KiiiKiii Members Profile 2025: Everything K-pop Fans Need to Know

KiiiKiii recently made their highly anticipated debut on March 24, 2025, with their first EP album, "UNCUT GEM". This 5-member South Korean girl group under STARSHIP Entertainment marks the company's first girl group debut since IVE in 2021. Notably, KiiiKiii debuted on the exact same day as NEWBEAT, creating an exciting moment for K-pop fans.

The group consists of five talented members: Jiyu, Leesol, Sui, Haum, and Kya, each bringing unique backgrounds to the team. Furthermore, some members come with impressive training histories - Leesol and Sui are former SM Entertainment trainees, while Kya previously trained at P NATION and Source Music. KiiiKiii released "I DO ME" as a pre-release track on February 16, 2025, before finally making their official debut with their EP and an MV for their promoted B-side "BTG". Just one month after debut, on April 24, 2025, the group announced their official fandom name: TiiiKiii.

KiiiKiii: Group Overview and Debut Info

Starship Entertainment surprised K-pop fans on February 10, 2025, when they suddenly announced a new girl group called KiiiKiii through the launch of the group's social media accounts. This unexpected reveal created immediate buzz in the K-pop community, especially as KiiiKiii represented Starship's first new girl group in three years following IVE's debut.

Debut date and agency

KiiiKiii officially debuted on March 24, 2025, with their first extended play titled "Uncut Gem". What made their debut journey unique was the surprise release of their pre-debut single "I Do Me" on February 16, 2025 - an unconventional approach in K-pop where every promotional step is typically carefully planned and announced well in advance. On the same day as this pre-release, Starship also unveiled the five members who would form KiiiKiii.

The group held their debut showcase in Seoul coinciding with their EP release, which became available on major music streaming platforms at 6 PM KST. Their debut strategy reflected Starship Entertainment's confidence in the group, as they joined the company's impressive roster of successful acts including MONSTA X, WJSN, CRAVITY, and IVE.

Group name meaning

The name "KiiiKiii" carries thoughtful symbolism that reflects the group's identity and values. According to official sources, it functions as a clever play-on-words in both Korean and English. In Korean, the name represents the onomatopoeic sound of giggling, often written as "kiki" (키키), which immediately evokes feelings of joy and lightheartedness.

Meanwhile, in English, the name symbolically connects to the word "key," representing the members' desire to continually find the "key" to life's answers while maintaining positive attitudes. As member Sui explained, "The name of the team is meant to give a friendly image to everyone who hears it. We want to show various sides of ourselves to fans and also give them laughter and happiness".

Additionally, the six "i" letters in KiiiKiii serve a specific purpose - five represent each member of the group, with the sixth symbolically reserved for their fans. This thoughtful detail demonstrates the group's intention to include their supporters in their identity from the very beginning.

Fandom name and meaning

On April 24, 2025, exactly one month after their debut, KiiiKiii announced their official fandom name: "TiiiKiii". The name was revealed through their official website along with a heartfelt message from the group explaining its significance.

"TiiiKiii" draws inspiration from the term "Tiki-Taka," which originated in football to describe a style characterized by short passing, movement, and maintaining possession. Beyond its sporting roots, the term evolved to represent smooth, playful banter between people - perfectly capturing the relationship KiiiKiii hopes to build with their fans.

The official announcement elaborated that "TiiiKiii symbolizes the hope that KiiiKiii and their fans will always be in sync, forming the perfect match. It also reflects the wish for fans and KiiiKiii to become like real friends who share laughter together". This meaningful connection between the group name and fandom name reinforces KiiiKiii's core values of joy, friendship, and positive energy.

Meet the Members of KiiiKiii

The five-member powerhouse that makes up KiiiKiii brings together a diverse blend of talents, personalities, and backgrounds under Starship Entertainment's careful guidance. As the newest sensation in K-pop, the group consists of Jiyu, Leesol, Sui, Haum, and Kya – each contributing unique strengths to create their distinctive sound and image.

Jiyu, born May 14, 2006, serves as the group's 18-year-old leader who has been praised for guiding KiiiKiii with remarkable precision. At just 158-160cm tall, she's a triple threat who excels as a vocalist, rapper, and dancer. Her leadership capabilities shine through despite being younger than the group's eldest member.

