Who is Yunah? The Untold Story Behind ILLIT's Rising Star (2025)

Yunah stands as the oldest member and leader of ILLIT, a rising K-pop girl group that has quickly captured fans' attention since their March 2024 debut. Born as Noh Yun-ah on January 15, 2004, in Chungju, South Korea, she embarked on an impressive journey that culminated in her debut after training for 4-5 years — the longest training period among all the contestants in her group.

Before becoming known as Yunah of ILLIT, she participated in the survival show R U Next?, a collaboration between HYBE and JTBC. During the competition, she secured the sixth and final position in the lineup, ultimately joining the five-member group under BELIFT LAB. Notably, Yunah serves as the lead vocalist and is affectionately recognized as the "mood maker" of ILLIT. With her ESFP personality type and admiration for Red Velvet's Seulgi as her role model, Yunah brings a unique energy to the group that debuted with their first mini album "SUPER REAL ME" and title track "Magnetic" on March 25, 2024.

Early Life of Noh Yunah

Noh Yunah was born on January 15, 2004, in the city of Chungju, located in Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea. As the eldest of two children, her family consists of her parents and a younger brother who was born in 2007. Interestingly, Yunah's earliest childhood memory revolves around her brother's birth - a significant moment that clearly left an impression on her young mind.

Birthplace and family background

Growing up in Chungju, Yunah attended local schools including Chungju Geumneung Elementary School and later Chungju Buk Girls' Middle School. Her family also includes a beloved Maltese dog named Louis, born in 2016, reflecting her fondness for canines. Initially, Yunah's parents—especially her mother—were hesitant about her pursuit of an entertainment career, with her mother expressing concern about sending her "down an uncertain path". However, as Yunah demonstrated commitment and progress in her training, her parents gradually developed trust in both her potential and the management label.

Childhood interests and hobbies

Even as a young girl, Yunah displayed diverse interests that would later shape her personality. She particularly enjoys historical movies and dramas, with "My Love from the Star" ranking as her favorite. Her hobbies include riding bicycles, playing PC games, and somewhat unusually for someone her age, ironing clothes. Additionally, she has a sweet tooth for mattang (candied sweet potato) and enjoys taking walks.

Among her peers, she earned the nickname "Roh-quail egg" (노추리) due to her small, oval-shaped face. Yunah describes herself as someone who would be a puppy if she were an animal—unpredictable, charming, and loving. This competitive spirit particularly emerges during games, where friends know her for her determination to win.

First steps into music and performance

Yunah's artistic inclinations manifested early in life. She developed a passion for performing, enjoying singing and dancing in front of audiences from a young age. Throughout elementary school, she actively participated in talent shows, finding immense satisfaction in receiving enthusiastic cheers from her friends. Her formal musical experience includes participation in the Chungju MBC Children's Choir.

The pivotal moment in her pre-idol journey occurred while she was in middle school. Having joined the drama club rather than the band as initially considered, she participated in various theatrical competitions at both city and provincial levels. It was during one of these provincial competitions that talent scouts noticed her potential, ultimately leading to her trainee opportunity.

The Long Road to Debut

Yunah's path to stardom began with an extraordinary six-year training period, the longest among all ILLIT members. Her extensive preparation journey started at Stardium Entertainment, where she honed her skills alongside several trainees who subsequently debuted in various K-pop groups.

Training under Stardium and Source Music

At Stardium, Yunah trained with numerous talents who eventually found success elsewhere, including Kep1er's Dayeon, BlingBling's Yubin and Jieun, LIGHTSUM's Yujeong, YOUNG POSSE's Sunhye, and actress Hong Yeji. This formative experience provided her with a solid foundation in performance skills and industry knowledge.

In 2019, Yunah made a significant career move by joining Source Music, where she continued developing her talents alongside other aspiring idols. Throughout this period, she remained focused on her dream despite the challenges of trainee life, demonstrating remarkable perseverance.

Transition to BELIFT LAB and R U Next?

Afterward, Yunah transferred to BELIFT LAB specifically for the survival show that would ultimately determine her fate. On June 16, 2023, she was officially introduced as a contestant on BELIFT LAB's reality survival program R U Next?. The show represented a collaboration between JTBC and BELIFT LAB, aimed at creating the agency's next global girl group.

During the TRYOUTS round, Yunah performed Miss A's "Bad Girl Good Girl" alongside Jeemin and Minju, earning a "high" ranking from the judges. Furthermore, it was revealed that her initial rank in the competition was impressively high at 2nd place, demonstrating her exceptional skills from the outset.

