Chuu (LOONA) Profile 2026: Biography, Age, Birthday, Height, Career & Latest Updates
Chuu, born Kim Ji-woo, is a South Korean singer and actress best known for her years with LOONA, her solo music career and her wide-ranging television work. Born on October 20, 1999, she is 26 years old as of September 2026.
Her career has gone through several distinct chapters. She became known to K-pop fans as LOONA’s tenth revealed member, established herself as a recognizable variety personality, won a legal battle over her former agency contract, launched her solo career with ATRP, and later expanded into acting and unscripted television.
One of the biggest developments in her 2026 profile is also the newest one: ATRP’s exclusive contract with Chuu ended on July 10, 2026. The agency said both sides mutually agreed to conclude the contract after discussing her future activities. No new agency has been officially announced in the sources reviewed for this article.
Chuu Profile Table
| Category | Verified / carefully qualified information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Kim Ji-woo |
| Stage name | Chuu |
| Birthday | October 20, 1999 |
| Age | 26 in 2026 |
| Birthplace | Cheongju, South Korea |
| Height | About 161 cm, reported |
| School | Hanlim Multi Art School |
| Former group | LOONA |
| Sub-unit | yyxy |
| Former agency | ATRP |
| ATRP contract ended | July 10, 2026 |
| Current agency | Not officially announced |
| First solo album | Howl |
| First full album | XO, My Cyberlove |
| Fandom | KKOTI |
| Occupation | Singer, actress, entertainer |
Chuu’s birth date and identity are supported by public biographical records that reference her former ATRP profile. Her height is less firmly documented by a current primary source; major secondary profile records place her at roughly 161 cm, so that figure is best treated as a reported profile figure rather than a freshly confirmed 2026 measurement.
Table of Contents
Who Is Chuu?
Chuu is the stage name of Kim Ji-woo, a Cheongju-born South Korean singer whose career began within LOONA’s unusual pre-debut project and later developed into solo music, variety appearances and acting. She was introduced as LOONA’s tenth member in December 2017 and released her individual project “Chuu”, led by “Heart Attack,” on December 28, 2017.
LOONA’s full-group debut followed in 2018. Chuu became especially visible outside music through entertainment programs, commercials and online content, helping her establish a public profile separate from the group’s recordings.
That distinction became increasingly important after her split from BlockBerry Creative. Her career after LOONA has not simply been a continuation of idol-group work; it has developed across solo albums, digital releases, television, acting and YouTube content.
Early Life and Education
Kim Ji-woo was born in Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do, on October 20, 1999. Public biographical sources identify Hanlim Multi Art School as her high-school alma mater, where she studied applied music.
Chuu has also spoken about being physically active from a young age. In an interview with ELLE Korea, she said she practiced taekwondo when she was younger and participated in running from elementary school through middle school. After debut, she described home workouts and running around the Han River as activities she enjoyed.
Her early route toward entertainment was not particularly straightforward. Before joining BlockBerry Creative, she was associated with other training environments, including Music Works, according to retrospective trainee records. Because much of the detailed trainee chronology survives mainly through secondary archives rather than current agency documents, KpopBio treats those details as background rather than as core confirmed biography.
Chuu’s Career
2017: LOONA introduction and “Heart Attack”
Chuu was revealed as LOONA’s tenth member in December 2017. Later that month, she released the single album Chuu, featuring “Heart Attack.”
The project helped introduce her before LOONA’s full-group debut and became an important early marker of the musical identity she would later develop as a solo performer.
2018–2022: LOONA and television visibility
After LOONA’s full-group debut, Chuu built an increasingly recognizable public image through music, variety programs, advertising and online content. In 2021, Korean media highlighted her commercial visibility, noting brand campaigns as well as her growing presence in entertainment programs.
One of her most recognizable cultural signatures also emerged during this period: the “Chuu Heart,” an apple-shaped heart gesture she explained originated during a LOONA fan-sign event. Korea JoongAng Daily later described the move as one of the best-known variations of the K-pop heart pose.
2022: Removal from LOONA
In November 2022, BlockBerry Creative announced that Chuu had been removed from LOONA, citing allegations concerning her treatment of staff. That statement was an allegation from the agency, not a judicial finding. Chuu subsequently said she had not done anything of which she should be ashamed, while the agency later said it was willing to provide evidence if the relevant parties agreed.
