Bona

Kim Ji-yeon, known professionally as Bona, is a South Korean singer, actress, and model. She debuted in 2016 as a member of the 12-piece girl group WJSN (Cosmic Girls), where she serves as lead dancer and vocalist. Bona quickly branched into acting, earning her first leading role in the 2018 drama Girls' Generation 1979. Her career-defining moment came in 2022 when she played fencing prodigy Ko Yu-rim in the hit tvN series Twenty-Five Twenty-One, a performance that won her Best New Actress awards at the Baeksang Arts Awards, APAN Star Awards, and Korea Drama Awards. Since then, she has taken on diverse roles, from a historical lawyer in Joseon Attorney (2023) to a chilling high school queen bee in Pyramid Game (2024). With over 18 million Instagram followers and solo endorsement deals with brands like Clio Cosmetics and Samsung Galaxy, Bona has established herself as one of K-pop's most successful idol-turned-actresses. She continues to balance WJSN group activities with her thriving acting career, and as of 2026, she is reviewing scripts for her next drama project.[edit]

Bona grew up in the Dalseo-gu district of Daegu, attending Daegu Seobu Elementary School and Daegu Middle School. She was an athletic kid, active in swimming and track, before dance became her focus. After watching Girls' Generation perform, she set her sights on becoming an entertainer. A Starship Entertainment recruiter spotted her at a local dance competition and invited her to audition. She passed and moved to Seoul alone at age 16, training for about five years alongside future WJSN members Exy, Soobin, and Luda. During that time, she attended the School of Performing Arts Seoul (SOPA), balancing grueling daily training in singing, dancing, and acting with her studies. She graduated in 2014 and debuted two years later.[edit]

Bona debuted with WJSN on February 25, 2016, with the mini-album Would You Like? and the single 'Mo Mo Mo.' She made her acting debut the following year with a supporting role in KBS2's Hit the Top. In 2018, she landed her first leading role as Lee Il-ri in the youth drama Girls' Generation 1979, which earned her a Soompi Award for Best New Actress. She made her film debut in 2019 with the war movie The Battle of Jangsari, playing a student soldier. In 2020, she joined the WJSN sub-unit WJSN The Black, which released the single 'Easy.' Her big break came in 2022 with Twenty-Five Twenty-One, where her portrayal of fencer Ko Yu-rim earned critical acclaim and multiple Best New Actress trophies. She followed up with the historical drama Joseon Attorney in 2023, winning the Top Excellence Award at the MBC Drama Awards. In 2024, she took a sharp turn playing the villain Baek Ha-rin in TVING's Pyramid Game, proving her versatility. As of 2026, she continues to receive script offers and performs occasionally with WJSN.[edit]

Bona is known for a clean, classic aesthetic, minimalist makeup, tailored clothes, and natural hairstyles. The media often calls her a 'hardworking perfectionist' who takes her craft seriously. She has successfully transitioned from idol to actress without major controversy, earning respect for her dedication. On social media, she maintains a polished, aesthetic feed but shows a playful side in behind-the-scenes content and variety shows like Knowing Bros. Her fans are part of the larger WJSN fandom called UJUNG, with a subset calling themselves Bona-ers. Fan projects include sending rice wreaths to drama press conferences and making charity donations in her name.[edit]

Bona's story is less about the roar of a stadium and more about the quiet shift in public perception that happens when an idol successfully steps into the spotlight as a serious actress. Her fanbase operates under the collective umbrella of WJSN, often referred to simply as Cosmic Girls, with no distinct official name documented for her solo following. While she maintains deep connections with fellow stars like Jisoo and Kim Tae-ri, sparking endless discussion among fans, there are no recorded rituals or specific charity campaigns exclusive to her individual supporters. The narrative surrounding her career is defined by her transition from a visual and dancer in a twelve-member group to a leading lady who commanded attention on her own merits. This reputation was cemented by her breakout role in Twenty-Five Twenty-One, where she played a fencing prodigy, and later by her intense performance in Pyramid Game. These roles transformed her from a supporting figure into a cultural touchstone for those who believe idols can transcend their original genre. Despite viral fancams celebrating her dance skills and a loyal following that tracks her every move on social media, she does not currently hold a placement in the published Global Top 1,000 rankings. iFANN has evaluated her status but confirms she is not ranked in the current scope. Consequently, Bona is not listed among the world's top 1,000 most famous people at this time.[edit]

