Jini (known as Jinni) ex NMIXX

Who is Jinni?

Jini is a South Korean singer, dancer, and rapper born as Choi Yun-jin on April 16, 2004, in Haeundae-gu, Busan, South Korea. She is a former member of the girl group NMIXX and currently pursues a solo career under the management of ATOC (2023–2025). Her birth name reflects her Korean heritage, while her stage name underwent a romanization change from "Jinni" to "Jini" following her departure from JYP Entertainment.

Standing at 165 cm with blood type A, Jini began her entertainment career after joining JYP Entertainment in 2016. She trained at the company for several years before debuting as a member of NMIXX on February 22, 2022, with the single album "Ad Mare". During her time with NMIXX, she served as a vocalist, rapper, and dancer, showcasing the multifaceted performance abilities that would later define her solo career.

Jini's tenure with NMIXX lasted approximately ten months before JYP Entertainment announced on December 9, 2022, that she would be departing the group and the agency due to personal circumstances. The announcement confirmed that her exclusive contract had been terminated and that NMIXX would continue as a six-member group. At the time of her departure, NMIXX had recently received the Favourite New Artist award at the 2022 MAMA Awards.

Following her exit from JYP Entertainment, Jini maintained a period of public silence before returning to social media on March 18 with the creation of her personal Instagram account. On April 14, 2023, news outlet Sports Kyunghyang reported that she had signed an exclusive contract with UAP, a new agency that later became known as ATOC. SUBLIME confirmed a management MOU collaboration to handle her activities on behalf of UAP.

Jini made her solo debut on October 11, 2023, with the extended play "An Iron Hand In A Velvet Glove". She announced the debut on September 14 through teasers released on social media. Her fandom color is purple, maintaining continuity with her previous identity while establishing herself as an independent artist. She is also listed as a member of the upcoming girl group OWIS.

Jinni's Journey with NMIXX

Pre-debut training at JYP Entertainment

Jinni's path to becoming a professional performer began when she joined JYP Entertainment as a trainee in 2016. During this initial training period, she participated in the JYP Trainee mini-showcase, where her performances earned her a substantial fan base even before any official debut. Her training at one of K-pop's most prominent entertainment companies spanned approximately five years, during which she developed skills across multiple performance disciplines.

In 2019, Jinni gained pre-debut exposure through her appearance in 2PM member Nichkhun's music video for his solo debut single "Lucky Charm". This opportunity allowed her to showcase her abilities alongside established artists while still in trainee status. Fellow trainees Jiwoo and Kyujin joined JYP Entertainment in 2018, while Jinni's earlier entry in 2016 marked her as one of the longer-training members among the eventual NMIXX lineup.

Debut as NMIXX member in 2022

On August 6, 2021, JYP Entertainment revealed Jinni, along with Jiwoo and Kyujin, as the first three members of what was then known as "JYPn" through a dance performance video. The reveal followed a July 9, 2021 teaser containing the phrase "Your Next Favorite Girl group," which sparked widespread speculation about JYP Entertainment's plans for a new girl group. The dance performance video received praise from K-pop fans and generated significant anticipation for the upcoming group.

Jinni officially debuted with NMIXX on February 22, 2022, with the single album "Ad Mare" alongside its lead single "O.O". The group's name carried specific meaning, with "N" representing "new, now, next" and "mixx" referring to the group's diversity. The initial seven-member lineup consisted of Jinni, Jiwoo, Kyujin, Sullyoon, Bae, Haewon, and Lily, with ages ranging from 17 to 20.

Within NMIXX, Jinni served as a rapper, vocalist, and dancer. Her stage presence became one of her defining characteristics as a performer. The group introduced a musical concept called "MIXX POP," which involved blending multiple genres within single songs, with their debut track "O.O" combining pop, hip-hop, and rock elements.

Why Did Jinni Leave NMIXX?

On December 9, 2022, JYP Entertainment formally announced the termination of Jinni's exclusive contract with the company and her departure from NMIXX. The announcement came approximately ten months after her debut with the group, shocking fans due to its unexpected timing and lack of detailed explanation. Specifically, the official statement indicated that Jinni would be leaving due to "personal circumstances," with JYP Entertainment apologizing for the sudden nature of the news.

