Rei

Rei is a Japanese singer, rapper, and performer. Born Naoi Rei on February 3, 2004, she serves in the South Korean girl group IVE. She stands out with her sharp rap delivery, striking visuals, and natural stage charisma. Her journey from Japan to the K-pop spotlight highlights her dedication. Fans appreciate her caring personality within the group and her creative talents outside of performances.

Rei is known for her deep-toned rap voice and has been integral to IVE's rapid rise as a leading fourth-generation act. Since debuting in late 2021, she has helped shape the group into one of the top acts, with hits like ELEVEN, LOVE DIVE, and After LIKE dominating charts. She also maintains a solo presence through her YouTube channel and selective brand partnerships. Her duality—soft off-stage and bold on-stage—has made her a Gen Z fashion icon.

As of 2026, Rei remains an active force in IVE while building her individual presence in the industry. She holds Japanese nationality, stands 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) tall, and is known for her creative versatility. Her representative color is green, and her MBTI is INFJ. She is left-handed, highly flexible, and exceptionally skilled at drawing and jewelry-making.[edit]

Rei was born Naoi Rei into a supportive Japanese family and grew up in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. She attended Tamagawa Academy and drew inspiration from a wide range of artists such as Jay Park, Lee Hi, Doja Cat, DPR IAN, Dua Lipa, TWICE, and Red Velvet, with particular admiration for Joy.

At age 14 in 2018, she successfully auditioned for Starship Entertainment at the Loen Friends Global Audition in Japan by performing Red Velvet's "Happiness." Her distinct voice impressed the judges. She relocated to Seoul that same year, beginning roughly three and a half years of training. To accelerate her Korean language skills, she refused to use a translator, immersing herself fully. During training she roomed with future IVE member Liz, attended the School of Performing Arts Seoul (SOPA) in the applied music department, and later enrolled at Chung-Ang University to study Theater and Film. She formed lasting friendships, including one with Kep1er's Dayeon that began in ninth grade, and another with former trainee Dayoung.

She kept her long hair until her debut was announced. On November 6, 2021, Starship revealed her as the fifth member of the new girl group IVE. Those formative years built the discipline and skills that would soon define her public persona.[edit]

Rei made her official debut with IVE on December 1, 2021, through the single album ELEVEN. The title track quickly climbed charts and earned the group several rookie honors. Her distinctive rap parts and confident presence helped the song connect with audiences across South Korea and beyond.

Follow-up releases LOVE DIVE in 2022 and After LIKE later that same year brought even stronger commercial results. Both tracks dominated domestic charts and expanded the group's international reach. These early successes positioned IVE as a leading fourth-generation girl group almost immediately after debut.

Within the group Rei handles rap duties while also contributing to the team's visual appeal and creative energy. She maintains her own YouTube channel called "따라해볼레이" (Follow Rei) for casual vlogs and challenges, and stays active on Instagram. In 2025, she won her first individual award at the TikTok Awards Korea for Best Trend Leader. Her work with IVE continues to drive album sales, concert tours, and brand deals as the group releases new music into 2026.[edit]

Rei is known for her compelling duality: soft and adorable off-stage, yet bold and charismatic on-stage. She is recognized as a Gen Z fashion icon with a sharp, trend-setting style that blends streetwear and elegance. Her deep-toned rap delivery and striking visuals make her stand out in IVE's performances. Media and fans perceive her as caring and overprotective toward groupmates, especially the youngest member Leeseo. Her personal YouTube channel '따라해볼레이' showcases her creative and playful side through vlogs and challenges. Rei's representative color is green, and her emoji is the white heart or butterfly. IVE's fandom is called DIVE, and fans appreciate her warm personality and artistic talents like drawing and jewelry-making. Her social media voice is casual and affectionate, often engaging with fans through Instagram and YouTube.[edit]