Leesol, at 19 years old (born September 18, 2005), holds the position of main rapper and brings a charismatic, chic energy to KiiiKiii's performances. Standing at approximately 166.5cm, she represents the group's more mature side and has been with Starship Entertainment as a trainee for about three years prior to debut.

Sui, another 18-year-old member (born April 10, 2006), takes on the crucial role of main vocalist. At 169-170cm tall, she contributes a warm, friendly presence on stage that complements the group's overall image. Her background includes a previous training period at SM Entertainment, adding valuable experience to the team.

Haum, 18 years old (born November 14, 2006), combines her skills as both vocalist and rapper with exceptional dance abilities. At 163cm tall, she's been recognized as particularly expressive in her performances and serves as the group's visual.

Perhaps most remarkably, the group's youngest member, Kya, is just 14 years old (born December 18, 2010). Despite her youth, she balances her career with middle school studies. Standing at 168.1cm, she's already taller than several of her older groupmates and brings undeniable energy to their performances.

In a candid moment, Jiyu acknowledged the challenges their youngest member faces: "Honestly, I think being in KiiiKiii is harder [than being in school], and Kya has it the hardest, doing both". This reflects the group's awareness of their collective responsibility.

Sui eloquently captured the essence of their group dynamic in an interview with Rolling Stone: "We are each individuals, but our success is tied together. That is why we work so hard, for ourselves and for each other and for who we are as KiiiKiii".

The group clearly values versatility, as Leesol explained to The Hollywood Reporter: "We wanted to show a different point of view with our first pre-release song 'I Do Me,' and now we've released five more songs. They're all different types of songs, and the genre of music is different, so we can show different expressions, vocals and rapping".

Throughout their training and debut preparations, these five distinct personalities have molded into a cohesive unit. Their age range spans from 14 to 19 years old, creating a dynamic mix of youthful energy and growing maturity that appeals to a broad audience. As evidenced by their debut EP and pre-release singles, KiiiKiii has already demonstrated their ability to showcase varied concepts while maintaining a consistent group identity.

Jiyu Profile: Leader and All-Rounder

As KiiiKiii's designated leader, Jiyu brings a unique combination of talents and personality traits that make her a standout member in the rapidly growing K-pop scene. Though the youngest leader among recent girl group debuts, her natural leadership abilities and multi-faceted skillset have quickly established her as an essential cornerstone of the group's identity.

Full name and birthday

Born Seo Ji-yu (서지유) on May 14, 2006, in Gwangan-dong, Suyeong-gu, Busan, South Korea, Jiyu grew up with her parents and an older brother. Uniquely, she is the only KiiiKiii member from outside the Seoul capital region. Her Busan roots occasionally reveal themselves through her ability to switch between standard Korean and the distinctive Gyeongsang-do dialect.

Jiyu's educational journey includes:

Hoam Elementary School (graduated)
Busan Suyeong Middle School (graduated)
Pusan Foreign Language High School (Japanese Department, later dropped out)

First and foremost, her life changed direction when she was street-casted by Starship Entertainment at just 15 years old. After approximately two years of training, she emerged as the natural choice for the group's leader position.

Positions and skills

Within KiiiKiii, Jiyu holds multiple official positions as the leader, vocalist, rapper, and dancer. Despite her young age, she guides the group with remarkable precision and maturity. Her leadership style transforms depending on the setting – focused and directive during practice sessions, yet adorably playful back at the dorm.

Linguistically gifted, Jiyu speaks Korean, English, and Japanese fluently. Her Japanese language proficiency stems from her time in the Japanese Department at Busan Foreign Language High School.

Interestingly, Jiyu possesses several impressive skills beyond her musical talents. She excels at tumbling, side rolls, and sports in general. Her Go (baduk) abilities are particularly noteworthy, estimated to be around 1st dan level with several awards to her name. Moreover, her specialties include yoga, vocal imitation, and aegyo (cute expressions).

Jiyu's path to becoming an idol began unexpectedly at a ballet academy, where she learned BTS's choreography for "Boy in Luv" during a special K-pop class. She later auditioned for Starship with Justin Bieber's "Love Yourself".

