In 2018, the year she turned 18, she appeared on SBS’s The Fan as a trainee.
The breakthrough yearIn February 2019, the year she turned 19, she debuted as the leader of ITZY. She won first place on “M Countdown” for the first time, and by March had nine first-place wins on the major music shows. In July she released the first mini album IT’z ICY, and from the Genie Music Awards in August she went on to win rookie awards at the Melon Music Awards and MAMA.
In January 2020, the year she turned 20, she won rookie awards at the Golden Disc Awards and the Seoul Music Awards, her tenth in all. In March she released the second mini album IT’z ME with “WANNABE.” In April 2021 she released GUESS WHO, and in September her first full-length album CRAZY IN LOVE.
In July 2022, the year she turned 22, CHECKMATE became the group’s first million seller, and in August ITZY began its first world tour in Seoul, going on to the Americas at the end of October.
In July 2023, the year she turned 23, she released the seventh mini album KILL MY DOUBT, which reached No. 23 on the Billboard 200. In October 2024 she released the mini album GOLD.
In March 2025, the year she turned 25, she made her solo debut with the album Air, the first solo album among the ITZY members. In September all the members re-signed with JYP. In November she released the mini album TUNNEL VISION.
In May 2026, the year she turned 26, she held a two-day sold-out concert at Keio Arena Tokyo and on May 18 released the mini album Motto.
Yeji (birth name Hwang Ye-ji, born May 26, 2000) became known when she debuted as leader of the group ITZY on Feb 12, 2019, the year she turned 19. She won her first rookie award at the Genie Music Awards on Aug 1, 2019, the year she turned 19, and released her first solo album Air on Mar 10, 2025, the year she turned 25.
Ages are by calendar year (the year minus the birth year), birthdays aside.
Appeared as a trainee. SWTV reports that 2PM’s Junho recommended Yeji, then in her third year as a trainee.
Source 01 · SWTV (Korean) · Yeji’s first solo album press conference · opens in a new tab The year is from the SWTV article; the broadcast date is not confirmed.Debuted in the five-member ITZY, made up of Yeji, Lia, Ryujin, Chaeryeong and Yuna, with the first digital single “IT’z Different” and the title track “Dalla Dalla.” Yeji is the leader.
Won first place for the first time since debut on Mnet’s “M Countdown.”
Source 03 · MK Sports (Korean) · ITZY’s eight trophies · opens in a new tabA first-place win on KBS’s “Music Bank” made it nine first-place wins on the major weekly music shows.
Source 04 · Weekly Donga (Korean) · ITZY’s debut whirlwind · opens in a new tabReleased the title track “ICY.”
Source 05 · Star News (Korean) · ITZY begins ICY promotions · opens in a new tabWon a rookie award for the first time, 171 days after debut. She went on to win rookie awards at the year-end ceremonies.
Source 06 · Sports Donga (Korean) · ITZY’s rookie award · opens in a new tabSource 05 · Star News (Korean) · ITZY begins ICY promotions · opens in a new tab The ceremony date, Aug. 1, is from the Star News article, and the rookie award from the Sports Donga article.Won Best New Artist together with TOMORROW X TOGETHER.
Source 07 · Newsen (Korean) · Melon Music Awards · opens in a new tabWon a rookie award at the 2019 MAMA at Nagoya Dome in Japan.
Source 08 · OSEN (Korean) · 2019 MAMA · opens in a new tabWon a rookie award at the digital music ceremony, and OSEN reports that she also won the main award in the same category.
Source 09 · Xportsnews (Korean) · Golden Disc Awards · opens in a new tabSource 10 · OSEN (Korean) · Golden Disc Awards rookie award · opens in a new tabWon a rookie award at the 29th Seoul Music Awards at Gocheok Sky Dome, her tenth rookie award.
Source 11 · Sports Donga (Korean) · Seoul Music Awards · opens in a new tabReleased the title track “WANNABE,” and at the same time started a “WANNABE” dance challenge on TikTok.
Source 12 · Star News (Korean) · “WANNABE” · opens in a new tabReleased worldwide at the same time, with the title track “Mafia in the Morning.”
Source 13 · Sports Kyunghyang (Korean) · “GUESS WHO” · opens in a new tabReached No. 1 on the worldwide iTunes album chart on two straight days, the 25th and 26th.
Source 14 · Star News (Korean) · “CRAZY IN LOVE” · opens in a new tabThe album, released with the title track “SNEAKERS,” became the group’s first million seller.
Source 15 · Sports Kyunghyang (Korean) · IT’z TOUR BOOK · opens in a new tab The release date is not confirmed.Began the first world tour at the SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium in Olympic Park, Seoul.
Source 15 · Sports Kyunghyang (Korean) · IT’z TOUR BOOK · opens in a new tab The show dates are not confirmed.Sold out all shows in eight cities, starting in Los Angeles and ending in New York.
Source 15 · Sports Kyunghyang (Korean) · IT’z TOUR BOOK · opens in a new tab The date is local time.It is the group’s seventh mini album.
Source 16 · OSEN (Korean) · Yuna pictorial · opens in a new tabOn the Billboard chart dated the 19th, announced on the 15th local time, it ranked No. 23 on the Billboard 200 and No. 13 on the Artist 100.
Source 17 · Korea Economic TV (Korean) · “CAKE” · opens in a new tabReleased the title tracks “GOLD” and “Imaginary Friend.”
Source 18 · TenAsia (Korean) · “GOLD” released · opens in a new tabMade her solo debut with the album Air, the first solo album among the ITZY members.
Source 02 · Star Today (Korean) · Yeji’s solo debut · opens in a new tabSource 01 · SWTV (Korean) · Yeji’s first solo album press conference · opens in a new tabPerformed her solo debut stage with “Air” on SBS’s “Inkigayo.”
Source 19 · Star News (Korean) · “Inkigayo” · opens in a new tabHer agency said all five members had re-signed ahead of the exclusive contracts’ expiry early next year.
Source 20 · Hankook Ilbo (Korean) · All of ITZY re-sign · opens in a new tabReleased with a title track of the same name. A world tour of the same name followed.
Source 21 · MyDaily (Korean) · November comeback · opens in a new tabSource 22 · Joynews24 (Korean) · “Motto” concept image · opens in a new tabSource 23 · Sports Kyunghyang (Korean) · Tokyo concert · opens in a new tab The release date is from the advance announcement article.Held on May 9 and 10 as part of the world tour, and both shows sold out.
Source 23 · Sports Kyunghyang (Korean) · Tokyo concert · opens in a new tabReleased with a title track of the same name. It is the first new work in six months since TUNNEL VISION in November 2025.
Source 24 · Sports Seoul (Korean) · “Motto” · opens in a new tabSource 22 · Joynews24 (Korean) · “Motto” concept image · opens in a new tabEND OF SELECTED RECORDSSelected records, 2018–2026 · not a complete list of work. “Key moment” is an editorial label, not a measure of success.
What did they do, and at what age?
AgeTrail lines up the key moments of a life by age.
Debut and breakthrough are marked separately, and every record has a source.
Music · South Korea
May 26, 2000 —
Ages are counted from the birth year 2000: the year of the event minus 2000, birthdays aside. “Key moment” labels and the connecting story are AgeTrail's editorial reading.
Fact-checked: 2026.09.30 · An independent archive, not affiliated with the person or their agency.