Lia Profile: Age, Height, Career, Facts & More
Lia’s story within ITZY is one of the more candid mental health narratives in modern K-pop. In September 2023, she stepped away from group activities entirely to focus on treating extreme anxiety, a decision that meant ITZY promoted as a foursome for nearly a year.
Her return in July 2024 was met with genuine celebration from fans, and she’s since continued building both her vocal and songwriting contributions to the group.
This complete profile breaks down everything fans want to know about Lia — her age, height, career, personality, and the fun facts that keep circulating through the fandom.
Quick Facts About Lia
- Real Name: Choi Ji-su (최지수)
- Stage Name: Lia (리아)
- Birth Date: July 21, 2000
- Zodiac Sign: Cancer
- Birthplace: Incheon, South Korea (also reported as Bucheon)
- Position: Main Vocalist
- Height: Approximately 162 cm (5’3″)
- Blood Type: AB
- Nationality: South Korean
- Agency: JYP Entertainment
- Group: ITZY
- MBTI: ENFJ
- Education: School of Performing Arts Seoul (SOPA)
Early Life and Background
Lia was born Choi Ji-su on July 21, 2000, in Incheon, South Korea. While still in elementary school, she moved with her family to Toronto, Canada, an experience that gave her fluent English and a genuinely international perspective well before her idol career began.
Her stage name, Lia, comes from the English name “Julia,” originally given to her by her aunt. Before joining JYP Entertainment, she attended Dream Vocal Academy for vocal training, and she went on to graduate from the School of Performing Arts Seoul (SOPA), one of South Korea’s most prestigious arts high schools.
Career Highlights
Debut and ITZY’s Formation
Lia officially debuted as main vocalist of ITZY on February 12, 2019, with the single album It’z Different and its lead single “Dalla Dalla,” which became the best-performing girl group song of the year in South Korea. Her clean, controlled vocal tone quickly became a defining feature of ITZY’s sound across the group’s subsequent releases, including Crazy in Love (2021) and Ringo (2023).
A Mental Health Hiatus
On September 18, 2023, Lia announced she would be taking a hiatus from ITZY’s activities after experiencing extreme levels of anxiety, stepping back from all production and promotional work.
During her time away, ITZY continued as a four-member group, releasing and promoting the EP Born to Be in January 2024 and the Japanese-language single “Algorhythm” in May 2024, and embarking on their second world tour without her — a 32-show run across Asia, North America, Europe, Latin America, and Oceania.
Return to the Group
Lia resumed group activities on July 8, 2024, during a livestream celebrating ITZY’s fifth anniversary, a moment widely celebrated by fans following her recovery.
She officially returned to full promotional activities with the EP Gold, released October 15, 2024, which included re-recorded quintet versions of five tracks originally released on Born to Be without her.
A Growing Songwriter
Lia has developed a genuine songwriting career alongside her main vocalist role. She wrote and composed “Blossom,” her solo track on Born to Be (2024), and later co-wrote “Focus,” a track from ITZY’s Tunnel Vision release, alongside fellow members Yeji, Ryujin, Chaeryeong, and Yuna, plus producer Noday.
That creative involvement reflects her growing role shaping ITZY’s music beyond simply performing it.
Continued Group Activities
ITZY continued releasing new music as a full quintet following Lia’s return, including the EP Girls Will Be Girls, released June 9, 2025, with Lia’s vocals remaining central to the group’s evolving sound through 2025 and 2026.
Personality and Public Image
Lia is widely respected by fans for her openness about her mental health journey, a candor that’s resonated deeply within ITZY’s fandom, MIDZY, and the broader K-pop community. Her return to the group was treated not just as a professional comeback but as a genuinely emotional moment for fans who’d followed her recovery from a distance.
Alongside Yeji, she’s one of ITZY’s two oldest members, and her bicultural upbringing between Incheon and Toronto has given her a naturally warm, easygoing communication style that’s carried through both her Korean and English-language interviews.
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- Lia’s stage name comes from the English name “Julia,” given to her by her aunt.
- She moved to Toronto, Canada, during elementary school before returning to South Korea.
- She took a hiatus from September 2023 to July 2024 to focus on treating extreme anxiety.
- She wrote and composed her solo track “Blossom” for the Born to Be EP.
- She co-wrote “Focus” alongside her fellow ITZY members and producer Noday.
- She’s one of ITZY’s two oldest members, alongside Yeji, both born in 2000.
- She attended Dream Vocal Academy before graduating from SOPA.
Social Media and Where to Follow
Lia is active across ITZY’s official group platforms, including Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and YouTube, where her vocal performances, songwriting contributions, and openness about her personal journey continue to draw significant fan engagement.
Her return to full group activities in 2024 remains one of the most emotionally resonant storylines in ITZY’s history for longtime fans.
As ITZY continues its rise following Gold, Girls Will Be Girls, and subsequent releases, Lia’s vocal talent and growing songwriting contributions continue to make her one of the group’s most valued creative voices.
Conclusion
From a Toronto-raised trainee to ITZY’s main vocalist who stepped away to heal and returned stronger, Lia’s career reflects a rare combination of vocal talent and genuine courage.
Whether fans are drawn in by her clean, controlled singing, her growing songwriting credits, her openness about mental health, or her emotional return to the group in 2024, Lia continues to prove why she’s regarded as one of the most respected and resilient members of her generation.
As ITZY’s global reach continues to grow, all eyes remain on Lia to see what she’ll sing and write next.
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