# Heo Young-ji (허영지)
**Heo Young-ji** (허영지; born 1994) is a South Korean singer and television personality who joined the girl group KARA in 2014 as the winner of the audition program *KARA Project* and made her formal solo debut in 2023 with the single album *Toi Toi Toi*.[1](https://mydramalist.com/people/10281-heo-young-ji) • [2](https://www.koreaherald.com/article/3201596) She is also known by the romanizations Hur Youngji and Youngji, and in Japan as HUR YOUNG JI.[3](https://youngjiofficial.jp/profile)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1994[1](https://mydramalist.com/people/10281-heo-young-ji) |
| Group debut | Won *KARA Project* in 2014; debuted in August 2014 as KARA's main rapper, lead dancer, vocalist and maknae with the sixth EP *Day & Night*[1](https://mydramalist.com/people/10281-heo-young-ji) |
| Formal solo debut | Single album *Toi Toi Toi*, released September 12, 2023, nine years after her group debut[2](https://www.koreaherald.com/article/3201596) |
| Earlier solo release | Digital single *Memory Clock* (추억시계) in 2017[4](https://www.smcultureandcontents.com/ko/company/news_view.asp?board_srl=10051) |
| Reunion | Participated in KARA's 15th-anniversary album *MOVE AGAIN* (2022)[5](https://www.kpopreporter.com/articles/7941/heo-young-ji-from-2nd-generation-group-kara-to-5th-generation-solo-debut-the-all-rounders-evolution) |
| Agency | DSP Media until September 2024, then an exclusive contract with SM C&C[1](https://mydramalist.com/people/10281-heo-young-ji) • [6](https://www.mk.co.kr/en/entertain/11113072) |
| Own show | Web talk show *허영지의 삐하인드* (Heo Young-ji's Beep Hind), launched August 2024[6](https://www.mk.co.kr/en/entertain/11113072) |
## Early life
Heo Young-ji was born in 1994.[1](https://mydramalist.com/people/10281-heo-young-ji) Her native name is written 허영지.[1](https://mydramalist.com/people/10281-heo-young-ji)
## Joining KARA through the KARA Project (2014)
**The vacancy.** In 2014, Nicole and [Kang Ji-young](https://www.edgepedia.org/kang-ji-young) left KARA as their seven-year exclusive contracts with [DSP Media](https://www.edgepedia.org/dsp-media) came to an end, and the company held the audition program *KARA Project* to select a new member.[2](https://www.koreaherald.com/article/3201596) Heo Young-ji won the program and joined the group in August 2014.[2](https://www.koreaherald.com/article/3201596)
**Debut.** She debuted with KARA the same month as the group's main rapper, lead dancer, vocalist and maknae, on the sixth EP *Day & Night*.[1](https://mydramalist.com/people/10281-heo-young-ji) Both SM C&C's company profile and her official Japanese profile record the same sequence: entry through *KARA Project* in 2014 and debut with the mini album *Day&Night* that year.[4](https://www.smcultureandcontents.com/ko/company/news_view.asp?board_srl=10051) • [3](https://youngjiofficial.jp/profile) Immediately after joining, she took part in KARA's Japanese tour.[5](https://www.kpopreporter.com/articles/7941/heo-young-ji-from-2nd-generation-group-kara-to-5th-generation-solo-debut-the-all-rounders-evolution)
## Career with KARA
In January 2016, every KARA member except Heo Young-ji ended their contracts with DSP Media, leaving her the only member remaining under the agency.[1](https://mydramalist.com/people/10281-heo-young-ji)
The full group reunited for the 15th-anniversary special album *MOVE AGAIN*, released in November 2022, with Heo Young-ji participating alongside the returning members.[1](https://mydramalist.com/people/10281-heo-young-ji) • [5](https://www.kpopreporter.com/articles/7941/heo-young-ji-from-2nd-generation-group-kara-to-5th-generation-solo-debut-the-all-rounders-evolution)
## Solo music
Her first solo release was the 2017 digital single *Memory Clock* (추억시계, listed on her Japanese profile as 思い出時計).[4](https://www.smcultureandcontents.com/ko/company/news_view.asp?board_srl=10051) • [3](https://youngjiofficial.jp/profile)
**Toi Toi Toi (2023).** She announced her formal solo debut with the single album *Toi Toi Toi*, released on September 12, 2023. The title comes from an expression used in the performing arts industry, derived from German, to wish an artist success.[2](https://www.koreaherald.com/article/3201596) The album contains three tracks: the title song *L.O.V.E*, *Focus*, and *Climax*, and Heo Young-ji participated in writing the lyrics of *Climax*, the track she had previewed at her June fan meeting. The hitmakers Rocoberry and Seo Ji-eum also contributed to the album.[5](https://www.kpopreporter.com/articles/7941/heo-young-ji-from-2nd-generation-group-kara-to-5th-generation-solo-debut-the-all-rounders-evolution)
She had hinted at the solo debut at her standalone fan meeting *Youngji's Bakery*, held in Seoul in June 2023, where *Climax* was first previewed.[7](https://news.tf.co.kr/read/entertain/2039279.htm) • [5](https://www.kpopreporter.com/articles/7941/heo-young-ji-from-2nd-generation-group-kara-to-5th-generation-solo-debut-the-all-rounders-evolution)
