Yoo Ara
| Yoo Ara | |
|---|---|
| Native name | 유아라 |
| Born |
Yoo A-ra September 26, 1992 Seoul, South Korea |
| Alma mater | Dongduk Women's University |
| Occupation | |
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Agent | Urban Works Entertainment |
|
Musical career | |
| Genres | K-pop |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 2012–2014 |
| Labels | Pledis Entertainment |
| Associated acts |
|
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 유아라 |
|---|---|
| Hanja | 柳娥羅 |
| Revised Romanization | Yu A-ra |
| McCune–Reischauer | Yu Ara |
Yoo Ara (hangul: 유아라; born September 26, 1992) is a South Korean singer and actress. She is the former leader and main vocalist of the girl group Hello Venus. Ara is currently developing her acting career, having signed an exclusive contract with Urban Works Entertainment on December 1, 2014.[1]
Career
Pre-debut
Ara was part of a training program, called 'Pre-School Girls', that would eventually become a member of sister group After School, but was chosen to be the leader of Hello Venus instead. She sang the chorus for the 1st Happy Pledis single, “Love Love Love”. She also sang and appeared in the music video "Love Letter".[2]
Yoo Ara, along with fellow Pledis trainee Kyung Min were the final two candidates to me2day Search for After School’s 9th Member in 2010. Ara and along with Hello Venus members, Yoonjo were originally in the line-up for After School[3] however, current After School member E-Young was chosen instead.
2012: Debut
Ara debuted on May 9, 2012, actively promoting Hello Venus's debut release, the mini-album 'Venus'.[4] 'Venus' features four tracks in all, with "Venus" serving as the promotional track.[5]
Promotions for "Venus" began on May 10, 2012, on M! Countdown, without Yoonjo.[6]
On July 4, 2012, together with the group, they released "Like a Wave", off the digital album 'Like a Wave (Digital Repackage)'.[7]
2014: Departure from Hello Venus and Pledis
Yoo Ara was featured in label mate SEVENTEEN's Remix of the song "A Midsummer Night's Sweetness" by Raina and San E, the remix being released on July 27. Four days later, an official statement was posted stating that Pledis and Fantagio had decided to end their collaboration project: Hello Venus. Yoo Ara and Yoonjo, Pledis' contributions, would be leaving the group, and the rest would stay as a Fantiago act.
On November 21, Yoo Ara uploaded a video to Instagram, showing her with a guitar case and a bag, walking out of a building. It has since been deleted. Later that day, Urban Works Entertainment uploaded a profile for Yoo Ara on their website, showing that Yoo Ara had departed from Pledis. Ara's signing with Urban Works was formally announced on December 1.[8][9]
2015: Musical debut
On February 11, it was revealed that Yoo Ara would be casted as the female lead in the Japanese musical remake of Moon Embracing the Sun.[10] The musical will open its curtains at Theater BRAVA in Osaka on the 20th, as well as U-Port Hall in Tokyo in April.
Personal life
Ara went to Seoul Music High School, the same school as SHINee’s Jonghyun, Block B’s Zico & Boyfriend’s Jeongmin. She graduated on February 19, 2010,[11] two years earlier than usual.
Discography
Collaborations
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR | |||||||||||||
| 2010 | "Love Love Love" (After School) |
— | Happy Pledis 1st Album | ||||||||||
| 2011 | "Love Letter" (Pledis Artist) |
— | Happy Pledis 2012 | ||||||||||
| 2013 | "Pretty" (예뻐) (NU'EST) |
— | Sleep Talking | ||||||||||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. | |||||||||||||
Filmography
TV drama
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | What is Mom | Shop maid |
| 2013 | After School "Lucky or Not" | Cameo |
| 2014 | Golden Rainbow | Young Won's Secretary |
| 2015 | Super Daddy Yeol | Cameo |
TV Show
| Year | Network | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | MBC Every1 | Weekly Idol |
| 2012 | MBC | Birth of Venus |
| 2012 | SBS | guest in Wonderboy Ep 10 with Boyfriend |
| 2012 | KBC | Joy's Hug |
| 2012 | SBS | 1000 Song Challenge with Nara |
| 2013 | MTV | MTV Diary: Hellovenus |
| 2013 | MBC | Idol Star Athletics Championship |
| 2013 | MBC Every1 | Weekly Idol |
| 2013 | SBS | 1000 Song Challenge |
| 2013 | KBC | Idol Gayo Stage |
| 2013 | MBC | All The K-POP with Nara |
| 2013/2014 | TVN | Perfect Singer VS |
Music video
| Year | Artist | Track |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Pledis Artist | Love Letter |
| 2012 | Hello Venus | Venus |
| 2012 | Hello Venus | What Are You Doing Today? |
| 2013 | Hello Venus | Do You Want Some Tea? |
| 2015 | K-Much | December 24th |
| 2015 | K-Much | Fish in a Bowl |
Awards
| Years | Awards | Notes | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Pledis's 2009 Audition Search for After School’s 9th Member | with Kyung Min (Pledis trainee) | Won |
References
- ↑ Ara signs with Urban Entertainment
- ↑ Happy Pledis - 'Love Letter' MBC Birth of Venus. Retrieved on July 19, 2012
- ↑ Hello Venus’s Ara and Yoonjo were originally in the line-up for After School AllKpop (Apr 18, 2012) Retrieved July 25, 2012.
- ↑ Pledis Entertainment’s new girl group Hello Venus to debut on May 9th
- ↑ Hello Venus - 'Venus'. Naver Music (May 8, 2012). Retrieved on July 19, 2012.
- ↑ '엠카' 헬로비너스, 새로운 '요정'의 등장..'상큼발랄'. OSEN (May 10, 2012). Retrieved on July 19, 2012.
- ↑ Hello Venus - 'Like a Wave'. MelOn Music (July 4, 2012). Retrieved on July 19, 2012.
- ↑ Ara signs with Urban
- ↑ Ara signs with Urban, additional story
- ↑ Ara to star in the musical remake of 'The Moon That Embraces the Sun' in Japan
- ↑ Singing talent of After School’s potential member Yoo Ara revealed AllKpop (Sep 2, 2010). Retrieved on July 25, 2012.