Fun facts and hobbies

Jiyu's interests reveal her balanced personality – she enjoys yoga, reading, and watching Netflix. Her morning routine typically includes stretching, exercising, and taking nutritional supplements.

As for culinary preferences, Jiyu has diverse tastes. She loves cheese, chocolate, stir-fried spicy pork, eggplants, apples, peanut butter, chicken, pumpkin, and zucchini. She has a particular fondness for dakgangjeong (sweet crispy fried chicken). Conversely, she dislikes sesame leaves, olives, jelly, and cannot handle spicy peppers.

Her MBTI personality type fluctuates between ISTJ and ESTJ, reflecting her adaptable nature. Her representative color in the group is magenta, while her symbols include a snail and fairy emoji.

Originally, Jiyu had numerous childhood dream jobs including writer, doctor, diplomat, and lawyer before discovering her passion for performing. Her core values center around spreading happiness and positive energy, which aligns perfectly with KiiiKiii's uplifting group identity.

The aspiring idol practiced Taekwondo for seven years and even attended auditions wearing her Taekwondo uniform – a testament to her authentic and unconventional approach. In recent interviews, she expressed interest in trying American cuisine like burgers, donuts, and apple pie, alongside her desire to create cooking content.

Leesol Profile: The Main Rapper

Leesol stands out as KiiiKiii's talented main rapper, bringing a distinctive husky voice and gentle personality to the group. At 19 years old (born September 18, 2005), she is the eldest member of KiiiKiii and serves as a stable foundation for the younger members with her mature presence and supportive nature.

Background and education

Born Lee Su-min (이수민) in Mok-dong, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, South Korea, Leesol developed her passion for K-pop during her school years. Indeed, as a student, she would often watch performances of various artists during break times, drawing energy from these shows and gradually nurturing her dream of becoming an idol.

Her educational journey includes Seoul Mogun Elementary School, Mogun Middle School, and Jinmyeong Girls' High School. Standing at approximately 166.5cm (5'5") tall, Leesol initially had different career aspirations before discovering her musical talents. Interestingly, she once dreamed of becoming a doctor as a child, showing her academic inclinations even from a young age.

Audition and training

Leesol's path to KiiiKiii began with an audition where she performed BLACKPINK's "STAY". This choice demonstrated both her taste in music and her confidence in tackling emotional performances. Subsequently, she underwent approximately three years of rigorous training under Starship Entertainment after joining the agency in 2022.

What many fans might not know is that Leesol was previously a trainee under SM Entertainment before joining Starship, giving her valuable experience in the competitive K-pop training environment. Her training period focused on developing her rapping, singing, and dancing skills, preparing her for the multifaceted demands of being in KiiiKiii.

In interviews about their debut, Leesol has mentioned advice from senior Starship artists who told the group "to be healthy and happy and to just enjoy the stage", showcasing the supportive environment within their agency.

Personality and interests

Essentially, Leesol has earned the nickname "mom-unnie" within KiiiKiii, reflecting her nurturing personality. She takes excellent care of the other members with her gentle demeanor and is known for her attentiveness to their needs. Furthermore, she possesses knowledge about healthy foods and often shares nutritional information with her groupmates.

Her MBTI personality type fluctuates between ISTJ and ESTJ, indicating her organized yet sociable nature. As for hobbies, Leesol enjoys watching dramas (with a particular fondness for romantic ones like "Crash Landing on You"), reading, and practicing pilates in her spare time.

Coupled with her caring personality is her distinctive voice. Leesol's husky tone when rapping is considered one of her unique charms, alongside her mid-range rapping style. Many fans have noted that her appearance can transform dramatically depending on styling, with some describing her as having cat-like or rabbit-like facial features.

In terms of preferences, Leesol enjoys:

Foods: Strawberries, noodles, basil, and spicy dishes
Favorite flower: Rose
Morning routine: Drinking warm water upon waking up

Moving forward, Leesol has expressed interest in creating mukbang and ASMR content, giving fans something to look forward to beyond her musical performances.

Sui Profile: The Main Vocalist

Sui shines as KiiiKiii's main vocalist, captivating listeners with her unique vocal color and warm stage presence. Born Lee Subin (이수빈) on April 10, 2006, in Seoul, South Korea, she contributes significantly to the group's musical identity with her distinctive voice.