## Television, variety and acting
Her variety credits include *Comedy Big League*, *Change Days Season 2*, *One Night Food Trip*, *Weekly China Now*, and *Roommate Season 2*.[4](https://www.smcultureandcontents.com/ko/company/news_view.asp?board_srl=10051) She has worked as an actress since 2015 in [Korean drama](https://www.edgepedia.org/korean-drama) series.[2](https://www.koreaherald.com/article/3201596) Her roles include Oh Young-ji, the female lead of the campus melodrama *연금술사* (The [Alchemist](https://www.edgepedia.org/alchemist)), and Yoon Anna in *또 오해영* ([Another Miss Oh](https://www.edgepedia.org/another-miss-oh)).[4](https://www.smcultureandcontents.com/ko/company/news_view.asp?board_srl=10051)
She also hosts YouTube content: SBS *Midnight*'s *Idol Complaint Office with Chief Heo*.[5](https://www.kpopreporter.com/articles/7941/heo-young-ji-from-2nd-generation-group-kara-to-5th-generation-solo-debut-the-all-rounders-evolution) In August 2024 she launched her own web talk show, *허영지의 삐하인드* (Heo Young-ji's Beep Hind), a solo talk program under her own name.[6](https://www.mk.co.kr/en/entertain/11113072) • [4](https://www.smcultureandcontents.com/ko/company/news_view.asp?board_srl=10051)
## From second-generation idol to fifth-generation soloist
The nine-year gap between her group debut in August 2014 and her solo debut in September 2023 places her in an unusual position: she entered the industry as a second-generation group member and debuted as a soloist in the fifth-generation era. Her official Japanese profile frames this directly, describing her 2023 solo debut as a step forward as a female solo artist representing the fifth generation.[3](https://youngjiofficial.jp/profile) Trade coverage has made the same point, describing her evolution from a second-generation group member to a fifth-generation solo debut.[5](https://www.kpopreporter.com/articles/7941/heo-young-ji-from-2nd-generation-group-kara-to-5th-generation-solo-debut-the-all-rounders-evolution)
## What has changed since 2023
**Agency move.** In September 2024, DSP Media announced the termination of her contract, and she signed with SM C&C (에스엠컬처앤콘텐츠) days later.[1](https://mydramalist.com/people/10281-heo-young-ji) SM C&C announced the exclusive contract on September 9, 2024, describing her as a broadcaster and noting her August 2024 launch of *Heo Young-ji's Beep Hind*.[6](https://www.mk.co.kr/en/entertain/11113072)
**Japan.** Her official Japanese website has announced the 2026 fan meeting *Hello, Spring with HURMING*, her first fan meeting in Japan in about a year.[8](https://youngji.ryzm.jp/)
## References
1. [Heo Young Ji (허영지), MyDramaList](https://mydramalist.com/people/10281-heo-young-ji)
2. [Kara's Hur Youngji to debut solo with single 'Toi Toi Toi' next month, The Korea Herald](https://www.koreaherald.com/article/3201596)
3. [Profile, HUR YOUNG JI official Japanese profile](https://youngjiofficial.jp/profile)
4. [SM C&C company news on Heo Young-ji signing](https://www.smcultureandcontents.com/ko/company/news_view.asp?board_srl=10051)
5. [Heo Youngji: From 2nd Generation Group KARA to 5th Generation Solo Debut, Kpop Reporter](https://www.kpopreporter.com/articles/7941/heo-young-ji-from-2nd-generation-group-kara-to-5th-generation-solo-debut-the-all-rounders-evolution)
6. [Broadcaster Heo Young-ji signs exclusive contract with SM C&C, Maeil Business](https://www.mk.co.kr/en/entertain/11113072)
7. [허영지, 9년 만에 솔로 데뷔…9월 12일 발매, The Fact](https://news.tf.co.kr/read/entertain/2039279.htm)
8. [HUR YOUNG JI OFFICIAL WEBSITE (Japan)](https://youngji.ryzm.jp/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Music scenes › East and Southeast Asian pop scenes › K-pop and the Korean popular music scene › Artists, groups, and people: K-pop and the Korean popular music scene › First- and second-generation idol groups and 1990s dance acts › Surnames symbols to J*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 18, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license