Choi Ye-na

Choi Ye-na
Born	Choi Ye-na (1999-09-29) September 29, 1999 Gil-dong, Gangdong District, South Korea
Occupation(s)	Vocalist, actress
Years active	2017–present
Known for	Member of Iz*One, solo music career

Choi Ye-na (, born September 29, 1999), professionally known as Yena, is a South Korean vocalist and actress. She pursues her career as a solo performer and actress under Yuehua Entertainment, having previously been a member of the South Korean–Japanese girl group Iz*One. Yena secured fourth place on Mnet's competitive reality series Produce 48. Her solo debut was marked by the release of her first EP, Smiley, on January 17, 2022.

Early life

Born on September 29, 1999, in Gil-dong, Gangdong District, South Korea, Choi is the younger sibling of singer and actor Choi Sung-min. During her childhood, she was diagnosed with lymphoma.

Pre-debut

Before affiliating with Yuehua Entertainment, Choi trained under Polaris Entertainment. In 2017, she took on hosting duties for SBS's program Cooking Class.

2018–2021: Produce 48, Iz*One, and individual pursuits

Between June and August 2018, Choi participated in the reality girl group competition Produce 48, representing Yuehua Entertainment alongside fellow artists Kim Si-hyeon and Wang Yiren from Everglow. Achieving fourth place, she debuted with the group Iz*One. Their initial EP Color*Iz, which included the lead track "La Vie en Rose", was launched on October 29, 2018.

Following Iz*One's debut, Choi expanded her activities by joining the cast of Prison Life of Fools, sharing the screen with entertainers such as Got7's JB and comedians Jang Do-yeon and Jeong Hyeong-don. On December 21, 2020, she was confirmed as part of TVING's inaugural original variety show titled Girls High School Mystery Class.

After Iz*One disbanded in April 2021, Choi appeared on TVING's program Idol Dictation Contest. She also became a regular MC for tvN Story's Fireworks Handsome and MBC's Game of Blood. On August 6, 2021, it was announced that she would serve as the exclusive MC for Studio Waffle's web variety series Yena's Animal Detective, which premiered on August 24. Later in 2021, Choi made her acting debut portraying Oh Na-ri in the second season of the web drama The World of My 17.

2022–present: Solo career

Choi revealed her solo debut plans via social media on January 1, 2022, announcing the release of her EP Smiley scheduled for January 17. She made her broadcast debut performing "Smiley" on Mnet's M Countdown on January 20 and earned her first music show trophy on February 10.

Her follow-up EP titled Smartphone was released on August 3, 2022.

In January 2023, she confirmed a comeback with her initial single album Love War, which launched on January 16. That same month, she joined the cast of ENA's variety show HMLYCP.

Her second single album, Hate XX, was unveiled on June 27, 2023. The lead track "Hate Rodrigo," co-written by Choi herself, alludes to American pop artist Olivia Rodrigo, conveying a complex mix of envy and admiration. The accompanying music video initially included images of Rodrigo but was quickly set to private due to potential copyright and trademark concerns; it was subsequently re-uploaded with substantial modifications.

Choi marked her Japanese debut in August 2023 with the Japanese version of "Smiley," featuring artist Chanmina, followed by a second Japanese single entitled "DNA," released on February 7, 2024.

Her third EP named Good Morning was issued on January 15, 2024.

In September 2024, Choi announced that her third single album Nemonemo would be released on September 30. Later that year, specifically on December 18, it was disclosed that she would resume acting through a role in the family sitcom Villains Everywhere.

Additionally, Choi collaborated with BTS member Jin on his track "Loser" from the album Echo, released May 16, 2025. Subsequently, she released her fourth EP titled Blooming Wings on July 29, 2025.

Extended plays

Catalog of extended plays including key information, chart rankings, and sales data

Title	Information	Highest chart positions	Sales figures
		KOR
Smiley	Release date: January 17, 2022 Record label: Yuehua Entertainment Available formats: CD, digital download, streaming	2	KOR: 123,302 copies
Smartphone	Released on August 3, 2022 Label: Yuehua Entertainment Formats offered: CD, digital download, streaming	3	KOR: 138,339 copies
Good Morning	Release date: January 15, 2024 Issued by Yuehua Entertainment Formats include CD, digital download, streaming	2	KOR: 77,667 copies
Blooming Wings	Released July 29, 2025 Label: Yuehua Entertainment Available as CD, digital download, and streaming	10	KOR: 26,292 copies

Single albums

Summary of single albums with release details, peak chart rankings, and sales figures

Title	Information	Highest chart positions	Sales totals
		KOR
Love War	Released on January 16, 2023 Label: Yuehua Entertainment Formats offered: CD, digital download, streaming	6	KOR: 124,270 copies
Hate XX	Release date: June 27, 2023 Issued by Yuehua Entertainment Available formats: CD, digital download, streaming	11	KOR: 101,297 copies
Nemonemo	Released September 30, 2024 Label: Yuehua Entertainment Formats include CD, digital download, streaming	5	KOR: 48,009 copies

Singles

Overview of singles with release year, notable chart positions, sales data, and associated album

Title	Year released	Highest chart positions achieved				Sales numbers	Associated album
		KOR	KOR Hot	JPN	JPN Heat.
Korean releases
"Smiley" (featuring Bibi)	2022	8	9	—	9	rowspan=7 Template:N/A	Smiley
"Smartphone"		119	—	—	—	Smartphone
"Love War" (featuring Be'O)	2023	71	—	—	—	Love War
"Hate Rodrigo" (featuring Yuqi)		117	—	—	—	Hate XX
"Good Morning"	2024	178	—	—	—	Good Morning
"Nemonemo" (네모네모)		35	—	—	8	Nemonemo
"Being a Good Girl Hurts"( 착하다는 말이 제일 싫어 )	2025	colspan=4 Template:TBA	Blooming Wings
Japanese releases
"Smiley"(Japanese version) (featuring Chanmina)	2023	—	—	10	12	JPN physical sales: 5,658	rowspan=2 Template:Non-album singles
"DNA"	"2024	—	—	7	—	JPN physical sales:4,016

Note:: The symbol "—" indicates that the track either did not enter the charts or was not issued in that region.