Early life and training

Originally from Seoul, Sui grew up in a family consisting of her parents and an older sister. Her educational journey includes GaYa Elementary School and Geochang Theater High School, where she developed her musical foundations. Interestingly, she attended MuDoctor Academy, which played a pivotal role in her career path.

In 2022, Sui successfully passed an audition for SM Entertainment through MuDoctor Academy, marking the beginning of her journey as a K-pop trainee. After transitioning to Starship Entertainment, she underwent approximately three years of training before debuting with KiiiKiii. Her audition songs reveal her vocal versatility – "Event Horizon" by Younha and "A Poem Titled You" by Taeyeon.

Stage presence and charm

At 169-170cm tall (5'7"), Sui stands as the tallest member in KiiiKiii (confirmed on Wendy's Young Street radio show). On stage, she presents a warm and friendly presence that instantly connects with audiences. Unlike many performers, she possesses a husky yet warm vocal tone that stands out particularly during falsetto parts.

Her vocal prowess became evident in the acoustic version of "I DO ME" released by Wonder K Original, where she received widespread praise for her high-note ad-lib that wasn't clearly audible in the original track. Shortly after debut, she showcased her broadcasting skills as a special MC on Music Core alongside groupmate Leesol and Hearts2Hearts' A-na on April 12th, 2025.

Unique habits and likes

Regarding personality traits, Sui is described as cheerful and often seen with a bright smile. Even though she was once shy and hesitant about new experiences, after debuting with KiiiKiii, she gained confidence and developed excitement for various experiences. As such, she's known for:

Being easily touched emotionally and crying frequently (alongside Leesol, they're considered the members who cry the most)
Repeatedly expressing her enthusiasm when she genuinely likes something
Wearing perfume before sleeping – a distinctive nighttime ritual
Having a fondness for yogurt and the color pink

At the same time, she dislikes carrots despite ironically owning a carrot keychain. In her free time, Sui enjoys watching mukbangs on YouTube. Alternatively, her childhood dream was becoming a flight attendant before discovering her passion for music.

Her MBTI personality type is ENTP, and her representative color in the group is gray. Fans often note her resemblance to actress Yang Hye-ji and Red Velvet's Wendy.

Haum Profile: Visual and Performer

Recognized for her doll-like visuals and expressive dance moves, Haum serves as KiiiKiii's visual and main dancer. Born Kwak Ha-um (곽하음) on November 14, 2006, in Dapsimni-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, she brings a unique combination of performing talents and mysterious charm to the group.

Dance and acting background

Haum's journey as a performer began with a childhood dream of becoming a ballerina. Eventually, her passion evolved as she explored various dance styles beyond ballet. Whilst learning IVE's "LOVE DIVE," she felt a special connection to K-pop and began dreaming of becoming an idol instead. Her formal education supported this transition, as she graduated from Lila Art High School in the Department of Video Music Contents with an Acting Major.

Her dance training includes time at Dream Vocal Academy, which helped refine her skills before joining Starship Entertainment. Presently, she is considered one of the group's strongest performers, with fans and critics alike praising her expressive movements. Together with leader Jiyu, she is expected to "shine with dynamic dance moves, combining fluid choreography with sharp precision".

Her audition song for KiiiKiii was Lee Hi's "1,2,3,4", showcasing her confident performance style from the beginning. Beyond dancing, Haum possesses other performance-related talents - she excels at tumbling and can play the violin, adding to her versatile skill set.

Personality traits

Fascinatingly, Haum describes her personality as "feline-like," explaining that she is both mysterious and independent similar to a cat. Contrary to her confident stage presence, she has a notably shy disposition offstage. In fact, she often gets flustered easily, with her face turning visibly red in uncomfortable situations.

Her friends and groupmates note that she sometimes "malfunctions like a robot" when flustered and has a habit of laughing when embarrassed. Her MBTI personality type is ESTJ, although she has mentioned that "no one seems to believe it", perhaps due to the contrast between her reserved nature and the typically outgoing ESTJ profile.

Favorite things and quirks

As for personal preferences, Haum has developed several distinctive habits. She maintains a daily routine of drinking chocolate milk and has recently taken an interest in scented items, particularly hand creams with soapy fragrances.

