after training for only two months with the group. Aside from being an idol, songwriter and radio DJ, she also became active as an actress. She made her acting debut in the coming-of-age drama, Reply 1997 in 2012, as one of the drama's main protagonists. The drama became one of the highest-rated Korean series on cable television, and her performance earned her praises from critics and audiences alike for her genuine and emotional acting.
Originally, she used to compete as a swimmer and even participated in the Korean National Sports Festival. She then pursued to be an actress, after graduating from Sungkyunkwan University's School of Art, with a degree in Performing Arts, but she first debuted as an idol. She became a member of the girl groupin 2009 and was the darling of the fans and general public, often topping online search rankings on various Korean websites.