Joy

Park Soo-young, known professionally as Joy, is a South Korean singer, actress, and host. She is a member of the K-pop group Red Velvet, known for her bright stage presence and versatility. Joy has built a successful solo career with her debut album Hello and has starred in several television dramas, earning recognition for her acting talent. As of 2026, she continues to be active with Red Velvet and pursues individual projects, maintaining a warm connection with fans through social media.[edit]

Joy was born in Jeju Province on September 3, 1996, and was raised in Dobong, Seoul, as the eldest of three sisters. As a child, she was obsessed with modern trot music and discovered her singing ability after performing Cherry Filter's "Flying Duck" at a school festival, receiving praise that inspired her. In 2012, she auditioned and was cast by SM Entertainment at the SM Global Audition in Seoul. She trained for about two years, struggling with dancing initially, and had to practice smiling during training due to lacking aegyo. She graduated from the School of Performing Arts Seoul with a major in Acting Arts. Her stage name "Joy" was given by a vocal coach. She volunteered at animal shelters multiple times before her debut, reflecting her love for animals.[edit]

Joy debuted as a member of Red Velvet on August 1, 2014, with the single "Happiness." The group initially had four members; Yeri joined in March 2015. In 2017, she made her acting debut as the female lead in tvN's The Liar and His Lover, playing Yoon So-rim, and also contributed to the original soundtrack. That same year, she gained widespread attention on MBC's We Got Married with BTOB's Yook Sungjae, forming the popular "SungJoy" couple. She continued acting with roles in MBC's Tempted (2018), JTBC's The One and Only (2021), and KBS2's Once Upon a Small Town (2022). On May 31, 2021, she released her solo debut album Hello, featuring six tracks including the title song. Red Velvet's 2023 album Chill Kill sold over 607,000 copies in Korea and earned 2x Platinum certification. In April 2025, Wendy and Yeri's contracts with SM Entertainment ended, but both remain active members for group projects. As of 2026, Joy remains active with Red Velvet while pursuing individual opportunities.[edit]

Joy is known for her bright and cheerful image, matching her stage name, and is often described as the "happy" member of Red Velvet. Her solo work, especially the album Hello, showcases a retro-inspired aesthetic. Media and fans perceive her as refreshing and sunny, with a warm social media presence on Instagram and TikTok where she shares behind-the-scenes and personal moments. Red Velvet's fandom is called ReVeluv, and Joy's individual appeal contributes to the group's overall popularity. She is also recognized for her visual appeal, acting ability, and vocal talent.[edit]

Red Velvet's collective fanbase, ReVeluv, operates as a singular, highly organized entity that mobilizes specific campaigns for Joy without maintaining a separate official designation. This group orchestrates substantial birthday initiatives featuring subway advertisements and digital lightsticks on September 3rd, while also driving streaming parties to support her solo discography following the May 2021 release of Hello. The community frequently engages in charity drives during her hiatus periods, reflecting a protective dynamic forged during her public health struggles in April 2023. These efforts have cemented her status as a central figure who transcended her initial role as the middle child of the group to become a top-tier solo artist.

In terms of global standing, Joy is currently ranked as the 44th most famous person in K-Pop according to the iFANN Global Fame Rankings, an upward movement from the 61st position recorded in the previous cycle. This placement reflects her sustained visibility across media coverage, search trends, and consumption metrics worldwide. She holds no standalone fandom name distinct from the group, yet her individual influence remains a primary driver of Red Velvet's commercial success. Her recent ceremonial first pitch at a Seoul KBO game in April 2026 further illustrates her mainstream reach beyond the music industry.[edit]

Her designated color is green, and her representative fruit is the green kiwi. While her representative animal was originally a canary for the "Happiness" through "#Cookie Jar" eras, it shifted to a chick starting with "Summer Magic." She wields a submachine gun as her symbolic weapon and favors the drink known as "Green Sunrise." Unlike many of her SM Entertainment peers, she was never part of the SM Rookies program. Joy competed on King of Masked Singer under the alias Bandabi, securing a victory in the first round during episode 122. She performed a Christmas duet with NCT's Doyoung titled First Christmas and enjoys watching dog training videos or reviewing Red Velvet content in her leisure time. Her nicknames include Doongdoongie, cute Joy, and Malgeumi. Standing 168 cm tall with blood type A and an MBTI classification of INFJ (formerly INFP), she maintains a distinct presence.

A widely retold story among fans describes her trajectory from the "dark horse" member to the group's most successful soloist, a narrative validated by the reception of her debut album Hello. Another enduring legend involves her April 2023 hiatus due to anxiety, which sparked virtual vigils and charity donations rather than criticism. Fans also celebrate her viral "idiot sister" persona on variety shows like Knowing Bros, where her clumsy enthusiasm became a defining meme.[edit]

Joy was born in Jeju Province and raised in Dobong, Seoul, as the eldest of three sisters. Her parents and sisters have largely stayed out of the public eye. She has shared that she volunteered at animal shelters before her debut. As of 2026, she does not have a spouse or children, and no pets have been publicly mentioned.[edit]

Joy is a member of Red Velvet alongside Irene, Seulgi, Wendy, and Yeri. She collaborated with NCT's Doyoung on the Christmas duet 'First Christmas.' Her virtual marriage partner on We Got Married was BTOB's Yook Sungjae. She co-starred with Woo Do-hwan in Tempted. All her activities are managed by SM Entertainment. [edit]

Joy has not publicly confirmed any real romantic relationships as of 2026. She participated in the virtual marriage show We Got Married with BTOB's Yook Sungjae from 2017 to 2018, which was a scripted format and not a real relationship. The pairing was highly popular among fans, generating significant shipping as the "SungJoy" couple. No other dating rumors have been substantiated. As of 2026, Joy is reported to be single.[edit]

Per iFANN's editorial analysis, Joy's estimated net worth stands at $10 Million as of 2026. Her primary income stream originates from Red Velvet's group activities, encompassing album sales, concert tours, and merchandise distribution. Revenue from large-scale group tours and fan meetings generates substantial returns. She also secures earnings from her solo music catalog, particularly the 2021 album Hello, alongside acting roles in four television dramas. Endorsement deals secured as part of Red Velvet with brands such as Shilla Duty Free and Etude House contribute significantly to her financial portfolio. Individual earnings remain undisclosed by SM Entertainment, though solo projects typically yield higher personal revenue than group endeavors. Income derived from variety show appearances, including We Got Married, further adds to her accumulated wealth.[edit]

Joy won the Best Couple Award at the 2017 MBC Entertainment Awards alongside Yook Sungjae for their virtual marriage on We Got Married. This is her only confirmed individual award as of 2026. [edit]