Girl’s Day (Korean: 걸스데이), a prominent four-member South Korean girl group formed by Dream T Entertainment in 2010, has carved out a unique and enduring legacy in the competitive K-pop industry. Comprising Sojin, Minah, Yura, and Hyeri, the group’s journey is a testament to resilience, adaptability, and the power of individual talent.
Biography
Basic Information
- Group name: Girl’s Day (걸스데이)
- Debut date: July 9, 2010 (Korea)
- Company: Dream T Entertainment (later merged with RBW)
- Number of members: 5 (original), later 4
- Members: Sojin, Minah, Yura, Hyeri, Jihae (left in 2012)
- Official color: Not officially designated
- Fandom name: Daisy
- Lightstick: Not officially released
Members
- Sojin (소진): Park So-jin, born May 21, 1986, in Daegu, South Korea. Position: Leader, Lead Vocalist. Known for her songwriting and composing abilities.
- Minah (민아): Bang Min-ah, born May 13, 1993, in Incheon, South Korea. Position: Main Vocalist, Face of the Group. Also recognized for her acting and solo career.
- Yura (유라): Kim Ah-young, born November 6, 1992, in Ulsan, South Korea. Position: Main Rapper, Lead Dancer. Active in variety shows and dramas.
- Hyeri (혜리): Lee Hye-ri, born June 9, 1994, in Gwangju, South Korea. Position: Lead Dancer, Vocalist, Maknae. Gained massive popularity after starring in the drama Reply 1988.
- Jihae (지해): Woo Ji-hae, born May 14, 1989, in Seoul, South Korea. Position: Vocalist, Rapper (former member; left the group in 2012 for personal reasons).
Fun Facts
- The group’s official greeting when starting an introduction was, “Everyday~ Girl’s Day! Hello, we are Girl’s Day!” and when closing, they said, “Until now, we’ve been Girl’s Day. Please show us lots of love~”
- A unique point about Girl’s Day was the existence of individual fandoms for each member. Sojin’s fandom was called “Lover Flower,” Yura’s was “MARBLING,” Minah’s began as “Angelic Smile” and later changed to “Neighborhood Watch,” and Hyeri’s was “HERA.”
- On February 7, 2014, Girl’s Day appeared on Yoo Hee-yeol’s Sketchbook and shared some behind-the-scenes stories about their group name. The members revealed that they were all satisfied when they first heard the name “Girl’s Day.” This was especially true considering that other potential group names included “Ice Cream,” “Diamond,” and “Sweet Baba.”
- In Girl’s Day’s early days, Minah stood out both in image and exposure, largely thanks to her active participation in variety shows to promote the group. In contrast, the other members lacked clear identities or standout traits, which made them less noticeable to the public.
- The group established itself as a rare “four-member, four-color” act in K-pop, where each member possessed a distinctly different appeal.
- Girl’s Day rose to prominence as a defining icon of the sexy concept
- One of Girl’s Day’s unique strengths lay in their evenly distributed individual popularity.
Career
Debut and Early Challenges (2010-2011)
The group made its debut in July 2010 with the single “Tilt My Head” and their first EP, Girl’s Day Party #1. This initial period was met with some criticism regarding their vocal performance on their debut stage on “Music Bank”. Despite these early hurdles and the departure of Jisun and Jiin, followed by the addition of Yura and Hyeri, the group quickly showed signs of improvement. Their subsequent digital single, “Nothing Lasts Forever” (2010), was praised for demonstrating enhanced singing and dancing abilities. The turning point came in March 2011 with “Twinkle Twinkle,” the title song from
Girl’s Day Party #3. This track propelled Girl’s Day to widespread popularity, earning them their first chart win and making their “Mam Mam Ma dance” famous across South Korea. The song itself was a massive commercial success, selling over 2 million digital copies. Their growing popularity led to their first overseas concert in Taiwan in May 2011.
Rising Popularity and Peak Success (2012-2015)
Even with Jihae’s departure in October 2012 , the now four-member group continued its ascent. Their first full-length album, Expectation (March 2013), and its repackage, Female President (June 2013), were both highly successful. “Female President” was even recognized by Billboard as one of the “20 Best K-pop Songs of 2013” , and “Expect” received the Long-Run Song of the Year award at the Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards.
The release of “Something” (2014) from their fourth EP, Everyday 3, marked a significant peak in their career. The music video for “Something” garnered over a million views within a single day, and the song became their highest-charting single, reaching #2 on both Billboard’s Korea K-Pop Hot 100 and the Gaon Digital Chart. The group’s live promotions for “Something” earned them five music show awards and the ‘Best Dance Performance by a Female Group’ award at the 2014 Mnet Asian Music Awards. This period also saw “Darling” (2014) achieve a #1 peak on charts.
In 2015, Girl’s Day released their second full-length album, Love, featuring the title track “Ring My Bell”. They also made their official Japanese debut with the album Girl’s Day 2015 Autumn Party. Girl’s Day’s career trajectory is characterized by a remarkable ability to not only overcome initial vocal criticisms but to consistently deliver chart-topping hits and achieve critical acclaim (“Twinkle Twinkle,” “Expectation,” “Something,” “Darling”).
Later Years and Hiatus (2016-2019)
Their last group release was the seventh mini-album, Everyday #5, in 2017, with the title track “I’ll Be Yours.” The music video for “I’ll Be Yours” quickly surpassed 2 million views on 1theK’s channel in less than 24 hours. Following this release, the group entered a period of hiatus, during which members increasingly focused on their individual activities. By January 2019, all four members decided not to renew their contracts with Dream T Entertainment. Crucially, they emphasized that this did not signify an official disbandment, leaving the door open for future group projects.