Her culinary preferences include:

Beef tartare and grilled meat
Chocolate milk (a staple in her diet)

Interestingly, Haum initially disliked salads completely but began eating them during her trainee days alongside Jiyu and now genuinely enjoys them. Regarding fashion, she appreciates high heels but typically prefers sneakers for comfort and takes exceptional care of her dance practice footwear.

When not performing, her hobbies revolve around watching YouTube and eating. At the dorm, groupmates often find her lying down - a habit she readily acknowledges. Appropriately, her representative color in KiiiKiii is green, complementing her fresh and youthful image.

Kya Profile: The Youngest Star

At just 14 years old, Kya holds the distinction of being KiiiKiii's youngest member, bringing youthful energy and surprising maturity to the group. Born Park Ji-woo (박지우) on December 18, 2010, in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea, she represents a new generation of K-pop idols as the first performer born in 2010 to debut under Starship Entertainment.

Age and early modeling career

First and foremost, Kya's journey into entertainment began well before her KiiiKiii debut. Prior to pursuing music, she established herself as a child model and fashion content creator specializing in content for children and teenagers. This early exposure to the spotlight helped develop her comfort with cameras and public attention.

Her family life remains relatively private, though it's known she lives with her parents and a younger brother born in 2013. Besides her human family, Kya also has a maltipoo dog named Lucky. In view of her educational background, she attended Seoul Apgujeong Elementary School and briefly Yewon Middle School in the Department of Korean Dance before ultimately dropping out to focus on her idol career.

Training history

Interestingly, Kya's path to KiiiKiii involved multiple agencies. She was formerly a trainee at Source Music and apprenticed at P NATION for approximately three months before finding her home at Starship Entertainment. Her training period at Starship lasted seven months prior to debut, making her total training journey relatively short compared to many K-pop idols.

Her dream of becoming a performer crystallized after attending a concert where she saw audience members holding up phone flashlights toward the stage. This experience inspired her desire to create emotional connections with fans. As well as this defining moment, her audition journey included performing the nursery rhyme "The Hungry Tiger", an unconventional but memorable choice.

Hobbies and fun facts

With this in mind, Kya has developed several distinctive habits and interests:

She enjoys reading and searching for memes online
Despite having a loud alarm clock, she's typically the last member to wake up
She writes memos before sleeping, documenting her thoughts and feelings
Her representative color in KiiiKiii is red and her emoji is 💥 (explosion)

In addition, Kya possesses a "fiery personality" balanced with confidence and enthusiasm. Though young, she has already won over fans with her stage presence. Described as energetic by multiple sources, she dreams of becoming someone who can bring happiness and comfort to many people, perfectly aligning with KiiiKiii's upbeat group identity.

KiiiKiii's Discography and Achievements

The musical journey of KiiiKiii began with a strategic rollout of content that quickly established them as rising stars in the competitive K-pop industry. Their carefully curated discography, though still growing, has already made waves among fans and critics alike.

Debut EP: Uncut Gem

KiiiKiii's first extended play "Uncut Gem" dropped on March 24, 2025, featuring six tracks that showcase the group's versatility. The title track "MWAAH" serves as the album's centerpiece, accompanied by their promoted B-side "BTG" which received its own music video. The EP also includes "Wonderland," "Shining Star," "Moonlight," and their pre-release single "I DO ME." Consequently, this collection demonstrates their ability to handle multiple concepts within a single project.

Pre-release singles

Henceforth, the group's unique promotional strategy began with the surprise release of "I DO ME" on February 16, 2025, more than a month before their official debut. This unconventional approach generated significant buzz in the K-pop community. The track's music video accumulated over 10 million views within its first week, establishing a strong foundation for their subsequent debut. Unlike many rookie groups, KiiiKiii's pre-release strategy allowed fans to familiarize themselves with their sound before the complete EP launch.

First music show win

Undeniably, KiiiKiii achieved remarkable success early in their career by securing their first music show win on M Countdown just three weeks after debut—an impressive feat for a rookie group. Their victory with "MWAAH" on April 17, 2025, marked them as serious contenders in the industry. Throughout their emotional acceptance speech, leader Jiyu and youngest member Kya were visibly moved to tears while thanking their fans and company for their support.