1. Early Life and Background
Kim So-hee was born on January 20, 1995, in Busan, South Korea. She completed her foundational education in her hometown.
1.1. Education
Kim So-hee attended Gaegeum Girls' Middle School and later graduated from Samsung Girls' High School (Busan).
2. Career
Kim So-hee's career in the South Korean entertainment industry began with her participation in a popular reality show, which led to her involvement in various project groups and ultimately her solo debut. She later joined a permanent girl group before embarking on further individual activities in music and acting.
2.1. Produce 101 Participation
In 2016, Kim So-hee gained significant public attention as a contestant on the first season of the Mnet survival reality show Produce 101. Throughout the competition, she showcased her vocal and performance abilities, ultimately achieving a final ranking of 15th place. Although she did not secure a spot in the final debut group I.O.I, her appearance on the show established her as a recognizable figure in the K-pop scene and served as a springboard for her subsequent career endeavors.
2.2. Project Group Activities
Following her appearance on Produce 101, Kim So-hee became involved in multiple project girl groups, leveraging her newfound recognition.
On July 7, 2016, she debuted as a member of **C.I.V.A**, a project girl group formed through the Mnet mockumentary show The God of Music 2. The group released a remake of "Why?" by the veteran group Diva, making their official debut stage on M Countdown.
Subsequently, on August 18, 2016, Kim So-hee joined **I.B.I**, another project girl group comprising eliminated contestants from Produce 101. Managed by Kakao M (formerly LOEN Entertainment), I.B.I aimed to fulfill the dreams of the contestants who narrowly missed the final lineup. The group released the single "Molae Molae" (몰래몰래Korean) in 2016.
Kim So-hee also participated in the KBS TV reality show Idol Drama Operation Team in 2017. As part of the show, she and six other girl group members collaborated to write and act in their own autobiographical drama series titled Let's Only Walk The Flower Road. Following the drama's conclusion, the cast formed a project girl group called **Girls Next Door**, making their official debut on Music Bank on July 14, 2017, with the song "Deep Blue Eyes" (produced by Jinyoung).
2.3. Solo Activities
On November 8, 2017, Kim So-hee officially debuted as a solo artist with the release of her first mini-album, The Fillette. The lead single from the album was "Sobok Sobok" (소복소복Korean), which featured Yezi of the group Fiestar. Her solo debut showcased her distinct musical style and vocal capabilities.
In addition to her mini-album, she released the single "Sweet Potato x 100" (고구마 x 100개Korean) in December 2017, a collaboration with Kim Shi-hyun. In August 2024, she released the single "Omona!" (어머나!Korean) as part of the duo Atlantis Kitsune with Japanese singer Miyu Kano.
2.4. NATURE Activities
After a two-year hiatus from her previous agency, Kim So-hee signed an exclusive contract with n.CH Entertainment on October 8, 2019. It was simultaneously announced that she would be joining the girl group Nature as a new member. She made her official debut with the group on November 12, 2019, with the release of their mini-album NATURE World: Code A.
On April 27, 2024, n.CH Entertainment announced the disbandment of NATURE after the mutual termination of the members' contracts. Kim So-hee was the only member to renew her contract with the company, indicating her intention to continue her career as a singer and actress under the same agency.
2.5. Other Broadcast and Project Activities
Beyond her primary music group and solo activities, Kim So-hee has engaged in various other broadcast and entertainment projects, showcasing her versatility.
In December 2023, she participated as a contestant in the Japanese trot music survival show TROT GIRLS JAPAN. She advanced to become one of the nine finalists representing Japan. Although she had the opportunity to proceed to the follow-up show, Korea VS Japan Trot, she ultimately decided not to join the sequel, withdrawing from the final competition. She later participated in the Korea-Japan Singing Battle in 2024.
She also appeared as a contestant on King of Mask Singer in episode 155, performing as "Jewelry Sauna." In 2022, she was a participant in the show Queen of Wrestling.
