Rei
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Rei

레이
  • Korean Name:레이
  • Birthday:February 3, 2004
  • Nationality:Japanese
  • Zodiac Sign:Aquarius
  • Height:169 cm
  • MBTI Type:INFJ
  • Blood Type:A
  • Occupation:Singer, Idol
  • Years Active:2021-Present
  • Agency:Starship Entertainment
  • Education:Seoul Performing Arts High School
  • SNS:Instagram: @reinyourheart

Biography

Rei is a Japanese rapper, singer, and songwriter based in South Korea. She is a member of the South Korean girl group Ive, formed by Starship Entertainment, where she performs as a rapper and vocalist. Since her debut, Rei has contributed to the group’s musical identity and creative output, including songwriting credits on multiple tracks.

Early Life and Education

Rei was born Naoi Rei (直井 怜) on February 3, 2004, in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. She spent her early years in Japan and later moved to South Korea to pursue a career in music after being selected through global auditions for trainees. During her formative training period, she attended School of Performing Arts Seoul (SOPA), graduating in 2022, and honed her skills in vocals, performance, and Korean language proficiency. Rei also holds the Korean name Kim Rei, which was given to her by fans and fellow members due to her fluent Korean.

Career

Pre-Debut and IVE Debut (2018–2021)

Rei joined Starship Entertainment’s trainee program after being scouted through auditions in Japan. After several years of training, she was publicly revealed as the fifth member of IVE on November 6, 2021, ahead of the group’s official debut. On December 1, 2021, she debuted with IVE with the single album Eleven, marking the start of her professional music career.

Group Activities and Musical Contributions (2022–2025)

Since debut, Rei has participated in IVE’s major releases, including Love Dive, After Like, and the studio album I’ve Ive. She has also contributed to the songwriting of several tracks:

  • “Royal” (from Love Dive)
  • “Royal” and additional credits on After Like
  • Four songs on I’ve Ive, including Kitsch, Hypnosis, Not Your Girl, and Next Page.

In April 2023, Rei took a temporary hiatus from promotional activities to focus on her health and subsequently returned to group activities at the end of May 2023, reaffirming her role within IVE’s ongoing projects.

Rei has also become a prominent trendsetter in social media challenges tied to IVE’s music, notably leading a viral dance challenge in 2025 centered on the track Attitude, which earned considerable global attention and reinforced her status as a cultural influencer within K-pop.

Fun Facts

  1. She was born in Nagoya, Japan, and is the only Japanese member of IVE.
  2. Rei moved to South Korea alone as a teenager after passing Starship Entertainment’s global audition.
  3. She is fluent in Japanese and Korean, and fans often praise her natural Korean pronunciation.
  4. Rei is known for her unique rap tone and also writes her own rap lyrics for several IVE songs.
  5. She loves drawing and art — she often shares doodles and illustrations with fans.
  6. She once took a short health hiatus in 2023, and fans admired how openly she talked about self-care and mental health.
  7. Rei is famous for creating viral dance challenges and cute ending fairy poses on music shows.
  8. Despite her chic stage image, offstage she is known for being soft-spoken, shy, and very affectionate with members.