From School Topper In The US To Idol Debut In Korea — The Unbelievable Transformation Of An Iconic Girl Group Member

More often than not, being a K-Pop idol means dedicating your teenage years thoroughly to train and hone your singing, dancing, and several other skills that take you from being a trainee to debuting successfully. Unfortunately, it can also often mean that idol hopefuls have to choose between their studies and their dreams as a priority.

For an iconic second-generation female idol, however, having the best of both worlds was not too impossible a feat. The idol in question is none other than Nicole Jung, a former member of KARA.

Nicole | @nicole__jung/Instagram

Born in California, Nicole did most of her schooling in the US, attending Keppel Elementary School and Toll Middle School in Glendale. She was reportedly an all-rounder student who participated in extracurriculars like choir, drill team, and violin for four years. Nicole also took dance classes during this time. Not many people, however, know that she was also a top student.

During her appearance on the variety show KAIST, Nicole had revealed that she ranked first in her middle school.

Nicole on “KAIST” | Mnet

Despite such an extraordinary academic record, Nicole decided to pursue her passion. She auditioned for DSP Media by sending a video of her singing songs by iconic K-Pop artists like Ivy and Black Eyed Peas. She ended up passing the audition and made the hard decision to move to South Korea with her mother. Despite the difficulties of adjusting to a new culture and being away from friends, she persevered.

| @nicole__jung/Instagram

Nicole debuted as the youngest member of KARA in 2007 and was active as a member until 2014 when she parted ways with DSP. Apart from singing, she also expanded her career into acting, having appeared in dramas such as Secret Love and Here He Comes. She, however, is best known for her variety of show appearances, including on King Of Masked Singer, Video Star, and Immortal Songs.

(From left to right) KARA’s Jiyoung, Seungyeon, Gyuri, Nicole, and Youngji | @thesy88/Instagram

Fifteen years after their debut, KARA reunited in 2022 for an anniversary-special album, Move Again. Nicole has since appeared with her group members on shows like I Can See Your Voice and It’s Just Me, KARA. On the other hand, the singer is preparing to return to the music industry soon under her new label, JWK Entertainment. She has already teased her upcoming song as a “retro city pop” track, teasing the anticipation of her longtime fans!