Her television appearances include:
| Year | Title | Role | Channel | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Produce 101 | Contestant | Mnet | Final ranking 15th |
| 2016 | The God of Music 2 | Regular cast | Mnet | Member of C.I.V.A |
| 2016 | You Can See Your Voice Season 3 | Panel | Mnet | |
| 2016 | Running Man | Guest | SBS | |
| 2016 | Please Take Care of My Refrigerator | Guest | JTBC | |
| 2016 | Hello I.B.I | Regular cast | JTBC | |
| 2016 | Bulya Seong | Nexen Heroes Panel | KBS N Sports | |
| 2016 | Hello Counselor | Guest | KBS2 | |
| 2016 | Hwang Anchor Talk | Guest | Channel A | |
| 2016 | Heard It Through the Grapevine | Cast | Channel A | |
| 2016 | Picnic Live | Cast | MBC Music | |
| 2016 | Mix Tape | Guest | Mnet | |
| 2017 | Do As You Please | Cast | EBS1 | |
| 2017 | Sing For You | Cast | JTBC | |
| 2017 | My Precious Kid | Cast | EBS1 | |
| 2017 | Kim Min Jung's Beauty Crush | Host | MBC Every1 | |
| 2017 | Delicious Map Season 3 | Host | MBC | |
| 2017 | Produce 101 Season 2 | Special Host | Mnet | Episode 5 |
| 2017 | Idol Drama Operation Team | Regular cast | KBS / Naver TV | Member of Girls Next Door |
| 2017 | Night of Real Entertainment | Panel | SBS | |
| 2018 | Delicious Map Season 4 | Host | MBC Every1 | |
| 2018 | Weekly Beauty Claire | Host | TV Chosun | |
| 2018 | Gourmet Idols | Host | MBC Every1 | |
| 2018 | King of Mask Singer | Contestant as Jewelry Sauna | MBC | Episode 155 |
| 2018 | Show Pretty | Host | Channel A+ | |
| 2019 | Miss Trot | Panel | TV Chosun | |
| 2022 | Queen of Wrestling | Participant | Channel S | |
| 2022 | Kim Gura's Latte 9 | Guest | MBN | Episode 11 (July 13) |
| 2023 | TROT GIRLS JAPAN | Participant | WOWOW / ABEMA | Finalist |
| 2024 | Korea-Japan Singing Battle | Participant | MBN |
Her acting roles include:
| Year | Title | Role | Channel | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | My Little Keyboard | Na Yuri | Naver TV | Web drama |
| 2017 | Boyfriend (썸남Korean) | Junior | Naver TV | Web drama, cameo |
Kim So-hee has also appeared in various radio programs:
| Year | Broadcasting Station | Title | Date | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | SBS Power FM | Bae Seong-jae's Ten | July 1 | Guest |
| SBS Power FM | Kim Chang-ryul's Old School | July 12 | Special Appearance | |
| SBS Power FM | Park So-hyun's Love Game | July 16 | Guest | |
| SBS Power FM | Cultwo Show | July 17 | Guest | |
| SBS Power FM | Lee Guk-joo's Young Street | July 18 | Guest | |
| KBS Cool FM | Park Ji-yoon's Gayo Plaza | July 25 | Guest | |
| SBS Love FM | Song Eun-yi, Kim Sook's Sister's Radio | July 25 | Guest |
She has also appeared in commercials:
| Year | Company | Brand | Co-star | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | General Mills | Jelly Fruit by the Foot | Yoon Chae-kyung, Dani | |
| Woman's Talk | Woman's Talk - C.I.V.A Zone | C.I.V.A | ||
| SK Telecom | T Phone | Yoon Chae-kyung |
3. Discography
Kim So-hee's discography includes solo releases, contributions to project groups, and original soundtracks for various dramas and films.
3.1. Mini Albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| The Fillette |
>KOR: 16 |
>} |
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | "Coincidence" (우연한 일들Korean) (with Song Yuvin) | KOR: 63 | Hey Ghost, Let's Fight OST Part 3 |
| 2016 | "Navigation" (내비게이션Korean) | - | Shopping King Louie OST Part 1 |
| 2017 | "Will You Love Me" (with Gilgu Bonggu (GB9)) | - | Good Manager OST Part 4 |
| 2017 | "Deep Blue Eyes" (Prod. By Jinyoung) | - | Idol Drama Operation Team OST Part 2 (as Girls Next Door) |
| 2017 | "Oh! My God!" | - | Reunited Worlds OST Part 5 |
| 2017 | "Falling You" (with Tae-il of Block B) | KOR: 68 | Meloholic OST Part 3 |
| 2018 | "Dreaming Place" (꿈꾸는 그곳Korean) | - | Underdog OST |
| 2018 | "Just the Way We Love" (우리 사랑 이대로Korean) (with Go Eun-sung) | - | King of Mask Singer: Episode 155 |
| 2020 | "Like You" (좋다Korean) (with So Soo-bin) | - | Crash Landing on You OST Part 9 |
4. Broadcast and Acting Activities
Kim So-hee has been active across various media, including television shows, dramas, and music videos.
