Solji’s Debut with EXID
EXID (Korean: 이엑스아이디; short for “Exceed in Dreaming”), is a South Korean girl group formed in 2012. The group currently consists of five members: Solji, LE, Hani, Hyelin, and Jeonghwa. EXID debuted in February 2012, with the single “Whoz That Girl.” Though the album gained some attention, it was not until 2014 that the group unexpectedly gained popularity with the single “Up & Down,” which reached number one on the Gaon Singles Chart four months after its release due to a fan-recording of a live performance becoming a viral video.
Solji worked as EXID’s vocal trainer before becoming a member. In April 2012, AB Entertainment announced that three original members, Yuji, Dami, and Haeryeong would leave the girl group EXID. Solji then joined EXID along with Hyelin, a former Superstar K3 participant.
EXID later then released their second EP Ah Yeah in April 2015, to commercial success. They followed this with their first studio album Street (2016) and the EPs Eclipse and Full Moon (2017).
Check out EXID’s videos below:
Solji Joining the Subunit DASONI
In February 2013, EXID released the single “Up & Down,” from the Incarnation of Money soundtrack. It was announced shortly afterward that members Hani and Solji would form a subunit called Dasoni. The subunit released their debut single “Goodbye” on February 15th, with the B-side track “Said So Often.”
Check out DASONI’s videos below:
Solji Hiatus
On December 20th, 2016, EXID released their first Chinese single, “Cream” on QQ Music and YinYueTai which peaked at number six on the Billboard China V Chart. However, a day later, Banana Culture announced that Solji had been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and that she would halt all her activities for the awards season of 2016/17, while the remaining four members continue on.
She made a surprise appearance in EXID’s Asia Tour in Seoul on August 13th, 2017, but she was still not medically cleared to return to group activities. She, however, participated in the recording for the group’s fourth mini-album, Full Moon, despite not being involved in its promotion and live performances. She also stayed active as a Radio DJ.