This episode should not be reduced to the agency’s initial allegation. The dispute became part of the much broader contractual conflict surrounding LOONA, and Chuu subsequently pursued legal action concerning her exclusive contract.
2023: Contract victory and ATRP
In August 2023, the Seoul Northern District Court ruled in Chuu’s favor in her lawsuit seeking to nullify her exclusive contract with BlockBerry Creative. Korea JoongAng Daily reported that the court sided with Chuu after the lengthy contractual dispute.
Earlier that year, in April, Chuu signed with newly established ATRP, becoming the agency’s first artist. ATRP said it would support her activities and development as an artist.
Her move to ATRP marked a real career reset: instead of rebuilding herself as part of another idol group, she developed a solo identity across music, entertainment and later acting.
2023: Howl
Chuu made her official solo album debut with Howl in October 2023. Yonhap described the release as her debut solo album and placed it in the context of her transition away from her former group.
ATRP’s official release archive lists Howl as CHUU’s 1st Mini Album.
2024: Strawberry Rush
Her second mini album, Strawberry Rush, arrived on June 25, 2024. The official CHUU YouTube channel carries the title track and identifies ATRP as the 2024 rights holder/distributor arrangement for the release.
The album continued the solo direction established by Howl while giving Chuu another opportunity to develop music independently from LOONA.
2025: Only cry in the rain and acting
Chuu released her third mini album, Only cry in the rain, on April 21, 2025. The official CHUU channel confirms the release date and ATRP credit.
The same year, she expanded her acting résumé with the KBS2 drama My Girlfriend Is the Man!, which premiered on July 23, 2025. KBS’s international program information lists Chuu among the cast, while Cine21 identifies her character as Kang Min-joo.
Chuu also appeared in The Devil’s Plan 2, Netflix’s second season of the Korean competition reality series. Netflix’s official cast information identifies her among the season’s contestants.
2026: First full album and ATRP departure
Chuu began 2026 with a major milestone: her first full-length album, XO, My Cyberlove, released on January 7, 2026. Apple Music lists nine tracks and credits ATRP under license to Genie Music.
ATRP’s own release archive also lists XO, My Cyberlove as CHUU’s first album.
She also released “RULE (feat. Heize)” on July 2, 2026. The official CHUU YouTube upload identifies the track and release date.
Just eight days later, ATRP announced that its exclusive contract with Chuu had ended on July 10, 2026. The agency said the decision followed discussions about her future activities and was mutually agreed upon.
That makes the ATRP period a particularly important chapter in Chuu’s career: she entered the company in 2023 after her legal dispute with BlockBerry Creative and left in 2026 after building a solo discography that included three mini albums and her first full album.
Chuu’s Music Career
Chuu’s solo discography under ATRP developed steadily rather than relying on one breakout release.
| Release | Type | Date | Career significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howl | 1st mini album | Oct. 18, 2023 | Official solo album debut |
| Chocolate | Digital single | Jan. 2024 | Continued solo releases |
| Strawberry Rush | 2nd mini album | June 25, 2024 | Expanded her solo catalogue |
| Only cry in the rain | 3rd mini album | Apr. 21, 2025 | Third solo mini album |
| XO, My Cyberlove | 1st full album | Jan. 7, 2026 | First full-length album |
| “RULE (feat. Heize)” | Single | July 2, 2026 | One of her latest documented music releases |
ATRP’s official archive confirms the sequence of Howl, Chocolate, Strawberry Rush, Only cry in the rain and XO, My Cyberlove.
The progression is more revealing than any single chart claim: Chuu moved from an individual debut mini album to multiple releases and finally a full album before her ATRP contract ended.
Chuu’s Acting Career
Chuu has gradually moved beyond the idol label into scripted and unscripted television.
Her best-known scripted role to date is Kang Min-joo in KBS2’s My Girlfriend Is the Man!, a romantic comedy that aired from July 23 to August 28, 2025.
Her unscripted career also includes Netflix’s The Devil’s Plan 2, where Chuu appeared as a contestant in the strategy-oriented reality competition. Netflix’s official listing confirms her participation.
