# Ji Ye-eun
**Ji Ye-eun** (지예은; born 1994) is a South Korean actress and entertainer who rose to public attention as a cast member of the Coupang Play comedy show *SNL Korea* and became a regular member of the SBS variety program *Running Man*.[1](https://cine21.com/db/person/info/?person_id=109923) • [2](https://www.soompi.com/article/1769159wpp/ji-ye-eun-to-take-temporary-hiatus-from-activities-due-to-health-concerns) She is a graduate of the Korean National University of Arts acting department and debuted through theater in 2017.[3](https://www.chosun.com/english/kpop-culture-en/2025/10/20/FG6TDZ4JAVFTDERS2I3NV7IYUE/) Her agency is CP Entertainment.[4](https://www.stagepick.co.kr/artists/detail/20918)
She shares her name with a South Korean influencer born in 2006 (hanja 池睿恩), and the two are sometimes distinguished in Korean media coverage.[5](https://m.namu.moe/w/%EC%A7%80%EC%98%88%EC%9D%80%28%EC%9D%B8%ED%94%8C%EB%A3%A8%EC%96%B8%EC%84%9C%29)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1994, South Korea[6](https://asianwiki.com/Ji_Ye-Eun_%281994%29) |
| Training | Korean National University of Arts, acting department; theater debut 2017[3](https://www.chosun.com/english/kpop-culture-en/2025/10/20/FG6TDZ4JAVFTDERS2I3NV7IYUE/) |
| Breakthrough | *SNL Korea* (Coupang Play), noted for her work in seasons 3 and 4[7](https://www.mk.co.kr/en/entertain/11446048) |
| Variety regular | Regular cast member of SBS's *Running Man*[2](https://www.soompi.com/article/1769159wpp/ji-ye-eun-to-take-temporary-hiatus-from-activities-due-to-health-concerns) |
| Awards | Rising Star Award, 2024 SBS Entertainment Awards; Excellence Award, 2025 SBS Entertainment Awards[8](https://www.koreaboo.com/news/running-man-actress-ji-yeeun-2024-sbs-entertainment-awards-acceptance-speech/) • [9](https://www.chosun.com/english/kpop-culture-en/2025/12/31/ZXFJPSFYNBGGJIIR4BYZLA37KU/) |
| Music project | Co-member of the project group Chungju J's with Ji Suk-jin; digital singles "Milkshake" (2025) and "AQUA"[10](https://m.namu.moe/w/%EC%A7%80%EC%98%88%EC%9D%80) |
| Health break | Hiatus announced August 26, 2025; returned to *Running Man* filming on October 20, 2025[11](https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/amp/entertainment/shows-dramas/20250827/ji-ye-eun-to-take-hiatus-for-health-reasons) • [12](https://www.mk.co.kr/en/hot-issues/11445807) |
## Training and early career
Ji Ye-eun trained in the acting department of the Korean National University of Arts and made her debut through theater in 2017.[3](https://www.chosun.com/english/kpop-culture-en/2025/10/20/FG6TDZ4JAVFTDERS2I3NV7IYUE/) Her early screen work included the 2017 series *Yellow*, in which she played Jo Soo-ah, and appearances in the web programs *Latest Trend Program* (2018) and its second season (2019).[1](https://cine21.com/db/person/info/?person_id=109923)
In a later radio interview she described joining the *SNL Korea* crew as intimidating at first, saying she cried uncontrollably during the early period before finding her footing on the show.[13](https://www.starnewskorea.com/en/star/2026/05/13/2026051314113059783)
## Breakthrough on SNL Korea
Ji Ye-eun became widely known through the Coupang Play comedy show *SNL Korea*, where she appeared from season 3 (2022) onward and continued through seasons 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.[1](https://cine21.com/db/person/info/?person_id=109923) Korean media credited her with an "MZ generation" persona and comic acting in seasons 3 and 4 that impressed the public.[7](https://www.mk.co.kr/en/entertain/11446048) Her visibility on the show carried into industry popularity measures: in a weekly ranking of non-drama performer buzz, she appeared among the top names for *SNL Korea* season 8 alongside her castmates.[14](https://racoi.s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/2026_%ED%8E%80%EB%8D%B1%EC%8A%A4%EB%A6%AC%ED%8F%AC%ED%8A%B8_4%EC%9B%94_1%EC%A3%BC%EC%B0%A8.pdf)