4.1. Television and Variety Programs
Kim So-hee has appeared in numerous television and variety programs, showcasing her personality and entertainment skills. Her roles have ranged from contestant and regular cast member to host and guest.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Produce 101 | Contestant | Final ranking 15th |
| 2016 | The God of Music 2 | Regular cast | Member of C.I.V.A |
| You Can See Your Voice Season 3 | Panel | ||
| 2016 | Running Man | Guest | |
| 2016 | Please Take Care of My Refrigerator | Guest | |
| Hello I.B.I | Regular cast | ||
| 2016 | Bulya Seong | Nexen Heroes Panel | |
| 2016 | Hello Counselor | Guest | |
| 2016 | Hwang Anchor Talk | Guest | |
| Heard It Through the Grapevine | Cast | ||
| 2016 | Picnic Live | Cast | |
| 2016 | Mix Tape | Guest | |
| 2017 | Do As You Please | Cast | |
| Sing For You | Cast | ||
| My Precious Kid | Cast | ||
| Kim Min Jung's Beauty Crush | Host | ||
| Delicious Map Season 3 | Host | ||
| Produce 101 Season 2 | Special Host | Episode 5 | |
| Idol Drama Operation Team | Regular cast | Member of Girls Next Door | |
| 2017 | Night of Real Entertainment | Panel | |
| 2018 | Delicious Map Season 4 | Host | |
| Weekly Beauty Claire | Host | ||
| Gourmet Idols | Host | ||
| King of Mask Singer | Contestant as Jewelry Sauna | Episode 155 | |
| Show Pretty | Host | ||
| 2019 | Miss Trot | Panel | |
| 2022 | Queen of Wrestling | Participant | |
| 2022 | Kim Gura's Latte 9 | Guest | Episode 11 (July 13) |
| 2023 | TROT GIRLS JAPAN | Participant | Finalist |
| 2024 | Korea-Japan Singing Battle | Participant |
4.2. Dramas and Web Dramas
Kim So-hee has also taken on acting roles in web dramas:
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | My Little Keyboard | Na Yuri | Web drama |
| 2017 | Boyfriend (썸남Korean) | Junior | Web drama, cameo |
4.3. Music Video Appearances
Kim So-hee has appeared in music videos for other artists:
| Year | Artist | Song |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Yoo Sung-eun | "Hug Me" (Feat. Jung Il-hoon of BTOB) |
5. Influences
Kim So-hee has openly expressed her admiration for senior female solo artist IU, citing her as a significant role model. During a showcase interview for her mini-album The Fillette on November 8, 2017, So-hee stated, "My role model is IU. She has a good voice, vocal skills, and is all around good at everything, so I have been practicing with her as my role model." She further added, "I want to emulate her innocence, look in her eyes, singing abilities, and steady vocals even when she's dancing on stage."
6. Awards and Accolades
Kim So-hee has received recognition for her contributions to the entertainment industry.
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 25th Korean Culture Entertainment Awards | Korean Performing Arts & Newcomer Award | Won |
7. Assessment and Legacy
Kim So-hee's career exemplifies the journey of many aspiring artists in the highly competitive K-pop industry. Starting from a prominent survival show, she navigated the landscape of project groups, successfully transitioned into a solo artist, and later joined an established girl group. Her ability to adapt and persist, even after group disbandment, by renewing her contract as a multi-talented singer and actress, highlights her dedication and versatility. Her willingness to explore new genres, as seen in her participation in trot survival shows, further demonstrates her commitment to growth and diverse artistic expression. Kim So-hee's trajectory reflects the evolving nature of artist development in South Korea, where flexibility and continuous engagement across various platforms are key to a lasting career.