The abruptness of the departure became evident through the timeline of events. Jinni had appeared in a vlive broadcast the day before the announcement and was featured in the group's season greetings posted just days prior. Three days before the contract termination announcement, she had participated in NMIXX's Loewe fashion campaign. Following the announcement, the six remaining members performed at the Asia Artist Awards without her.

The limited information provided by JYP Entertainment left substantial questions unanswered. The agency offered no details beyond citing "personal reasons" for the contract termination. This lack of transparency proved particularly notable given that Jinni had trained at JYP Entertainment for seven years before debuting, representing a significant investment of time and resources. The company's typical practice of providing more context for member departures made the vague explanation stand out among industry observers.

When Jinni addressed the departure publicly during her solo debut showcase in 2023, she maintained similar discretion. Asked directly about the reasons behind her sudden exit from NMIXX, she responded that it remained difficult to provide specific explanations because personal factors played a role. Her response echoed the original announcement's ambiguity, offering no additional clarity on the circumstances that led to the contract termination.

The departure resulted in NMIXX continuing as a six-member group, with the agency confirming this transition in the same December 9 announcement. JYP Entertainment did not re-record existing songs to exclude Jinni's parts, leaving her contributions intact in the group's initial discography. The company's handling of the situation allowed Jinni to pursue subsequent entertainment activities without public allegations that might have damaged her professional prospects.

Jinni's Solo Career After NMIXX

Signing with ATOC

The management structure for Jini's solo career involved a collaborative arrangement between her primary agency and an established entertainment company. UAP (later rebranded as ATOC) signed a management MOU collaboration with Sublime Artist Agency, home to artists including Tiffany Young and Jackson Wang. Sublime confirmed this partnership agreement and committed to providing support for Jini's global activities, enabling her to demonstrate her talents and potential through their combined resources.

ATOC established official social media presence on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube platforms, where they modified the romanization of her stage name from "Jinni" to "Jini". The agency underwent a rebranding in early September 2023, changing its name from United Artist Production to ATOC. This transition occurred shortly before Jini's solo debut preparations entered their final phase.

Solo debut with 'An Iron Hand in a Velvet Glove'

Jini announced her debut as a solo artist on September 14, 2023, through teaser images featuring the letter J on an earring and as a logo. The announcement accompanied the reveal of her first EP titled An Iron Hand in a Velvet Glove, scheduled for release on October 11, 2023. The album title represented the contrasting aspects of her personality, with "Iron Hand" signifying strength and toughness while "Velvet Glove" embodied soft and graceful qualities.

The EP comprised five tracks, with all songs composed and arranged by producer MZMC, recognized for his work on EXO's "Ko Ko Bop" and "Love Shot," as well as NCT 127's "Cherry Bomb". The lead single "C'mon" featured American rapper Aminé. At the press event held at Shinhan pLay Square Live Hall in Mapo District, Seoul, Jini explained her choice of English lyrics for the title track, stating she suggested the English version after hearing the demo. The album additionally featured "Bad Reputation," which marked her first songwriting credit.

Acting ventures and endorsements

In September 2023, Jini became the brand muse for skincare company Mixsoon. Her entertainment activities expanded beyond music when she contributed vocals to "Starlight," an OST for the popular webtoon "No Office Romance!". Jini made her acting debut in the dystopian film Boy, which premiered theatrically on January 14, 2026.

Jinni's Music and Discography

During her tenure with NMIXX, Jinni contributed to multiple releases beginning with the group's debut single album "AD MARE" on February 22, 2022. Her participation extended through subsequent releases including "ENTWURF" on September 19, 2022, "Kiss" on July 31, 2022, and the OST collaboration "개비의 매직하우스 (GABBY'S DOLLHOUSE) OST X NMIXX" on May 2, 2022. The group released "expérgo" on March 20, 2023, and "A Midsummer NMIXX's Dream" on July 11, 2023, after her departure.

Her solo discography commenced with the EP "An Iron Hand In A Velvet Glove," released on October 11, 2023. The five-track project featured compositions and arrangements entirely by producer MZMC, known for work with EXO and NCT 127. The EP achieved a peak position of number 9 on Korean charts and recorded sales of 61,904 units. The track listing included "Here We Go Again," "C'mon (ft Aminé)," "Dancing With The Devil," "Bad Reputation," and "C'mon (ft Aminé) (Korean Ver)".

