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 later formed Girl Friends with best friend Chae Ri-na after the former group's breakup in 2005. Yuri has since regrouped with Cool.
Cha Hyun-ok 차현옥 | |
|---|---|
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Cha Hyun-ok |
| Also known as | Yuri |
| Born | December 24, 1976[1] |
| Origin | South Korea |
| Genres | Dance-pop, K-pop |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Labels | KT Music (with Cool) WS Entertainment (solo career) |
| Member of | Cool |
| Formerly of | Girl Friends |
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 Ri-na 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 and Girl Friends 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
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