Red Velvet's Yeri leaves SM, begins acting career under real name Kim Ye-rim
Red Velvet's Yeri / Courtesy of Blitzway Entertainment
Joins Ju Ji-hoon and Chun Woo-hee’s agency
Red Velvet’s Yeri is beginning a new chapter in her career as an actor under her real name, Kim Ye-rim.
“We are delighted to join Kim Ye-rim on this new journey and support her potential as an actor," Blitzway Entertainment CEO Hong Min-ki said Thursday. "With the experience and sensibility she has gained on the global stage, we will fully back her as she expands her range in the acting world.”
New profile photos of Kim Ye-rim were released alongside the announcement of her exclusive contract. In the images, she gazes into the camera with understated styling, exuding both mystery and strength — hinting at the kind of depth she aims to bring to her acting career.
Kim debuted in 2014 as a member of the K-pop group Red Velvet, building a loyal international fan base through numerous album promotions. She began exploring acting with projects like the film "Blue Birthday" and the KBS1 drama "Galchae," and made a notable impression in 2023 with the Netflix-distributed teen mystery series "Bitch X Rich."
In "Bitch X Rich," Kim played Baek Je-na, the only daughter of a powerful chaebol family. She portrayed the contrast between the character’s glamorous exterior and emotional void with subtle, restrained emotion. At the heart of the story, Kim skillfully navigated the character’s emotional shifts, proving her capabilities as a lead actress. The series was met with strong global reception and is currently preparing for its second season.
Meanwhile, Blitzway Entertainment — recently rebranded from Blitzway Studio to strengthen its content-driven strategy — continues to focus on artist and content production. The company represents a number of actors including Goh Doo-shim, Ju Ji-hoon, In Gyo-jin, Jung Ryeo-won, So Yi-hyun, Moon Chae-won, Chun Woo-hee, Park Ha-seon, Son Dam-bi, Han Bo-reum, Yoon Bak, Jung In-sun, Yun Jong-seok, Woo Do-hwan, Kim Woo-seok, Kwak Dong-yeon, Kang Min-ah and Jeong Ji-hoon.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.