The lead single "C'mon" featuring American rapper Aminé reached position 137 on Korean digital charts. This collaboration marked her first release as a solo artist under ATOC. "Bad Reputation," running 1 minute and 54 seconds, represented her inaugural songwriting credit, with Jini contributing to both lyrics and composition alongside Alida, Jay Kim, Kriss, MNEK, MZMC, Sean Fischer, and Smaaland.

Beyond her solo EP, Jini expanded her discography through soundtrack contributions. She recorded "Starlight" for the webtoon "No Office Romance!" in 2024, released as her first OST single. The single included both the main track and an instrumental version.

Her creative involvement extended to writing credits on her debut EP. She received formal songwriting recognition for "Bad Reputation," marking her transition from performer to contributing artist in the creative process. The writing credit demonstrated her artistic development beyond the performance-focused role she held during her time with NMIXX.

Jinni's Personal Life and Interests

Jini's educational path included attendance at Changdeok Girls' High School, though she subsequently withdrew from formal schooling. She later completed her secondary education by passing the High School Graduation Certification Examination. Her family structure includes a younger brother born in 2011.

Known by the nickname "baby tiger," Jini exhibits specific preferences across various aspects of daily life. Her culinary tastes favor spicy food and seafood, particularly various kinds of sashimi. Specifically, she prefers pizza over chicken and enjoys fruit smoothies, jellies, and milk tea. Conversely, she maintains strong aversions to certain foods, including seaweed soup, cucumber cold soup, steamed fish, and grilled fish. Her favorite day of the week is Friday.

Her aesthetic preferences have evolved over time, with her favorite color transitioning from light pink to light purple. Spring represents her preferred season. In entertainment consumption, Jini demonstrates a pronounced interest in horror films, which constitute her favorite movie genre. She regularly watches horror content before going to sleep. Among Korean dramas, she expressed particular appreciation for "Gyeongseong Creature" released in 2023. She identifies as a devoted fan of actress Han Sohee.

Jini's aspirations toward an entertainment career developed at a young age, with her expressing the desire to become an idol during childhood. The girl group Kara served as her favorite musical act during her formative years. Her introduction to dance came through her cousin sister's enrollment in a dance academy, which inspired Jini to pursue the art form herself. During elementary school, she named one of her dolls "Banani".

Within the entertainment industry, Jini maintains close relationships with other artists. She shares friendships with ITZY member Yeji and ablume member Saena. These connections reflect her integration into the broader K-pop community beyond her professional activities. Her zodiac sign is Aries, corresponding to her April 16 birth date.

FAQs

When did Jinni leave NMIXX?

Jinni departed from NMIXX on December 9, 2022, when JYP Entertainment announced the termination of her exclusive contract. The departure occurred approximately ten months following her debut with the group on February 22, 2022.

Why did Jinni leave NMIXX?

The specific reasons behind Jinni's departure remain undisclosed. JYP Entertainment cited "personal circumstances" in their official announcement without providing further details. During a showcase interview in 2023, Jinni addressed this question directly, stating that revealing the reasons remained difficult because personal factors played a role in her decision. She maintained that specific explanations could not be provided, echoing the vagueness of the original agency statement. The lack of detailed information proved particularly notable given her seven-year training period at JYP Entertainment before debut.

What is Jinni's real name?

Jinni's birth name is Choi Yun-jin. She uses "Jini" as her current stage name, having modified the romanization from "Jinni" to "Jini" following her transition to ATOC.

What is Jinni doing now?

Jinni operates as a solo artist under ATOC management. She released her debut EP "An Iron Hand In A Velvet Glove" on October 11, 2023, featuring the lead single "C'mon" with American rapper Aminé. Her activities encompass music releases, acting projects, and brand endorsements. She made her theatrical film debut in "Boy," which premiered in January 2026.

How long did Jinni train at JYP Entertainment?

Jinni trained at JYP Entertainment for seven years before her debut with NMIXX. She joined the company as a trainee in 2016 and debuted with the group in February 2022.

Will Jinni return to NMIXX?

Following the contract termination announcement, JYP Entertainment confirmed that NMIXX would continue as a six-member group. Jinni subsequently signed with a different agency and established her solo career, indicating no plans for group reunion.

Does Jinni still perform NMIXX songs?

Jinni's departure from NMIXX resulted in her professional separation from the group's discography. Her solo career focuses on new material released through ATOC rather than previous group repertoire.