## Running Man and variety work
Ji Ye-eun joined SBS's long-running variety show *Running Man* as a regular cast member, a move that substantially raised her profile.[2](https://www.soompi.com/article/1769159wpp/ji-ye-eun-to-take-temporary-hiatus-from-activities-due-to-health-concerns) Her food-eating segments drew attention; in one June 2025 episode she ate five meals' worth of food in a day, ordering samgyeopsal with doenjang stew and rice, and finishing the restaurant's tteokbokki as well.[15](https://ent.sbs.co.kr/news/article.do?article_id=E10010303120&cooper=ent.sbs.co.kr)
Beyond *Running Man*, her variety credits include Coupang Play's *Office Workers* and *[Kian's Bizarre B&B](https://www.edgepedia.org/kians-bizarre-b-and-b)*, tvN's *Date My Friend*, and Disney+'s *60 Minutes Blind Date*.[11](https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/amp/entertainment/shows-dramas/20250827/ji-ye-eun-to-take-hiatus-for-health-reasons) In July 2026 she joined the history-variety program *What Did the King Eat?* (왕은 무얼 자셨는가) as a fixed MC alongside history lecturers Choi Tae-sung, Yang Sang-guk, and Shin Gi-ru, and became co-MC of the YouTube program *Anyway, I Came to Chat* with Gabi.[10](https://m.namu.moe/w/%EC%A7%80%EC%98%88%EC%9D%80)
## Acting work
Her acting credits include a guest role as Jang Seon-a in episode 9 of the SBS drama *Good Partner* (2024) and a role as a neighbor on the sixth floor in the 2025 film *The People Upstairs* (웃집 사람들).[6](https://asianwiki.com/Ji_Ye-Eun_%281994%29) Cine21 lists further 2024 and 2025 screen appearances including *Crazy Rich Korean*, *A Truly Good Person*, and *60 Minutes Blind Date: New Face Every 30 Minutes*.[1](https://cine21.com/db/person/info/?person_id=109923)
## Music: Chungju J's
On June 20, 2025, Ji Ye-eun formed the co-ed project group Chungju J's with comedian Ji Suk-jin, both surnamed Ji with roots in Chungju, and released the digital single "Milkshake".[10](https://m.namu.moe/w/%EC%A7%80%EC%98%88%EC%9D%80) According to Ji Suk-jin's account on [Yoo Jae-suk](https://www.edgepedia.org/yoo-jae-suk)'s and his own YouTube channels, the project began at Ji Ye-eun's suggestion; she recruited the well-known producer Ahn Young-min for the song and the choreographer Vata, known for the choreography of "like JENNIE".[10](https://m.namu.moe/w/%EC%A7%80%EC%98%88%EC%9D%80) The duo later released a second digital single, "AQUA".[10](https://m.namu.moe/w/%EC%A7%80%EC%98%88%EC%9D%80) She also appeared at Waterbomb Seoul 2025, held at KINTEX from July 4 to 6, 2025.[4](https://www.stagepick.co.kr/artists/detail/20918)
## Health hiatus and return
In August 2025, Ji Ye-eun announced a temporary hiatus of at least three weeks to focus on her health.[11](https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/amp/entertainment/shows-dramas/20250827/ji-ye-eun-to-take-hiatus-for-health-reasons) Her agency, CP Entertainment, said it would provide all necessary support so the actress could rest and make a full return.[2](https://www.soompi.com/article/1769159wpp/ji-ye-eun-to-take-temporary-hiatus-from-activities-due-to-health-concerns) On *Running Man*, Yoo Jae-suk told viewers she was on a short medical break and said the widely reported explanation of burnout was unrelated to her absence.[16](https://news.sbs.co.kr/amp/news.amp?news_id=N1008288592) One media outlet reported the hiatus was due to hypothyroidism.[12](https://www.mk.co.kr/en/hot-issues/11445807)
She returned to *Running Man* filming on October 20, 2025, after completing treatment.[12](https://www.mk.co.kr/en/hot-issues/11445807) In May 2026 she disclosed on air that she had been treated for thyroid cancer, saying a considerable amount of thyroid tissue had been involved; her agency had earlier declined to confirm details, citing personal medical information.[17](https://www.chosun.com/culture-life/k-culture/2026/05/27/DKGQ2EU5H5HWTB2U5ZQR5LYGZM/) A later report noted she had returned to *Running Man* three weeks after surgery.[18](https://sports.khan.co.kr/en/article/202605291114007)