This combination is relevant to understanding her career in 2026: Chuu is no longer best described solely as a former LOONA member. Her professional profile now spans solo music, acting, variety and digital entertainment.
Chuu Workout Routine: What Is Publicly Known?
There is no reliable evidence of a fixed, year-round “Chuu workout plan” published by her or her agency.
What she has publicly discussed, however, shows that running and home training have been recurring parts of her routine. In a 2021 ELLE Korea interview, she said she did home workouts and sometimes ran alone at the Han River.
More recently, Chuu has appeared in her own content doing structured exercise including weight training and Power Plate work. A 2026 Korean health-media report based on her video described movements including hip thrusts, deadlifts, leg raises and dumbbell shoulder presses.
It is more accurate to describe these as documented examples of exercise Chuu has shared publicly, rather than claim that they form a fixed personal training program.
Chuu Diet: What Has She Shared?
Chuu has publicly discussed dieting, but readers should be careful with online “Chuu diet plan” claims.
In April 2025, while promoting Only cry in the rain, she described her previous approach as a kind of “contradictory diet” and said she had learned to approach exercise and dieting in a more enjoyable way.
Her official Weverse content also includes a pre-comeback vlog featuring her diet, skincare, exercise and recording preparation, confirming that these subjects have been documented as part of her own content.
That does not establish a medically recommended diet, and KpopBio does not present her eating habits as a model readers should copy.
Chuu Skincare Routine
Chuu has shared skincare and preparation routines through her own content, including the pre-comeback vlog published through her official Weverse community.
However, there is no sufficiently detailed primary-source record establishing a permanent product-by-product skincare routine. Claims that name specific products should therefore be treated cautiously unless they come directly from Chuu or a verified brand collaboration.
Chuu Net Worth: How Much Is She Worth in 2026?
Chuu’s verified net worth has not been publicly disclosed.
There are websites that publish numerical “net worth” estimates, but these figures are not audited financial disclosures and should not be presented as fact. For example, one current estimate gives a multi-million-dollar figure based on its own model of public data, rather than on Chuu’s bank accounts, contracts, assets or tax records.
KpopBio therefore does not assign Chuu a specific net-worth number.
Her career clearly includes income-producing work across music, television, advertising and other entertainment activities, but publicly available information does not establish her personal net worth. That is the responsible answer to a financial question that is often dominated by speculative celebrity-estimate websites.
What Happened to Chuu and ATRP?
Chuu’s exclusive contract with ATRP ended on July 10, 2026.
ATRP said it had discussed Chuu’s future activities with her and that both sides mutually agreed to conclude the exclusive contract while supporting each other’s future paths. No dispute was cited in the agency statement.
The significance of the announcement is that ATRP is no longer Chuu’s agency, despite older profile pages still listing it as her current company. As of September 6, 2026, the sources reviewed here do not establish a successor agency.
Chuu and LOONA: A Brief, Accurate History
Chuu entered the public K-pop scene through LOONA’s pre-debut project and released her individual “Chuu” single in December 2017 before LOONA’s full-group debut the following year.
In November 2022, BlockBerry Creative announced her removal from the group. Chuu disputed the characterization of events, and the broader conflict eventually moved into court.
In August 2023, the Seoul Northern District Court ruled in Chuu’s favor in her contract case against BlockBerry Creative. By then, she had already signed with ATRP and was preparing her solo career.
Her later work demonstrates why the legal dispute should be viewed as one chapter rather than the definition of her career. Since then she has released multiple solo projects, acted in a KBS drama and appeared on Netflix’s The Devil’s Plan 2.
Interesting Facts About Chuu
She created the “Chuu Heart”
Chuu explained that her signature biting heart came from a fan-sign moment when she was trying to make a heart gesture and ended up forming a circle. She then bit it to turn it into a heart, and fans began calling it the “Chuu Heart.”
She has a long-running interest in exercise
Her public interviews have mentioned taekwondo, running and home workouts. More recent self-produced content has also shown weight training and other forms of exercise.
Her career began before LOONA’s group debut
Although many readers associate Chuu’s debut with LOONA’s 2018 group launch, she had already appeared as an individual LOONA member and released “Heart Attack” in December 2017.
