Yerin Baek
A South Korean musician who traded pop polish for raw, guitar-driven soul, becoming a voice for introspective and disaffected youth.
Born 1997 (age 29)·South Korean singer-songwriter·Birthday: June 26·Generation Z
Biography
Yerin Baek began in the spotlight as part of the polished pop duo 15& but found her true voice by stripping everything back. Her 2015 solo debut, 'Frank,' was a statement of intent—a collection of soulful, personal songs built around piano and her distinctive, smoky vocals. She didn't just leave the K-pop system; she rebuilt her own world from the ground up, teaching herself guitar and eventually forming the rock band The Volunteers, where she serves as lead vocalist and guitarist. Her music, often self-written and produced, dwells in themes of loneliness, love, and the quiet struggles of early adulthood, delivered with a cathartic, sometimes gritty, energy. By embracing indie rock, blues, and folk, Baek has cultivated a fiercely dedicated fanbase who see their own complexities reflected in her unvarnished sound, making her a pivotal figure in Korea's alternative music scene.
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.
Yerin was born in 1997, 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 Yerin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1997
#1 Movie
Titanic
Best Picture
Titanic
#1 TV Show
ER
Yerin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1997Born
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2002Started school
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2010Became a teenager
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Could drive
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2015Could vote
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2018Turned 21
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 29 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Successfully transitioned from K-pop idol in the duo 15& to a respected solo singer-songwriter with her 2015 EP 'Frank'.
- Founded and leads the indie rock band The Volunteers, showcasing her growth as a guitarist and bandleader.
- Writes and composes the majority of her own music, earning critical praise for her personal and lyrical songwriting.
Did You Know?
She taught herself how to play the guitar by watching YouTube tutorials.
Her song 'Square' was featured on the popular NPR program 'Tiny Desk Concerts' in a home recording.
She runs her own independent label, Blue Vinyl.
She has a black belt in Taekwondo.
“I want to be an artist who can comfort people who are going through hard times.”