Yunah's final ranking and selection in ILLIT

The survival show assessed contestants through seven challenging rounds, testing various aspects of their abilities. Throughout the program, Yunah demonstrated resilience whenever she faced setbacks. As she later explained, "Even when you fail or get cut, you realize just how much you wanted it and how much it still matters to you".

On September 1, 2023, during the finale, Yunah secured her place as the sixth and final member of ILLIT. Upon hearing the announcement, she expressed her emotions: "For five years, I practiced hard and worked hard for my debut. I am finally debuting. I don't believe it. Thanks to everyone for supporting me". This emotional moment marked the culmination of her long journey from trainee to debut-ready idol.

Debut and Rise with ILLIT

After years of training, March 25, 2024, marked Yunah's historic entry into K-pop as ILLIT officially debuted under BELIFT Lab. The group's rise has been nothing short of remarkable, shattering records and capturing global attention.

Debut with SUPER REAL ME

ILLIT's debut extended play (EP) SUPER REAL ME made an extraordinary impact, selling over 380,000 physical copies worldwide in its first week. By the end of April, album sales had surpassed 500,000 copies, earning platinum certification in South Korea. The four-track record encapsulated teenage stories through diverse genres, with each song representing different aspects of youth. "Magnetic," the lead single, boldly articulated the group's confident approach toward their crush, showcasing unpredictable melodies and fresh vocals. Yunah revealed she immediately knew "Magnetic" would be a hit upon first hearing it.

Yunah's role in the group

As both leader and lead vocalist, Yunah brings essential energy to ILLIT. In an interview, she described contributing the "energy" element to the group. Her outgoing and bright personality serves as her unique strength, helping establish ILLIT's vibrant teenage charm. Accordingly, many of their choreographies were inspired by how the members naturally interact offstage, with Yunah noting that "the trivial and odd things we do together are reflected on stage."

First music show appearances

On April 2, 2024, ILLIT secured their first music show trophy on The Show, marking the beginning of their award-winning journey. One of Yunah's most memorable moments was witnessing "Magnetic" reach No. 1 on the Melon chart. In fact, ILLIT achieved a groundbreaking feat by becoming the first K-pop group to enter both the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Official Singles Chart Top 100 with a debut song. Throughout their first year, the group accumulated 13 awards, including seven rookie awards at major Korean and international music ceremonies.

Collaborations and features

Yunah's talents extended beyond group activities as she served as Special MC on Music Bank (April 5, 2024). Moreover, in 2025, she collaborated with fellow member Minju on Kylie Cantrall's single "See U Tonight". BELIFT LAB stated this collaboration would show "a new side of ILLIT", further establishing the group's global presence. The collaboration with Disney star Cantrall represented another milestone in ILLIT's international expansion.

What Makes Yunah Unique

Beyond her exceptional vocal talents, Yunah captivates fans with her distinctive personality and endearing quirks. As the group's designated "mood maker," she brings an irreplaceable energy that helps define ILLIT's chemistry.

Yunah's MBTI and personality traits

Yunah identifies as an ENFP (Campaigner) personality type, characterized by vibrant energy that flows in many directions. As a classic ENFP, she embodies the carefree, outgoing spirit associated with this personality. Uniquely, her temperament combines seemingly contradictory traits—she describes herself as "sometimes quiet and sometimes loud". Though she can get angry easily, she consciously tries to cool off quickly. This passionate nature fuels her competitive spirit, particularly evident during games.

Her hobbies and favorite things

When not performing, Yunah enjoys an eclectic mix of activities:

Playing PC games and riding her bicycle
Ironing clothes (a surprisingly satisfying hobby)
Walking and enjoying mattang (candied sweet potato)

Her taste in entertainment leans toward historical films and dramas, with "My Love from the Star," "Hansan: Rising Dragon," and "Avatar" among her favorites. Musically, she selects Mozart's "Eine kleine Nachtmusik" as the background soundtrack to her life and enjoys belting out Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" at karaoke.

Yunah's smile and charm points

Yunah's most distinctive feature—by her own admission—is her teeth when she smiles. This characteristic smile has become her signature charm point, instantly recognizable to fans. Her small, oval-shaped face earned her the nickname "Roh-quail egg" (노추리).

Her role model and inspirations

Red Velvet's Seulgi stands as Yunah's primary role model. Beyond K-pop influences, she has cited BTS as having "a significant impact on my journey towards becoming a K-pop artist".

Fun facts fans love

Yunah compares herself to a puppy—"unpredictable, has a lot of charm, and is loving". Her life motto, "Time heals all wounds," reflects her philosophical side. Interestingly, she can imitate the voice of Shin from "Crayon Shin-chan," one of her favorite characters. As well as being a dog lover with a Maltese named Louis, she cannot tolerate spicy food and considers chocolate her favorite ice cream flavor.