Production credits

Unless indicated otherwise, all songwriting details are sourced from the Korea Music Copyright Association database.

Title	Year	Performer	Album	Lyrics	Composition
"With*One"	2020	Iz*One	Oneiric Diary	Template:Ya	Template:Na
"Lesson"	2021		Non-album single	Template:Na	Template:Ya
"Before Anyone Else"	2022	Choi Ye-na	Smiley	Template:Ya	Template:Ya
"Smiley"				Template:Ya	Template:Na
"Lxxk 2 U"				Template:Ya	Template:Na
"Pretty Boys"				Template:Ya	Template:Na
"Make U Smile"			Smartphone	Template:Ya	Template:Na
"Smartphone"				Template:Ya	Template:Na
"WithOrWithOut"				Template:Ya	Template:Ya
"Wash Away"	2023		Love War	Template:Ya	Template:Ya
"Love War"				Template:Ya	Template:Ya
"Hate Rodrigo"			HATE XX	Template:Ya	Template:Ya
"Smiley -Japanese Ver.-"			Smiley -Japanese Ver.-	Template:Ya	Template:Na
"Good Morning"	2024		Good Morning	Template:Ya	Template:Ya
"The Ugly Duckling"				Template:Ya	Template:Ya

Music videos

Title	Year	Director(s)	Reference(s)
"Smiley" (featuring Bibi)	2022	KIM ZI-YONG (FANTAZYLAB)
"Smartphone"		Kwon Yong-soo (Studio Saccharin)
"WithOrWithOut (Performance Video)
"Love War" (featuring Be'O)	2023	SOZE YOON (Studio GA•ZE)
"Wicked Love"		Song Jung-hwan
"Hate Rodrigo" (featuring Yuqi)		KIM ZI-YONG (FANTAZYLAB)
"Smiley" (Japanese version) (featuring Chanmina)		Template:N/A

Title	Year	Director(s)

"Good Morning"	2024	KIM ZI-YONG (FANTAZYLAB)

"DNA"	2024	NAIVE

"Nemo Nemo"	2024	Yang Soonsik

"착하다는 말이 제일 싫어"	2025	Jan Lee

Television series

Year	Title	Character	Remarks
2025	Villains Everywhere	Gu Won-hee	Sitcom genre

Web series

Year	Title	Character	Remarks
2021	The World of My 17	Oh Na-ri	Appeared in Season 2

Television shows

Year	Program	Role
2017	Cooking Class	Host
2018	Produce 48	Contestant
2019	Prison Life of Fools	Cast member
2021	Fireworks Handsome	Host
	Game of Blood	Host
2022	New Festa	Participant
	Fantastic Family	Panelist
	Family Register Mate	Special member
	Is the parting will be a recall?	Judge
2023	M Countdown	Special host
	Webtoon Singer	Panelist
	HMLYCP	Cast member
	Girls Night Out	Host

Web shows

Year	Title	Role	Remarks	Reference(s)
2021	Girls High School Mystery Class	Cast member	Episodes 1–16, Season 1
	Yena's Animal Detective	Host
2021–2022	Idol Dictation Contest	Cast member	Spin-off of DoReMi Market, Seasons 1 and 2
2021–2024	Girls High School Mystery Class	Cast member	Seasons 1 through 3
2022	The Door: To Wonderland	Cast member	Season 2 participation

Radio shows

Year	Program title	Role	Details	Reference(s)
2022	Idol Radio 2	Temporary DJ	From June 23 to July 30

Awards and nominations

Details of awards, years, categories, nominees, and outcomes

Award event	Year	Category	Nominee(s)	Outcome
Asia Artist Awards	2022	Best Musician Award	Choi Ye-na
Blue Dragon Series Awards	2022	Best New Female Entertainer	Girls High School Mystery Class
Brand Customer Loyalty Award	2021	Best Female Idol Entertainer	Choi Ye-na
	2022	Best Rookie Female Singer
		Best Female Idol Entertainer
	2023	Most Influential Female Solo Artist
		Most Influential Female Entertainer Idol
Brand of the Year Awards	2021	Entertainer Idol of the Year (Female)
	2022	Best Rookie Solo Artist
Circle Chart Music Awards	2023	New Icon of the Year
		Song of the Year – January	"Smiley" (feat. Bibi)
Genie Music Awards	2022	Best Female Solo Artist	Choi Ye-na
Golden Disc Awards	2023	Digital Song Bonsang	"Smiley" (feat. Bibi)
		Rookie Artist of the Year	Choi Ye-na
Hanteo Music Awards	2023	Trend Wannabe Icon Award
Korea First Brand Awards	2023	Most Anticipated Female Solo Artist
MAMA Awards	2022	Best New Female Artist
		Worldwide Fans' Choice Top 10
		Artist of the Year
		Song of the Year	"Smiley" (feat. Bibi)
		Best Dance Performance – Solo	"Smiley"
Melon Music Awards	rowspan=3 | 2022	Best Female Solo Artist	Choi Ye-na
	style= "text-align:left;" | Top 10 Artist Award	" "	" "