Jung Chae-yeon

Jung Chae-yeon is a South Korean actress and singer who first gained attention as a member of the project girl group I.O.I. She is currently active in television drama, having taken lead roles in series such as To. Jenny (2018), My First First Love (2019), The King's Affection (2021), The Golden Spoon (2022), and Family by Choice (2024). Alongside her acting work, she remains a member of the girl group DIA. Her Instagram following sits at approximately 1.5 million, and she is regarded for her visual appeal and steady growth as a performer.[edit]

Jung Chae-yeon was born on December 1, 1997, in Suncheon, a city in South Jeolla Province. She has one younger sister. Her interest in performing arts emerged early, and she began taking dance lessons while participating in school talent shows. She attended Suncheon Hyo San High School before transferring to Seoul Performing Arts High School, where she graduated in 2016. She later enrolled at Sejong University to major in Film Arts, aiming to build skills for an acting career.

Her first step toward the entertainment industry came when she auditioned for MBK Entertainment, then known as Core Contents Media, and was accepted as a trainee. She trained for roughly two years, honing her singing and dancing abilities. In 2015, she debuted as a member of the six-member girl group DIA with the single Somehow, though she was added to the lineup after the group's initial formation.

The pivotal moment before her wider fame came in early 2016, when she participated in the Mnet survival show Produce 101 as a contestant representing MBK Entertainment. Over the course of the program, her dance skills, stage presence, and visual appeal drew attention. In the final episode, aired April 1, 2016, she placed 7th with 404,001 votes, earning a spot in the project group I.O.I.[edit]

I.O.I debuted on May 4, 2016, with the mini-album Chrysalis and the lead single Dream Girls. The album peaked at number 4 on the Gaon Album Chart. In October 2016, the group released Miss Me? featuring the hit single Very Very Very, which became one of their most successful songs. I.O.I disbanded in January 2017 after their contract ended, and Chae-yeon returned to DIA, which continued promotions with albums such as YOLO (2017) and Summer Ade (2018).

She made her acting debut in 2018 with the lead role in the web drama To. Jenny, which aired on KBS2. The following year, she starred in the Netflix original series My First First Love, a coming-of-age romantic comedy that gained international exposure. In 2021, she appeared in the historical romance The King's Affection on KBS2, playing a supporting role. Her first major lead role in a terrestrial drama came in 2022 with The Golden Spoon on MBC, a fantasy romance about a student who uses a golden spoon to switch fates with a rich friend. The series achieved high ratings and critical acclaim. In 2024, she starred in Family by Choice, also on MBC, playing the lead role of Yoon Joo-won.[edit]

Jung Chae-yeon is known for a girl-next-door image that is fresh, youthful, and approachable. Her style leans toward casual elegance with minimal makeup, and she is often photographed in soft, feminine outfits. The media has portrayed her as a hardworking and versatile entertainer who successfully transitioned from idol to actress, praising her visual appeal and acting growth. On Instagram, she posts behind-the-scenes shots from dramas, daily life photos, and occasional selfies, maintaining a warm and grateful tone. Her fans support her by streaming her dramas and trending hashtags during comebacks, though she does not have a personal fandom name separate from DIA's official fandom AID.[edit]

Jung Chae-yeon has navigated the entertainment industry from a survival show contestant to a respected actress and veteran idol, maintaining a presence that spans multiple successful projects. Her career trajectory includes significant milestones such as her 7th place finish on Produce 101 and her pivotal role in the 10th anniversary reunion of I.O.I in 2026, which saw the group achieve a Triple Crown across music charts. Despite this enduring legacy, the iFANN Global Fame Engine evaluated her status in August 2026 and determined she does not currently hold a placement in the published rankings for the Global Top 1,000 or any Top-100 scope list. This absence of a numeric rank reflects the specific criteria of the current evaluation rather than a lack of recognition, as her influence remains deeply rooted in her long-term work with DIA and her filmography. Her fanbase is officially known as DIA, a name established during her tenure with the girl group DIA and retained as her primary community identifier despite her solo acting success. The fans are noted for their organized support, particularly during her transition between groups and the recent reunion events where they rallied around her return to the group's activities. While she commands a substantial individual following on social media with approximately four million followers on Instagram, there is no separate official fandom club distinct from the group affiliations. The community engages through streaming campaigns and direct communication channels she maintains, fostering a relationship built on mutual support rather than traditional idol worship.[edit]

Professionally known by the mononym Chaeyeon, she studied Film Arts at Sejong University to refine her craft before her debut. She speaks Korean and possesses functional English skills, while her personal hobbies include photography, cooking, and cinema. A dog named Boksooni resides with her. During the active period of I.O.I, she held the unique distinction of being the only member simultaneously promoting with another group, DIA. Her appearance earned her the title of visual for I.O.I, and she has consistently participated in charity initiatives supporting children's hospitals. Fans often recount the legend of her ascent on Produce 101, transforming from a lower-ranked trainee into a final lineup member through steady vocal and dance growth. A modern story circulating among supporters details the dramatic visual transformation observed during the 2026 10th-anniversary era, where her matured elegance contrasted sharply with her debut image. Another notable moment involves the 2026 promotion of the EP Suddenly, where the exclusion of two members from practice footage sparked widespread discussion about the group's reunion dynamics.[edit]

Jung Chae-yeon has one younger sister. Her parents have been supportive of her career, and she has mentioned them in interviews as a source of encouragement. She is close with her family and often speaks about them with warmth. She has not publicly disclosed details about her parents' professions. As of 2026, she lives in South Korea and keeps her household private.[edit]

Jung Chae-yeon was a member of I.O.I alongside Lim Na-young, Kim Se-jeong, Yoo Yeon-jung, Kim Chungha, Jeon So-mi, Zhou Jieqiong (Kyulkyung), Kim Do-yeon, Kang Mi-na, Kim So-hye, and others. She continues to work with DIA members Ki Hui-hyeon, Lee Ju-eun, Kwon Chae-won, and Ahn Eun-jin. Her acting co-stars include Kim Min-gyu (The Golden Spoon), Park Eun-bin and Rowoon (The King's Affection), and Kim Yo-han (The Golden Spoon).[edit]

Jung Chae-yeon has kept her personal life private and has no confirmed public relationships as of 2026. She has been linked to co-stars in occasional rumors, but none have been verified by her or her agency. She has never been married, engaged, or publicly dated. As of 2026, she is reported to be single.[edit]

Per iFANN's editorial analysis, Jung Chae-yeon's net worth in 2026 stands at $2 Million. This figure aggregates revenue streams from her dual roles as an entertainer and public figure. As a core member of DIA and a former constituent of I.O.I, she generates income from album sales, digital streaming royalties, concert tours, and merchandise distribution, though these earnings are divided among all group participants. Her acting career contributes significantly through per-episode fees, estimated between ₩10–30 million for lead roles in productions such as The Golden Spoon and Family by Choice. Additional revenue sources include appearances on variety programs and endorsement deals covering cosmetics, fashion, and food sectors. Social media sponsorships on her Instagram account further supplement her financial portfolio. No publicly documented real estate holdings are associated with her assets. Her net worth has shown consistent growth since her formal debut in acting in 2018.[edit]

Jung Chae-yeon has not won any individual acting or music awards as of 2026. Her group awards with I.O.I and DIA are not listed here per the scope of her personal page.[edit]