Rei commands a global stage that transcends the typical boundaries of fourth-generation K-pop, drawing intense attention from fashion capitals and music markets alike. Her presence is felt through massive streaming numbers, high-fashion campaigns, and a dedicated international following that tracks her every move. Despite this widespread visibility, iFANN's Global Fame Engine has evaluated Rei but she does not currently hold a placement in the published rankings for the Global Top 1,000 or any Top-100 scope list. This status reflects a unique position where immense cultural impact exists without a specific numeric rank assigned by the current engine. Her audience identifies as DIVE, the official fandom name shared with her group IVE. Fans within this collective often highlight her unique status as the only Japanese member and her distinct rapping style. A notable interaction involves the nickname "Kim Rei," given by her groupmates to celebrate her exceptional Korean fluency, while fellow member Liz affectionately calls her "Darling." These inside jokes have become part of the lore fans cherish. Rei engages directly with supporters on platforms like TikTok, encouraging self-expression and individuality. While no specific charity drives or fan-funded projects are documented solely under her name, the organized power of DIVE ensures her commercial milestones, such as her recent appointment as a Maison Valentino brand ambassador, receive immediate and massive support.[edit]

Rei had never cut her hair until her debut with IVE was announced. Fans frequently note her resemblance to actress Nishino Nanase and SHINee's Minho. Her name translates to "lovely and graceful" in Japanese. She possesses artistic talents beyond singing, excelling at drawing, making jewelry, and decorating. Her representative emoji is the white heart, and her MINIVE character is a chick named NAORI. She listens primarily to R&B, hip-hop, and jazz. As the oldest of the 2004-born members, she attended the same school as Yujin at one point. Her role model is Red Velvet's Joy, and if she were an IVE fan, she would bias Liz. She loves butterflies and often wears white, black, or pastel colors. Left-handed and highly flexible, she balances these traits with a disciplined approach to fitness. A defining legend in her career is her health hiatus, which sparked intense worry and support before her celebrated return. Another iconic moment is her selection as a Maison Valentino brand ambassador, marking her evolution into a global fashion icon. Fans also retell stories of her rapid rise as a bilingual rapper who writes her own lyrics despite moving to Korea at a young age.[edit]

Rei maintains close ties with her parents and older sister who was born in 2002. The family has always supported her career path. Her mother regularly sends Japanese snacks to the IVE dorm, which the members enjoy together.

She has no children. Rei keeps her personal life private and focuses on her work and friendships. Within IVE she shares a warm, protective bond with members, often taking the youngest member Leeseo on vacations. Fellow member Jang Wonyoung has described her as overprotective in a caring way. Gaeul frequently teases her, and Liz calls her "Darling." Her most valued possession is a pair of headphones gifted by her grandfather.[edit]

She works closely with IVE members Jang Wonyoung, Gaeul, An Yujin, Liz, and Leeseo. Outside the group she shares longtime friendships with Kep1er’s Dayeon and former trainee Dayoung. Her musical influences include Jay Park, Lee Hi, Doja Cat, and DPR IAN. [edit]

Rei has kept her personal life very private since debuting with IVE in 2021. No public relationships, engagements, or confirmed romantic pairings have surfaced in credible reports. She has not spoken about dating in interviews or on social media.

As of 2026, Rei is single and focuses on her career and friendships within the industry.[edit]

Per iFANN's editorial analysis, Rei's net worth sits at an estimated $4 Million as of 2026. The majority of her income flows from IVE activities that include album and digital sales, national and international tours, and regular brand endorsement deals. Appearance fees and merchandise royalties add further revenue. Her earnings have grown steadily since the group's 2021 debut. Early rookie success with ELEVEN opened doors to bigger opportunities that expanded with each hit release. Like many fourth-generation idols she likely maintains some personal investments, though specific real estate or business ventures remain private. Rei also earns from her individual YouTube channel and selective solo partnerships. The collective strength of IVE continues to lift each member's financial profile. Industry analysts place her in the typical range for successful mid-tier K-pop idols of her generation. Her value is expected to keep rising as the group maintains its popularity through 2026 and beyond.[edit]

Rei has earned multiple rookie awards as part of IVE for their debut work on ELEVEN. The group collected honors at major Korean music award shows in 2022 that recognized their rapid rise and chart performance on early singles including LOVE DIVE and After LIKE. [edit]