Her first full album arrived in 2026
XO, My Cyberlove, released January 7, 2026, was Chuu’s first solo full album after her sequence of mini albums.
She has built a cross-media career
Her work now covers music, drama, reality television and digital content, making her career broader than the conventional idol-to-soloist path.
Chuu Career Timeline
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| Oct. 20, 1999 | Born in Cheongju |
| Dec. 2017 | Revealed as LOONA’s tenth member |
| Dec. 28, 2017 | Releases “Chuu” / “Heart Attack” |
| 2018 | LOONA full-group debut |
| Nov. 25, 2022 | BlockBerry Creative announces her removal from LOONA |
| Apr. 7, 2023 | Signs with ATRP |
| Aug. 17, 2023 | Court rules in her favor in contract case |
| Oct. 18, 2023 | Releases Howl |
| June 25, 2024 | Releases Strawberry Rush |
| Apr. 21, 2025 | Releases Only cry in the rain |
| July 23, 2025 | My Girlfriend Is the Man! premieres |
| Jan. 7, 2026 | Releases XO, My Cyberlove |
| July 2, 2026 | Releases “RULE (feat. Heize)” |
| July 10, 2026 | ATRP contract ends |
| Sept. 6, 2026 | No new agency officially confirmed in sources reviewed |
The chronology is assembled from official/reputable release records, court reporting and entertainment sources.
Chuu in 2026: Current Status
As of September 6, 2026, Chuu remains an active singer and actress, but she is no longer under ATRP. Her contract ended July 10 after approximately three years with the company.
Her latest documented music release in the sources reviewed is “RULE (feat. Heize),” released July 2, 2026.
The major unanswered question is who will represent her next. There has been fan speculation about possible career moves, including connections with former LOONA members, but those theories are not official announcements and should not be presented as confirmed.
For now, the safest description is simple: Chuu is between agencies after concluding her ATRP contract, with her next management arrangement not publicly confirmed in the reliable sources reviewed for this profile.
FAQs
1. What is Chuu’s real name?
Chuu’s birth name is Kim Ji-woo (김지우).
2. How old is Chuu in 2026?
Chuu is 26 years old as of September 6, 2026. She was born on October 20, 1999.
3. When is Chuu’s birthday?
Chuu’s birthday is October 20, 1999.
4. Where was Chuu born?
She was born in Cheongju, South Korea.
5. How tall is Chuu?
Public profile sources generally list Chuu at around 161 cm. Because a current official measurement was not located, KpopBio treats the figure as a reported profile detail rather than a newly verified measurement.
6. What is Chuu’s real name in Korean?
Her Korean name is 김지우.
7. Was Chuu a member of LOONA?
Yes. Chuu was a member of LOONA and was revealed as its tenth member in December 2017.
8. When did Chuu leave LOONA?
BlockBerry Creative announced her removal from LOONA on November 25, 2022. The circumstances were disputed, and Chuu separately challenged her contractual relationship with the agency.
9. What agency was Chuu under?
Chuu was under ATRP from April 2023 until July 10, 2026.
10. Does Chuu have a new agency in 2026?
A new agency has not been officially confirmed in the reliable sources reviewed for this article after her ATRP contract ended.
11. What is Chuu’s first solo album?
Her first official solo mini album was Howl, released in October 2023.
12. What is Chuu’s first full album?
Her first full-length album is XO, My Cyberlove, released January 7, 2026.
13. What is Chuu’s latest song?
Among the releases verified for this profile, “RULE (feat. Heize)”, released July 2, 2026, is her latest documented standalone music release.
Summary
Chuu’s story is more substantial than a standard idol biography.
She first attracted attention as a member of LOONA’s pre-debut project, became known for a distinctive public personality and the viral Chuu Heart, survived a high-profile agency dispute, won an important contract case and then rebuilt her career through solo albums, acting and television.
Her ATRP chapter ended on July 10, 2026, shortly after the release of her Heize collaboration “RULE.”
The most accurate 2026 profile, therefore, is not “Chuu, former LOONA member under ATRP.” It is Chuu, a 26-year-old South Korean singer and actress entering a new professional chapter after three years of solo development under ATRP.
Published: September 6, 2026
Updated: September 6, 2026
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