first world tour.
In 2024, she released IVE Switch, and IVE won three awards at the MAMA Awards. In 2025, she created the choreography for “TKO” herself, and in October she performed her solo song “Odd” at the KSPO Dome shows in Seoul.
In February 2026, the second studio album Revive+ included her solo song “Odd.” In March she appeared on Netflix’s Death Game and won two matches, and in May she lost in the round of six of Death Game: The Last Winner.
In April, she became a partner of the 2026 Reading Korea campaign, and in June she performed a solo stage at the Tokyo Dome show. The North American tour that began in July ended in August, and a September article introduced the reading content on her YouTube channel Gaeul’s Temperature.
Gaeul (born Sep 24, 2002) debuted with IVE on Dec 1, 2021, the year she turned 19, and became known a week later, on Dec 8, 2021, when IVE won first place on Show! Champion for the first time since its debut. She first appeared on Netflix’s Death Game: Bet 10 Million Won in 2026, the year she turned 24.
Ages are by calendar year (the year minus the birth year), birthdays aside.
Her profile image was posted on the group’s official social media account. She was introduced as holding the rap position.
Source 01 · Sports Kyunghyang (Korean) · IVE reveals its second member, Gaeul · opens in a new tabReleased the first single album Eleven and held a debut showcase. She had trained for four years, the longest of the six members.
Source 02 · Newsis (Korean) · IVE debut showcase · opens in a new tabSource 03 · Newsen (Korean) · Choi Hwa-jung’s Power Time appearance · opens in a new tabIVE won first place with “Eleven” on MBC M’s Show! Champion. YTN wrote that it was the group’s first win since debut and the shortest time to a win by a girl group so far. The debut single sold 152,229 copies in its first week.
At the year-end music festival, she sang a Mariah Carey song with the other performers in the opening, then performed “Eleven.”
Source 07 · OSEN (Korean) · 2021 SBS Gayo Daejeon opening · opens in a new tabTook part in the rap-making for the track “Royal” with Rei. It was the first time since her debut that her name appeared in the lyricist credits.
Source 08 · Sports Kyunghyang (Korean) · What to watch for in Love Dive · opens in a new tabAt the comeback show, she said she had tried something new with her rap this time.
Source 09 · Newsis (Korean) · After Like comeback show · opens in a new tabIVE won Song of the Year for “Love Dive” and Best New Female Artist on the same day. Yonhap News Agency called winning a rookie award and a grand prize at the same ceremony an unusual record.
Source 10 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · 2022 MAMA Awards · opens in a new tabA pre-release track from the first studio album I’ve IVE.
Source 11 · Star News (Korean) · “Kitsch” released · opens in a new tabThe title track is “I Am.” It reached No. 1 on Genie and Bugs two hours after release.
Source 12 · Sports Donga (Korean) · I’ve IVE on the charts · opens in a new tabHeld a press conference at Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Seoul ahead of the first world tour. A mini album was due five days later.
Source 13 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · First world tour press conference · opens in a new tabThe three title tracks are “Baddie,” “Off the Record” and “Either Way.” It came six months after the first studio album.
Source 13 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · First world tour press conference · opens in a new tabSource 14 · Sports Kyunghyang (Korean) · “Baddie” choreography video · opens in a new tabThe title tracks are “Heya” and “Accendio.” It entered the worldwide iTunes album chart at No. 3.
Source 15 · Newsis (Korean) · IVE Switch on iTunes · opens in a new tabIVE won three awards at the ceremony.
Source 16 · TenAsia (Korean) · Leeseo, the youngest member · opens in a new tabAfter the pre-release track “Rebel Heart” on Jan. 13, the album came out with “Attitude” as one of its two title tracks. It arrived about 10 months after IVE Switch.
Source 17 · Newsis (Korean) · IVE Empathy on the music charts · opens in a new tabSource 18 · MBC (Korean) · IVE Empathy released · opens in a new tabA video of the choreography-making process was posted on IVE’s official YouTube channel. She created the choreography for “TKO,” a track on IVE Empathy, together with a choreographer.
Source 19 · Sports Donga (Korean) · Gaeul’s “TKO” choreography vlog · opens in a new tabThe fourth mini album came out.
Source 20 · Nocut News (Korean) · IVE Secret · opens in a new tabAbout 28,000 people came over three days at KSPO Dome in Seoul. All six members performed unreleased solo songs, and she performed “Odd.”
Source 21 · OhmyNews (Korean) · KSPO Dome Show What I Am · opens in a new tabSource 22 · Ilgan Sports (Korean) · Final KSPO Dome show · opens in a new tabThe double title tracks are “Blackhole” and “Bang Bang.” It includes “Odd,” a solo song she helped write the lyrics for.
Source 23 · Sports Kyunghyang (Korean) · Second studio album Revive+ · opens in a new tabSource 24 · Star News (Korean) · Appearing on Death Game · opens in a new tabFaced Yang Na-rae one-on-one and won.
Source 24 · Star News (Korean) · Appearing on Death Game · opens in a new tabSource 25 · Gukje News (Korean) · Two straight wins on Death Game · opens in a new tabBeat the YouTuber and film director Jin Yong-jin for her second straight win.
Source 25 · Gukje News (Korean) · Two straight wins on Death Game · opens in a new tabWent for what would have been the first-ever third straight win but lost to DinDin.
Source 26 · Slist (Korean) · Third straight win falls short on Death Game · opens in a new tabHeld two shows on the 18th and 19th as part of the second world tour, with all seats sold for both.
Source 27 · Sports Kyunghyang (Korean) · Kyocera Dome Osaka · opens in a new tabAttended the proclamation ceremony at Starfield Library at COEX in Seoul as a partner and held a book talk.
Source 28 · MTN (Korean) · 2026 Reading Korea · opens in a new tabLost to Yurisa by five points in the round of six.
Source 29 · bnt News (Korean) · Eliminated from Death Game 2 · opens in a new tabSang “Odd” in her solo stage. “♥beats,” whose choreography she helped create, was also performed.
Source 30 · JTBC (Korean) · Second Tokyo Dome show · opens in a new tabThe schedule began at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Canada, and covered eight North American cities.
Source 31 · Sports Kyunghyang (Korean) · North American tour begins · opens in a new tabFinished the North American schedule at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, Canada, on Aug. 9 local time.
Source 32 · MBC Entertainment (Korean) · North American tour ends · opens in a new tabShe runs a playlist called Gaeul’s Book Club on the channel, with book introductions and talks with authors.
Source 33 · Newsis (Korean) · Gaeul’s reading content · opens in a new tabSource 24 · Star News (Korean) · Appearing on Death Game · opens in a new tab The date is the day an article covering this appeared. Star News wrote on Mar. 4, 2026 that she had recently opened a personal YouTube channel; the opening date was not confirmed.END OF SELECTED RECORDSSelected records, 2021–2026 · not a complete list of work. “Key moment” is an editorial label, not a measure of success.
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Music · South Korea
Sep 24, 2002 —
Ages are counted from the birth year 2002: the year of the event minus 2002, birthdays aside. “Key moment” labels and the connecting story are AgeTrail's editorial reading.
Fact-checked: 2026.10.03 · An independent archive, not affiliated with the person or their agency.