Shin Hyewon Profile: Age, Height, Origin, Career, Facts & More
As the second-eldest member and vocalist of OURBIRTHDAY (아워벌스데이)—the seven-member multinational girl group launched under JYP Entertainment subsidiary INNIT Entertainment—Shin Hyewon (신혜원) brings more than a decade of early performance experience to fifth-generation K-pop.
Long before taking the stage in August 2026 with OURBIRTHDAY’s debut single album Our Birthday, Hyewon grew up in front of audiences.
First as a child performer in the kids’ pop group Little Cheer Girl and later as a standout contestant on JTBC and BELIFT LAB’s survival competition R U Next?.
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Quick Fact List: Shin Hyewon (신혜원)
| Profile Category | Verified Details |
| Stage Name | Shin Hyewon (신혜원) |
| Birth Name | Shin Hye-won (신혜원 / 辛惠願) |
| Former Stage Name | Lael / Rael (라엘 — during Little Cheer Girl promotions) |
| Group | OURBIRTHDAY (아워벌스데이 / OBD) |
| Agency | INNIT Entertainment (JYP Entertainment subsidiary) |
| Position(s) | Vocalist |
| Birthday | October 5, 2005 |
| Age (as of Nov 2026) | 21 years old (International) |
| Zodiac Sign | Libra (Western) / Rooster (Chinese) |
| Height | 160 cm (5’3″) |
| Blood Type | O |
| MBTI Type | ISFP (Previously ENFP / ISTP) |
| Nationality | South Korean |
| Hometown / Origin | Hwawon-myeon, Haenam-gun, Jeollanam-do / Bupyeong-gu, Incheon, South Korea |
| Debut Date | August 19, 2026 (Pre-debut unit “HUNGRY (Side B)” released July 29, 2026) |
| Representative Color | Saffron Yellow |
| Representative Emoji | 🧀 (Cheese) |
| Representative Weapon | Hammer |
| WHIP! Character / Avatar | HAPUMI (하푸미) |
Early Life and Background
Shin Hyewon was born on October 5, 2005, in South Korea—with official profile databases noting her birthplace as Hwawon-myeon, Haenam-gun in South Jeolla Province (Jeollanam-do) and upbringing ties to Bupyeong-gu, Incheon.
Growing up as the eldest daughter in her family alongside a younger brother and the family’s pet dog, Byeol (meaning “Star” in Korean), Hyewon discovered a love for singing and dancing at a remarkably young age.
Unlike many trainees who enter idol studios in their mid-teens, Hyewon stepped onto performance stages while still in elementary school.
Following her early childhood activities, she continued sharpening her dance fundamentals across multiple respected Korean training academies—including LAMF Dance Academy, PinkM Academy, and ARoot Academy—building versatility in both expressive idol choreography and vocal delivery before entering major K-pop agency trainee systems.
Career Highlights
2015–2016: Childhood Debut with Little Cheer Girl
Hyewon’s earliest professional entertainment experience began in October 2015, when she debuted as a first-generation member of Rainbow Company’s kids’ pop group Little Cheer Girl (also known as Rich Girl) under the stage name Lael (라엘).
Promoting upbeat, family-friendly cheer and dance tracks across youth broadcasts and live events, she gained early comfort in front of cameras before graduating from the children’s lineup in 2016 to focus on school and long-term vocal and dance development.
2021–2024: BELIFT LAB Trainee Years and JTBC’s R U Next?
In 2021, Hyewon passed auditions to join BELIFT LAB, training alongside the roster of female trainees competing for HYBE and BELIFT LAB’s next-generation girl group.
On June 16, 2023, she was officially introduced to global K-pop fans as one of the 22 contestants on JTBC’s survival audition program R U Next?—the show that ultimately formed the girl group ILLIT.
Throughout R U Next?, Hyewon earned affection from viewers and fellow contestants alike for her bright, earnest energy, clean vocal tone, and supportive attitude during mission preparations—notably on performances such as “The Boys” and “Given-Taken.”
Although she was eliminated in Episode 7, finishing in 15th place overall, the broadcast established a loyal fanbase that continued tracking her journey after she departed BELIFT LAB in 2024.
2025–2026: Signing with INNIT Entertainment and Debuting in OURBIRTHDAY
After leaving BELIFT LAB and spending time regrouping and refining her skills, Hyewon joined INNIT Entertainment—JYP Entertainment’s independent subsidiary label—between late 2025 and early 2026.
As INNIT Entertainment prepared to unveil its inaugural girl group OURBIRTHDAY (JYP’s first new girl group project in four years following NMIXX), fans quickly spotted Hyewon’s distinctive silhouette and bright smile in pre-debut teasers.
She was officially revealed as a member of OURBIRTHDAY between July 24 and July 26, 2026, introduced as part of the four-member “Side B” pre-debut unit alongside eldest member Kuk Chorok, rapper U, and maknae Kilala.
