Ryujin (rapper)
A magnetic performer who became the charismatic center and fierce rapper of the K-pop group ITZY, defining a generation's sound with attitude.
Born 2001 (age 25)·South Korean rapper and singer·Birthday: April 17·Generation Z
Biography
Born Shin Ryu-jin in Seoul, she entered the public eye as a teenage contestant on the survival show 'MIXNINE,' where her stage presence was immediately apparent. JYP Entertainment, recognizing a raw star quality, soon positioned her as the center and main rapper for their new girl group ITZY. Debuting in 2019 with 'DALLA DALLA,' Ryujin's distinctive deep voice, sharp choreography, and confident gaze became synonymous with the group's message of self-assured youth. Beyond performing, her influence is felt in the details—she famously created the point choreography for ITZY's hit 'WANNABE,' a shoulder-shimmy move that went viral globally. She navigates the intense spotlight of K-pop with a grounded, often witty personality, making her both an idol and a relatable figure for fans.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Ryujin was born in 2001, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ryujin Was Born
The biggest hits of 2001
#1 Movie
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Best Picture
A Beautiful Mind
#1 TV Show
Survivor
Ryujin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
2001Born
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2006Started school
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2014Became a teenager
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2017Could drive
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2019Could vote
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2022Turned 21
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 25 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Debuted as the center and main rapper of JYP Entertainment's girl group ITZY in 2019.
- Created the iconic shoulder-shimmy point choreography for ITZY's 2020 hit single 'WANNABE'.
- Won multiple 'Best Female Group' awards with ITZY at major Korean award shows like Mnet Asian Music Awards.
- Featured as a solo artist on the soundtrack for the TV series 'The King: Eternal Monarch' with the song 'My Day'.
Did You Know?
She was scouted by JYP Entertainment after a video of her at a GOT7 fan meeting went viral.
Her stage name, Ryujin, is derived from her family name 'Ryu' and the Korean word for 'precious' (jin).
She is left-handed.
She has a black belt in Taekwondo.
“I want to be a person who can give strength to others through my music and performances.”