Philanthropy and Endorsements
Beyond their musical achievements, Girl’s Day actively engaged in social causes. In August 2013, they were appointed honorary ambassadors for the Plan Korea campaign “Because I Am a Girl,” undertaking volunteer work in Chiang Rai, Thailand, to support birth registration for girls in developing countries. They returned to Thailand a year later for a similar campaign, donating all proceeds from their 2014 concert to support birth registration in developing countries. Sojin and Yura continued this ambassadorship in Cambodia in February 2016, volunteering at a school and conducting art and music workshops. This consistent involvement in philanthropic activities enhances their public image, positioning them as responsible and compassionate role models.
The group’s commercial influence was substantial, endorsing over 20 brands throughout their career, including major names like LG Electronics, Ezaki Glico’s Pocky, Lotte World, Nexon, and Bullsone. Their widespread appeal was reflected in their ranking of 13th in Korea Power Celebrity in 2015 and 26th in 2016, with Hyeri notably ranking 3rd individually in 2016. The sheer volume of brands endorsed by Girl’s Day and their high ranking in the Korea Power Celebrity list underscore that their success extended far beyond music. This indicates that K-pop idols, especially popular ones, are not just entertainers but powerful commercial entities.
Their influence translates directly into significant market value for brands, demonstrating how their popularity can drive consumer behavior and generate substantial revenue through advertising. Hyeri’s individual “₩10 billion girl” status further exemplifies this, showing how individual members can become highly lucrative brand ambassadors, amplifying the group’s overall economic impact.
Relationships
The personal lives of Girl’s Day members have seen various developments, including marriages and public relationships.
- Sojin, the group leader, married actor Lee Dong-ha in a private ceremony in November 2023. Their relationship reportedly began in 2021 after they worked together on the film The Grotesque Mansion.
- Minah is also set to marry actor On Joo-wan in November 2025. The couple initially met while filming the 2016 SBS drama Beautiful Gong Shim and reconnected in 2021 during the stage musical The Days. Their relationship reportedly deepened and became serious after On Joo-wan provided significant support to Minah during the passing of her father.
- Hyeri was in a public relationship with actor Ryu Jun-yeol, her co-star from Reply 1988, from late 2016 until their separation in November 2023. More recently, dating rumors surfaced involving dancer Wootae, with whom she collaborated on the film Victory. However, both their agencies declined to confirm the relationship, citing privacy concerns.
- Yura participated in the popular virtual marriage reality show We Got Married 4 with model-actor Hong Jong-hyun, which showcased their on-screen chemistry. She has also openly stated that singer Lee Seung-gi is her ideal type.
- Furthermore, Hwang Jisun, an original member of Girl’s Day, married U-KISS’s Hoon and welcomed their first child, a baby boy, in January 2024.
Controversies and Incidents
Music Bank Debut Stage Controversy
The group has faced its share of public scrutiny throughout its career. As noted, the group faced early criticism for their singing ability during their debut stage on “Music Bank”. However, they quickly addressed this by demonstrating significant improvement in subsequent performances, turning public perception around. The group’s swift and public apologies, followed by demonstrable improvements in their performance, illustrate a crucial aspect of idol survival: effective crisis management and a commitment to meeting public expectations.
Korean Internet-streamed Program Controversy
During promotions for their album Love in July 2015, Girl’s Day members faced controversy over their appearance on the Korean internet-streamed program, ChoiKoon TV. Audiences criticized their behavior as “disrespectful.” In response, the group appeared on the stream the following day to offer a public apology.
Hyeri’s Faint
In March 2016, Hyeri was hospitalized after fainting on stage and was diagnosed with meningitis, a condition attributed to her demanding schedule. She subsequently recovered, highlighting the physical toll the demanding idol lifestyle can take.
Filmography
| Member | Category | Notable Works |
| Sojin | Films | Zombie Crush: Heyri (2021), Ghost Mansion (2021), Swallow (2023) |
| TV Series | The King: Eternal Monarch (2020), Shooting Stars (2022), Alchemy of Souls (2022), Delightfully Deceitful (2023) | |
| Variety Shows | King of Mask Singer (2015), Living Together in Empty Room (2017), My Daughter’s Men (2017-2019, Host) | |
| Minah | Films | Holly (2013), Snowball (2021) |
| TV Series | Vampire Idol (2011), Beautiful Gong Shim (2016), My Absolute Boyfriend (2019), Delivery Man (2023) | |
| Variety Shows | Roller Coaster (2011), Inkigayo (2013-2014, Host), Eco Village (2014) | |
| Yura | Films | N/A |
| TV Series | To the Beautiful You (2012, cameo), Secret Love (2014), Now, We Are Breaking Up (2021) | |
| Variety Shows | We Got Married 4 (2014), Living Together in Empty Room (2017) | |
| Hyeri | Films | Monstrum (2018), My Punch-Drunk Boxer (2019), Victory (2023) |
| TV Series | Tasty Life (2012), Reply 1988 (2015), Entertainer (2016), My Roommate Is a Gumiho (2021), Moonshine (2021), May I Help You? (2022), Friendly Rivalry (2025) | |
| Variety Shows | Real Men (2014), Amazing Saturday (2018-2020), HMLYCP (2023), Agents of Mystery (2023) |
