Yuri (Korean singer)

For the Girls Generation member of the same name, see Kwon Yuri.
Cha Hyun-ok
Background information
Native name 차현옥
Birth name Cha Hyun-ok
Also known as Yuri
Born December 24, 1976[1]
Origin South Korea
Genres Dance-pop, K-pop
Occupation(s) Singer
Years active 1995–present
Labels KT Music (with Cool)
WS Entertainment (solo career)
Associated acts Cool, Girl Friends

Cha Hyun-ok (Korean: 차현옥; born December 24, 1976), known by her stage name Yuri (Korean: 유리), is a South Korean pop singer. Debuting as a singer with Cool (쿨), she formed Girl Friends with best friend Chae Rina after the group's breakup in 2005. Yuri has since regrouped with Cool.

Career

Yuri was not an original member of Cool, but was brought in to replace Yoo Chae-yeong for the group's second album.[2] The band's lineup stayed the same from the second album onwards.[3] In 2004, though, Cool was reportedly in danger of breaking up due to tensions within the band.[4] The group eventually broke up after the release of their tenth album in 2005.[5]

A year after the breakup, Yuri announced that she would be joining with close friend Chae Rina to become a musical duo, named Girl Friends.[6] Becoming friends in the 1990s while performing with their respective groups, the two had been discussing a possible joint project for 10 years.[7] Girl Friends released their first album, Another Myself, in 2006, with the lead single "Maybe I Love You".[8] Their second album, Addict 2 Times, was released in late 2007.[9]

In 2008, Cool announced that they would be regrouping.[10] Yuri stated that she missed performing their trademark dance songs in the summer, even while still performing as part of Girl Friends.[11] The group then released their 11th album in the summer of 2009.[12]

Yuri has set up an online shopping mall with friend Baek Ji-young.[13]

On October 17, 2012, it was reported that Yuri had been accidentally killed in a fight in Gangnam, Seoul, but this was revealed to be a case of mistaken identity. The real victim was "Ms. Kang", the ex-wife of Yuri's Cool bandmate Kim Sung Soo, who was stabbed to death in a fight in a restaurant where she had been meeting with Roo'ra singer Chae Ri Na. "Ms. Kang" and Yuri were supposedly very physically similar, causing a misunderstanding as to the identity of the victim.[14]

References

  1. ↑ (Korean) MSN Music Korea Artist Summary: Cool. MSN Music. Retrieved January 21, 2010.
  2. ↑ (Korean) 유채영 “쿨 탈퇴 이유는 노래 때문” (Yu Chae-young: "My Reason for Leaving Cool was Because of the Songs"). Newsen. August 21, 2008. Retrieved January 21, 2010.
  3. ↑ (Korean) Han, Hyeon-wu. 댄스그룹 쿨, 올 여름도 변함없는 인기 (Dance Group Cool, Popular as Always this Summer). The Chosun Ilbo. July 30, 2003. Retrieved January 21, 2010.
  4. ↑ (Korean) 댄스그룹 쿨 해체 위기 (Dance Group Cool Close to Breakup). Kuki News. August 9, 2004. Retrieved January 21, 2010.
  5. ↑ (Korean) [쿨 해체 기자회견 전문] 김성수 이재훈 유리 "쿨이 영원히 남기를 바란다" (Kim Seong-su, Lee Jae-hun and Yuri: "We Wish for Cool to Remain Forever"). Newsen. August 2, 2005. Retrieved January 21, 2010.
  6. ↑ (Korean) 유리ㆍ채리나 "걸프렌즈라 불러주세요" (Yuri & Chae Rina: "Call Us Girl Friends"). The Chosun Ilbo. June 27, 2006. Retrieved January 21, 2010.
  7. ↑ (Korean)엔짱: 쿨+디바 '매력덩어리' 뭉쳤다 (Cool and Diva's Charismatic Members Joined Together). Sports Hankook. July 8, 2006. Retrieved September 23, 2008.
  8. ↑ (Korean)Star News: 유리-채리나, '걸프렌즈' 결성 후 타이틀곡 첫 공개! (Yuri-Chae Rina, "Girl Friends" Debut Their First Single!). EPG. July 19, 2006. Retrieved September 23, 2008.
  9. ↑ (Korean) 유리&채리나 “이번엔 춤보다 노래로 승부” (Yuri & Chae Rina "Now, instead of dances, we will succeed with our songs") Asia Economy. October 10, 2007. Retrieved September 23, 2008.
  10. ↑ (Korean) 쿨, 3년 만에 컴백...'사랑을 원해'로 인기몰이 (Cool Comeback After 3 Years...Try to Earn Popularity with "I Want Love"). The Chosun Ilbo. July 28, 2008. Retrieved January 21, 2010.
  11. ↑ (Korean) Yang, Ji-won. 쿨, `"잘 뭉쳤다"는 말 가장 듣고 싶어` (Cool: "We Want to Hear 'Regrouping was a Good Thing' the Most"). Korea Economic Daily. August 10, 2008. Retrieved January 21, 2010.
  12. ↑ (Korean) 쿨 컴백, 11집으로 올 여름 강타 준비 끝! (Cool Comeback with 11th Album, Preparations Finished for Summer's Heavy Punch). International Business Times. June 16, 2009. Retrieved January 21, 2010.
  13. ↑ (Korean) Park, Jun-Hyeong. [포토엔]유리, 시원한 미소 환하게 빛나네 (Yuri Has a Fresh, Bright Look). Joins.com/Newsen. July 12, 2009. Retrieved January 21, 2010.
  14. ↑ http://ph.omg.yahoo.com/news/cool-kim-sung-soo-s-ex-wife-not-013016482.html