Lia (South Korean singer)

1. Early life

Lia was born on July 21, 2000, as Choi Ji-su, in Incheon, South Korea. While in elementary school, she moved to Toronto, Canada.^[9] She initially passed an audition for SM Entertainment when she was 14, but backed out due to a disagreement with her parents.^[10] Lia returned to South Korea and attended North London Collegiate School Jeju.^[11] In 2017, she passed an audition for JYP Entertainment and trained for two years.^[10] She later graduated from the School of Performing Arts Seoul.^[12]

2. Career

2.1. 2019–present: Debut with Itzy

On February 12, 2019, Lia officially debuted as a member of Itzy with the release of their first single album, It'z Different, and the music video for its lead single "Dalla Dalla".^[13][14][15] In 2022, she released her solo song "Always Be Your Star" for MBC's The Red Sleeve.^[16] Later that year, she recorded "Blue Flower" for tvN's Alchemy of Souls 2, which peaked at number 184 on the Circle Chart.^[17] On May 26, 2023, Lia released "One Hundred Love" for the original soundtrack of Dr. Romantic.^[18]

On September 18, 2023, JYP Entertainment announced that Lia would be taking a hiatus to focus on treatment for anxiety.^[19] During her break, she released "Blossom", a solo track dedicated to her fans, which she co-wrote with Sim Eun-ji as part of Itzy's solo performances on the EP Born to Be.^[20][21]

On July 9, 2024, JYP Entertainment announced that Lia would resume activities with Itzy, starting with a new album set for release in the second half of the year.^[22] In the same year, she recorded "Why Not" for SBS's The Fiery Priest 2, and "Woodahe" for JTBC's The Tale of Lady Ok.^[23][24]

3. Other ventures

3.1. Fashion

In March 2023, Lia was featured in a solo pictorial for Elle Korea, where she shared her personal style and reflections. In the accompanying interview, she discussed Itzy's identity, emphasizing the importance of living authentically and spreading positive energy. She also reflected on her personal growth and journey alongside Itzy.^[25]

3.2. Philanthropy

In August 2022, Lia donated ₩30 million (equivalent to ₩32.48 million or US$22,841.79 in 2025)^[26] to The Hope Bridge National Disaster Relief Association to support flood victims.^[27] In December 2023, she donated ₩30 million (equivalent to ₩31.35 million or US$22,048.6 in 2025)^[26] to the National Cancer Center Foundation to support pediatric cancer patients.^[28]

4. Discography

4.1. Soundtrack appearances

4.2. Other charted songs

4.3. Composition credits

All song credits are adapted from the Korea Music Copyright Association's database unless stated otherwise.^[39]

5. Filmography

5.1. Hosting