## Awards
At the 2024 SBS Entertainment Awards, held on January 29, 2025 (KST), Ji Ye-eun received the Rising Star Award for her work including *Running Man*; her acceptance speech, delivered through uncontrollable laughter, drew wide attention.[8](https://www.koreaboo.com/news/running-man-actress-ji-yeeun-2024-sbs-entertainment-awards-acceptance-speech/) At the 2025 SBS Entertainment Awards she won the Excellence Award and publicly thanked her *Running Man* seniors.[9](https://www.chosun.com/english/kpop-culture-en/2025/12/31/ZXFJPSFYNBGGJIIR4BYZLA37KU/)
## Personal life
On April 13, 2026, Korean media reported a relationship between Ji Ye-eun and the dancer Vata, who had choreographed the Waterbomb Seoul 2025 performance for Chungju J's; both sides confirmed through official statements the same day that they were dating.[19](https://www.christiandaily.co.kr/pdf/20260421.pdf)
## References
1. [지예은 profile, Cine21](https://cine21.com/db/person/info/?person_id=109923)
2. [Ji Ye Eun To Take Temporary Hiatus From Activities Due To Health Concerns, Soompi](https://www.soompi.com/article/1769159wpp/ji-ye-eun-to-take-temporary-hiatus-from-activities-due-to-health-concerns)
3. [Ji Ye-eun Returns to Running Man After Health Recovery, The Chosun Daily](https://www.chosun.com/english/kpop-culture-en/2025/10/20/FG6TDZ4JAVFTDERS2I3NV7IYUE/)
4. [지예은 profile, Stagepick](https://www.stagepick.co.kr/artists/detail/20918)
5. [지예은(인플루언서), Namu wiki](https://m.namu.moe/w/%EC%A7%80%EC%98%88%EC%9D%80%28%EC%9D%B8%ED%94%8C%EB%A3%A8%EC%96%B8%EC%84%9C%29)
6. [Ji Ye-Eun (1994), AsianWiki](https://asianwiki.com/Ji_Ye-Eun_%281994%29)
7. [Actress Ji Ye-eun returned to Running Man, MK](https://www.mk.co.kr/en/entertain/11446048)
8. [Running Man Actress Ji Ye Eun's 2024 SBS Entertainment Awards Acceptance Speech, Koreaboo](https://www.koreaboo.com/news/running-man-actress-ji-yeeun-2024-sbs-entertainment-awards-acceptance-speech/)
9. [Ji Ye-eun Thanks Running Man Seniors After Excellence Award, The Chosun Daily](https://www.chosun.com/english/kpop-culture-en/2025/12/31/ZXFJPSFYNBGGJIIR4BYZLA37KU/)
10. [지예은, Namu wiki](https://m.namu.moe/w/%EC%A7%80%EC%98%88%EC%9D%80)
11. [Ji Ye-eun to take hiatus for health reasons, The Korea Times](https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/amp/entertainment/shows-dramas/20250827/ji-ye-eun-to-take-hiatus-for-health-reasons)
12. [Ji Ye-eun Recovers Her Health... Returns to Running Man Filming Today, MK](https://www.mk.co.kr/en/hot-issues/11445807)
13. [Ji Ye-eun: Joining the SNL crew, I was initially intimidated and cried uncontrollably, Starnews](https://www.starnewskorea.com/en/star/2026/05/13/2026051314113059783)
14. [RACOI FUNdex report, April 2026 week 1, Korea Broadcast Advertising Corporation](https://racoi.s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/2026_%ED%8E%80%EB%8D%B1%EC%8A%A4%EB%A6%AC%ED%8F%AC%ED%8A%B8_4%EC%9B%94_1%EC%A3%BC%EC%B0%A8.pdf)
15. [런닝맨 지예은 먹방 리뷰, SBS Entertainment News](https://ent.sbs.co.kr/news/article.do?article_id=E10010303120&cooper=ent.sbs.co.kr)
16. [Yoo Jae-suk Says Ji Ye-eun Is on a Short Medical Break from Running Man, Not Burnout, SBS News](https://news.sbs.co.kr/amp/news.amp?news_id=N1008288592)
17. [갑상선암 투병 고백 지예은, The Chosun Daily](https://www.chosun.com/culture-life/k-culture/2026/05/27/DKGQ2EU5H5HWTB2U5ZQR5LYGZM/)
18. [Battling thyroid cancer: Ji Ye-eun returns to Running Man three weeks after surgery, Sports Kyunghyang](https://sports.khan.co.kr/en/article/202605291114007)
19. [지예은·바타 열애 인정, Christian Daily Korea](https://www.christiandaily.co.kr/pdf/20260421.pdf)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of East and Southeast Asia › South Korean actors, 2000s onward › Surnames I to Ka*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 19, 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