Biography
Who is Wheein?
Early life and real name
Jung Whee-in was born in Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea. She was raised as an only child and lived primarily with her grandmother during her youth. For her education, she graduated from Wonkwang Information Arts High School.
Her given name, Hwi-in, carries a specific meaning. It was inspired by the main male character Jo Hwi-in from the manhwa titled For the Mermaid Princess. Her mother selected this name because she found it aesthetically pleasing. In Hanja, her name is written as 輝人, which translates to a shining person.
Rise to fame with Mamamoo
In June 2014, Wheein officially debuted as a member of the Korean girl group Mamamoo. She served as a vocalist for the group, participating in their debut single Mr. Ambiguous and the EP Hello. Before this official group debut, she had already appeared in the group's R&B collaboration track Don't Be Happy alongside member Solar and singer Bumkey in January 2014.
Throughout her time with the group, she continued to expand her musical presence. She collaborated on various tracks with artists such as Kiggen, Standing Egg, CNBLUE, Louie, Monsta X, and Sandeul between 2014 and 2016. Her work with Jung Key on the song Anymore in 2017 reached the top of the Gaon Charts, further strengthening her status as a well-known vocalist in the industry.
Solo career and discography
Wheein launched her career as a solo artist on April 17, 2018, with the single album Magnolia, featuring the lead track Easy with rapper Sik-K. In 2019, she released her second single album Soar, which included the single Good Bye. This release peaked at number four on the Gaon Album Chart and sold over 23,000 copies that year. Her solo work continued with the 2021 EP Redd, which reached the top ten in Korea and sold more than 72,000 copies.
In 2022, she released her second EP titled WHEE, which included the lead single Make Me Happy and sold over 81,000 copies. This was followed in 2023 by her first studio album, In the Mood, featuring 11 tracks including collaborations with Hwasa and HAON. She explained that the EP WHEE and the album In the Mood were part of a unified project. In 2024, she started on her first world tour titled Whee In The Mood Beyond, which included dates across Asia, Europe, and the United States.
Soundtrack appearances and label changes
Beyond her albums, Wheein has contributed significantly to television and film soundtracks. She recorded With My Tears for the drama Hospital Playlist and Shine On You for the drama Record of Youth in 2020. Her 2021 projects included I wish for the drama The Red Sleeve and Ice Cream Love for the drama One Ordinary Day. In 2022, she contributed tracks for productions like the webtoon Nth Romance, the drama Thirty-Nine, and the reality show EXchange 2.
Professionally, she transitioned labels in 2021 after choosing not to renew her contract with RBW. She signed with Ravi's label, The L1ve, while maintaining an agreement to promote with Mamamoo for a period. Her contract with The L1ve concluded in 2024. In July 2025, she signed an exclusive contract with With Us Entertainment, a subsidiary of Around Us Entertainment, to continue her activities as both a solo artist and a member of Mamamoo.
Birthday and age
Wheein was born on April 17, 1995, which makes Wheein 31 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aries sign. Wheein shares the date with 62 other famous people.
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