On July 29, 2026, the Side B unit released the pre-debut digital single “HUNGRY (Side B)”, giving Hyewon her long-awaited return to Korean music show stages.
Less than a month later, on August 19, 2026, Hyewon officially debuted with the full seven-member lineup of OURBIRTHDAY at their Seoul media showcase, releasing the group’s first single album Our Birthday and its bubbly, hip-hop-infused title track “SQUEEZY”.
With her debut, she became the second alumna of Little Cheer Girl to successfully re-debut in a mainstream K-pop girl group (following SPIA’s Song Ye-bin).
Brand Ambassadorships and Endorsements
Having officially debuted with OURBIRTHDAY in August 2026, Shin Hyewon has not yet announced any solo brand ambassadorships or individual commercial endorsements.
In her first months of post-debut promotions in late 2026, Hyewon’s commercial activities have centered on full-group campaigns for OURBIRTHDAY—including album release events for Our Birthday (such as Makestar fansign events and the group’s Cartoon Book physical edition) alongside performance showcase appearances.
With her expressive cat-and-desert-fox visuals, cozy lifestyle aesthetic, and established pre-debut recognition from R U Next?, stationery, beauty, and casual fashion collaborations are natural avenues as the group expands its promotional footprint.
Personality and Public Image
Testing as an ISFP, Shin Hyewon radiates a warm, unhurried, and endearing “cozy homebody” persona that contrasts delightfully with the high-energy “WHIP-HOP” sound of OURBIRTHDAY.
She candidly describes herself as a total homebody who is happiest curled up in bed, listening to music, or spending quiet afternoons alone at cozy cafes.
Within the group’s dynamic, she is known for being thoughtful, empathetic toward others’ feelings, and naturally funny—often making her bandmates burst into laughter without even trying.
Visually, Korean fans frequently describe Hyewon as having a charming “desert fox and cat-like” (samak-yeou / goyang-i) face, accented by big, expressive eyes and a habit of blinking frequently when focused.
Fellow members also joke that her face takes on an intensely serious, quirky expression whenever she concentrates deeply on choreography or tasks. Onstage, however, her bright Saffron Yellow representative color and cheese-themed avatar HAPUMI capture the sunny, uplifting clarity she brings to OURBIRTHDAY’s vocal line.
Fun Facts and Trivia
- Close Friendships with ILLIT and izna Members: Thanks to her years at BELIFT LAB and R U Next?, Hyewon maintains close friendships across fifth-generation K-pop.
ILLIT’s Wonhee named Hyewon her favorite older sister during R U Next? and later shared a reunion selfie on Weverse DM, while ILLIT’s Minju and Iroha also remain close friends—with Hyewon and Iroha filming a viral hug-filled “SQUEEZY” dance challenge together.
She also shared a heartwarming on-air reunion with same-age friend Bang Ji-min of izna during a Music Bank debut interview. - Self-Proclaimed “Journaling Pro”: Hyewon loves decorating colorful diaries and planners in her spare time, calling herself a “journaling pro”.
- Careful Online Shopper: Before buying anything online, Hyewon deliberates for weeks—or even months—weighing whether she truly needs the item before finally hitting checkout.
- Big Appetite & Favorite Foods: Despite her petite 160 cm frame, Hyewon is famous among the members for having a big appetite. Her favorite foods include fried chicken, pomegranates, and traditional Korean honey pastries (yakgwa) as her number-one dessert. Like eldest member Kuk Chorok, she strongly dislikes mint chocolate.
- Role Models: She names SEVENTEEN as her ultimate musical and performance role models.
- Quirks & Hidden Talents: Hyewon holds a driver’s license, loves looking up at the sky (preferring the sky over the sea), enjoys watching Crayon Shin-chan, admits she still struggles to ride a two-wheeled bicycle, and playfully lists “walking while twerking” as a signature party trick.
- Dorm Camera Duties: Eldest member Kuk Chorok frequently borrows Hyewon’s phone to snap candid behind-the-scenes photos of the members.
Social Media and Where to Follow
Prior to joining INNIT Entertainment, Shin Hyewon briefly maintained a personal Instagram account (@hyewon1s), though following her official debut with OURBIRTHDAY, her active updates, fancams, birthday livestreams (such as her October 5, 2026 birthday live), and behind-the-scenes vlogs are shared through OURBIRTHDAY’s official channels:
- Instagram:
@ourbirthday_official - X (Twitter):
@OBD_offcl - TikTok:
@ourbirthday_official - YouTube:
@ourbirthday
Conclusion
Shin Hyewon’s path to OURBIRTHDAY is a story of perseverance paying off at the exact right moment. From stepping onto stages as a child in Little Cheer Girl and enduring the emotional rollercoaster of R U Next?, to finding her musical home at INNIT Entertainment, Hyewon never let go of her dream to debut.
Now shining in Saffron Yellow with her sweet vocals, endearing offstage humor, and decade of hard-earned stage instincts, Shin Hyewon has turned years of patient preparation into a triumphant new beginning with OURBIRTHDAY.
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