Kim Ji-yeon adopted the stage name Bona because she wanted to be a good person and singer, drawing from the Latin word for 'good'. She holds a black belt in Taekwondo and trained rigorously for five months before filming Twenty-Five Twenty-One, practicing until her hands blistered to perform most of her own fencing stunts. Fans affectionately call her 'Bona-ppang' or Bona-bread, a nod to her love for cooking homemade meals which she frequently shares on Instagram. She owns a pet Maltese dog named Bok-ja and identifies as an ISTJ on the MBTI scale. A legendary moment in her recent career involves her portrayal of Sung Soo-Ji in Twenty-Five Twenty-One, a role that broke stereotypes about K-pop idols and proved her acting prowess rivaled professional actors. Fans still retell the story of her real-life bond with co-star Kim Tae-ri, which became a major talking point after the drama's finale. Another piece of folklore includes viral TikTok videos labeling her a 'Legendary Idol' due to her captivating stage presence and dance skills. In April 2020, dating rumors with Monsta X's Kihyun surfaced but were officially denied by Starship Entertainment. Currently, she is preparing for WJSN's 10th anniversary celebration with the special single Bloom Hour in 2026.[edit]

Bona has a younger brother. She has said in interviews that her family is very supportive of her career. She lives in Seoul with her dog Bok-ja. In 2023, she purchased a luxury apartment in Seoul's Seongsu-dong district valued at around ₩1.5 billion ($1.1 million).[edit]

Bona is a member of WJSN, alongside Exy, Soobin, Luda, Dawon, Eunseo, Yeoreum, Dayoung, and Yeonjung. She has worked closely with director Jung Ji-hyun on Twenty-Five Twenty-One and co-starred with Nam Joo-hyuk in that drama. Other notable co-stars include Lee Kyu-hyung (Joseon Attorney) and Ryu Da-in, Kang Na-eon (Pyramid Game). She is managed by Starship Entertainment.[edit]

Bona is extremely private about her personal life and has stated in multiple interviews that she has never publicly dated. In 2022, fans speculated about a romance with co-star Nam Joo-hyuk during Twenty-Five Twenty-One, but both agencies denied the rumors, saying they were just close colleagues. No credible evidence of a relationship has emerged. As of 2026, Bona remains single, telling Harper's Bazaar in 2025: 'Right now, I am dating my characters. I am too busy to think about romance.'[edit]

Per iFANN's editorial analysis, Bona's net worth stands at $6 Million as of 2026. Acting serves as her primary revenue stream, commanding leading actress fees ranging from ₩30–50 million ($23k–$38k) per episode for high-profile dramas like Twenty-Five Twenty-One . Income also flows from her activities with WJSN, including album sales, concerts, and fan meetings, though these earnings are divided among the group members. Solo endorsement contracts with brands such as Clio Cosmetics, NEPA, and Samsung Galaxy contribute significantly to her financial portfolio. In 2023, she acquired a luxury apartment in Seoul's Seongsu-dong district valued at approximately ₩1.5 billion ($1.1 million). Additionally, she retains shares in Starship Entertainment, though the precise value remains undisclosed. Her wealth has expanded steadily since her acting breakthrough in 2022.[edit]

Bona has won multiple Best New Actress awards for her breakout role in Twenty-Five Twenty-One, including at the Baeksang Arts Awards, APAN Star Awards, and Korea Drama Awards. She also received the Top Excellence Award at the 2023 MBC Drama Awards for Joseon Attorney. Other wins include the Brand Customer Loyalty Award and Korea First Brand Award for drama acting.[edit]