Ayumi/Yumi Itō | |
|---|---|
| 아유미 /伊藤 ゆみ | |
 | |
| Born | Lee Ayumi (1984-08-25)August 25, 1984 (age 41) |
| Other names | Yumi Itō (Japanese alias)[2] |
| Education | Korea Kent Foreign School |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Agent | Bonboo ENT[3] |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
| Musical career | |
| Also known as |
|
| Genres | |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Labels | Starworld(2001–2006) SM(2007) Avex(2009–2020) |
| Formerly of | |
| Website | Official website |
Musical artist | |
| Japanese name | |
| Kanji | 伊藤 ゆみ |
| Romanization | Itō Yumi |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 이아유미 |
| Hanja | 李亞由美 |
| RR | I Ayumi |
| MR | I Ayumi |
Lee Ayumi (born August 25, 1984), professionally known asAyumi in South Korea andYumi Itō in Japan, is a Japanese-born South Korean singer, actress, and television personality based in South Korea. She debuted under the stage nameAhyoomee in 2001 as the leader and lead vocalist of the South Korean girl groupSugar, a position she held until the group's disbandment in 2006.
Following the disbandment, Lee began a solo career in South Korea underSM Entertainment, releasing two digital singles. In 2008, she returned to Japan and began her acting career under the Japanesestage nameYumi Itō. The following year, she debuted as a solo singer in Japan underAvex'sRhythm Zone label, using the stage nameIconiq. As Iconiq, she released one studio album, one extended play, and seven digital singles.
Lee Ayumi was born inTottori, Japan, on August 25, 1984, to aKorean mother fromSeoul and a father who is a second-generationethnic Korean living in Japan.[5] She lived in Japan until the age of 15, when she moved to South Korea, where she later attended the Korea Kent Foreign School (Korean Kent Foreign School).
Ahyoomee was scouted by the entertainment company Starworld at aH.O.T. concert,[6] and later debuted as a member of the South Koreangirl groupSugar in 2001.[7] The group released two albums in Japan and three in South Korea, achieving moderate commercial success.
During her time with Sugar, Ahyoomee and fellow member Park Soo-jin appeared as guests on the 200th-episode special ofGag Concert in the sketchPoncho Siblings (우비 삼남매), becoming the first girl group to appear on the program. In December 2006, Starworld announced that Sugar's members would not be offered contract renewals, leading to the group's disbandment following the expiration of their contracts.[citation needed]
Lee released her first digital single as a solo artist, "Cutie Honey," on July 13, 2006, under a new romanization of her stage name,AhYooMi.[6] The song was originally performed byKumi Koda as the theme song for theCutie Honey anime series.[8] Her second single, a cover ofKim Gun-mo's song "Wrongful Meeting," was released on November 7, 2006.
On February 15, 2007, her former label Starworld requestedSM Entertainment to take over her management following the expiration of her contract on February 13.[9] Under SM Entertainment, Lee participated inSM Town's seasonal albums later that year.[10] However, she did not release any solo material during this period.
In 2008, Lee moved toWest Hollywood, California, where she attended dance and vocal training schools.[6][11]
In 2009, she returned to Japan and signed withAvex'sRhythm Zone label, debuting as a solo artist under the stage nameIconiq.[12] She became a model forShiseido'sMaquillage cosmetics line and released the single "I'm Lovin' You" featuringAtsushi ofExile as a promotional track. Her image was prominently featured in the campaign's billboard advertisements.[13][14][15] Iconiq's image was strongly associated with her distinctivebuzz cut hairstyle.[14][16][17]
Lee released her debut studio album,Change Myself, on March 10, 2010. The album included the promotional singles "Change Myself" and "Bye Now!", both used in theMaquillage advertising campaign. The album debuted at number three on theOricon Albums Chart, marking the highest chart position for a debut album sinceYui Aragaki'sSora in late 2007.[16] On August 11, 2010, she released her first physical single, "Tokyo Lady", which was later included in her first extended play,Light Ahead, released in September 2010. The EP was promoted through three music videos directed byDiane Martel.
After a two-year hiatus from music, Lee released two digital singles on March 14, 2012, titled "LADIES" and "MAKE IT RIGHT."
Lee returned to South Korea in 2015, appearing on the JTBC talk showWitch Hunt, marking her first television appearance in South Korea in nine years.[18]
In August 2016, during an interview withSENSE (ja) magazine, Lee stated that she would return to acting under the nameYumi Itō. The following month, she portrayed Michiru Saiki in the stage adaptation of the mangaReLIFE.[19]
In May 2017, Lee was cast in the Fuji TV dramaCode Blue: Season 3.[20] In August 2017, she officially resumed her activities in South Korea after being confirmed as a cast member of MBN's variety showFlight Girl.[21]
In March 2019, Lee signed a contract with the South Korean agency BONBOO Entertainment. On January 20, 2020, she announced through her blog that she would be leaving Avex after eleven years, following the expiration of her contract.[22]
In September 2022, Lee released pre-wedding photographs announcing that she would marry her non-celebrity foreign boyfriend on October 30, 2022.[23] Her husband, Kwon Ki-beom, is a businessman.[24]
On January 9, 2024, Lee announced that she was expecting her first child.[25] On June 15, 2024, she announced that she had given birth to her first child, a daughter, on June 10.[26]
| Title | Album details | Peak positions | Sales | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN [27] | KOR [28] | |||
| Change Myself |
| 3 | 47 |
|
| Title | Album details | Peak positions | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPN [27] | |||
| Light Ahead |
| 18 |
|
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Sales | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN [27] | JPN Hot [A] | JPN Dig. [B][C] | ||||
| "Cutie Honey"[D] | 2006 | — | — | — | — | Non-album single |
| "Jalmosdoen Mannam" (Korean:잘못된 만남, "Wrongful Meeting")[D] | — | — | — | — | ||
| "I'm Lovin' You"(Iconiq xExile Atsushi) | 2010 | — | 47 | 8 | — | Change Myself |
| "Change Myself" | — | 73 | 20 | — | ||
| "Bye Now!" | — | 8 | 47 | — | ||
| "Tokyo Lady" | 19 | 21 | — |
| Light Ahead | |
| "Light Ahead" | — | 49 | 62 | — | ||
| "Yeoja" (여자, "Ladies") | 2012 | — | — | — | — | "Ladies" |
| "Make It Right" | — | — | — | — | ||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | The Promised Land | Lee Ayumi | Lead role |
| Waiting for Good News | Rika Aragaki | ||
| 2018 | The Cat in Their Arms | ||
| Code Blue: The Movie | |||
| 2019 | Go Away, Ultramarine | ||
| Walking Man | Kim |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Rainbow Romance | Ah Yoo Mi | Supporting role; Sitcom |
| 2008 | Binbo Danshi | Kurata Watana | Supporting role |
| Yottsu no uso | Miyabe | Supporting role | |
| 2012 | Ataru | Kashiwabara Yumi | Cameo |
| 2013 | Machigawarechatta Otoko | Erika Momoyama | |
| 2017 | Code Blue: "Doctor Helicopter Emergency Rescue" | Kyoko Machida | |
| 2020 | Backstreet Rookie | Herself | Cameo |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–2018 | Flight Girl | Cast Member | [21] | |
| 2019 | Life Bar | |||
| 2021–present | Goal Girl | Season 2–3 | [38] | |
| 2022 | Same Bed, Different Dreams 2: You Are My Destiny | [39] |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Korean Music Awards 2007 | Lee Ah-yoo-mi "Cutie Honey" | Album of the year | Won |
| Best pop album | Nominated |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
