Yunjin’s Path to LE SSERAFIM: From College Acceptance to K-Pop Debut

Huh Yunjin was born in Seoul and grew up in Wisconsin and upstate New York. She tried writing, painting, acting, and stage performance before focusing on songwriting. Self-taught on guitar and ukulele via YouTube, she learned Taylor Swift’s “15.” The 2017 BTS “DNA” performance at the American Music Awards sparked her interest in K-pop.

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At fifteen Yunjin moved alone to South Korea, trained for a month, then returned to the U.S. for sophomore year. She went back at sixteen and stayed in training. In 2018 she appeared on Produce 48, met two future LE SSERAFIM members, and was eliminated on episode 11 at rank 26. Her first dance teacher called her “giraffe.” She spent the next four years training without debut.

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Burnout led Yunjin back to New York, where she applied to colleges in a two-month sprint, secured admission, and paid the deposit. The day after finalizing her plans, she received a call inviting her to join LE SSERAFIM, describing the moment as feeling “the stars were telling me where to go.”

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Within two weeks Yunjin boarded a flight to South Korea and began rehearsals for her debut with LE SSERAFIM. She emphasized that music and storytelling remain central to her identity and that her bond with the group feels largely non-verbal.

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• 2017: BTS “DNA” at the AMAs.

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• 2018: Produce 48, eliminated at rank 26 (episode 11).

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• Four years of training post-Produce 48.

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• Two-month college application, deposit paid.

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• Two-week gap between LE SSERAFIM call and return flight.

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Yunjin’s path illustrates the pressures Korean-American trainees face in the K-pop system and the possibility of pausing for higher education. Her choice underscores a broader trend toward artist agency and cross-cultural identity in global pop.

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Yunjin has said she could not abandon music, describing it as a core storytelling drive. She refers to her bandmates as “sisters” and notes that much of their connection is non-verbal. She also expressed confidence that her current life is her best possible self.

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The provided excerpts contain no critical or opposing commentary on Yunjin’s decision or on LE SSERAFIM’s formation.

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No contradictions or missing details were identified in the source material.

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• “It literally felt like the stars were telling me where to go,” — Huh Yunjin, interview on Variety’s “Up Next” podcast

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• “I can’t really let go of music,” — Huh Yunjin, interview

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• “They truly are my sisters,” — Huh Yunjin, interview

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• “The life that I’m currently living now is the best version of me that there is.” — Huh Yunjin, interview

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The article does not mention any upcoming releases, tours, or further public activities for Yunjin or LE SSERAFIM.

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