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Joy (Red Velvet) Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 6, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth3 September 1996

Age27 Years (as of 2023)

BirthplaceJeju Island, South Korea

ProfessionSinger, Actress, Host

NationalitySouth Korean

Marital statusUnmarried

FamilyTwo younger sisters

Joy (Red Velvet) Biography

Park Soo-young, known professionally as Joy, is a South Korean singer, actress and host. She debuted with SM Entertainment girl group Red Velvet in 2014,

Early life and background

Park Soo-young was born on 3 September 1996 on Jeju Island, South Korea. She grew up there before moving to pursue training in entertainment; she later attended the School of Performing Arts Seoul. Known to fans by the nickname Malgeumi, she took the stage name Joy early in her trainee years under SM Entertainment.

Career

Joy joined SM Entertainment after being discovered at the SM Global Audition in Seoul in 2012. She debuted as a member of Red Velvet on 1 August 2014 when the group released the single "Happiness." The song and its music video drew significant attention on release and helped establish Red Velvet as one of the prominent K-pop girl groups of the era.

With Red Velvet Joy has contributed to numerous group releases and promotions. The group has received multiple industry awards including rookie honors, Bonsang prizes, and recognition at major Korean music ceremonies. Their work across several years earned them both domestic and international accolades and frequent appearances on year-end award lists.

Alongside group activities, Joy has developed a diverse solo career. She has acted in television and film projects, including appearances in SMTown: The Stage (2015), a cameo in Descendants of the Sun (2016), and the lead role of Eun Tae-hee in the MBC series Tempted (2018). She has appeared in web content such as The Boy Next Door (2017) and has taken part in variety programs including We Got Married, King of Mask Singer, Pajama Friends and Handsome Tigers.

Joy launched solo music under her own name with the EP Hello in 2021. Her work as a solo performer garnered industry recognition, including nominations normally reserved for established soloists and significant award attention for her releases.

She has also worked as a television host. In 2018 she began a regular hosting role on the second season of JTBC’s Sugar Man, joining established hosts Yoo Jae-suk, You Hee-yeol and Park Na-rae.

Public profile

Joy has earned commercial and cultural recognition beyond music and acting. She has been named on Forbes Korea’s Power Celebrity lists and was included among Forbes’ 100 Digital Stars (Asia). Vogue described her as one of K-pop’s bright stars, and she has served as a brand face for fashion labels, including representing Hogan by Tod’s.

Her visibility in Korea has translated into strong brand metrics: she has repeatedly ranked highly in individual girl group member brand power rankings published by a Korean research institute. In 2019 she featured in Gallup Korea’s Top 20 Most Popular Idols and was among the top choices in military service surveys for favorite female idols.

Joy’s public activities also include charitable work. In February 2020 she donated to relief efforts supporting those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. She has contributed to collaborative charity projects and participated in initiatives honoring medical professionals.

Personal notes

Joy is a non-vegetarian and has said she would have considered becoming a kindergarten teacher if she had not pursued entertainment. She is an animal lover who owns a pet dog and has volunteered at animal shelters. Known for a fondness for hair accessories, she has a public image that blends fashion, variety appeal, and music.

Latest updates

In 2021 Joy became the first female soloist from SM Entertainment to be nominated for the Album of the Year Daesang at the Melon Music Awards. In 2022 she released the collaboration "Love Song" with Wonstein as part of a World Peace Project that donated proceeds to UNICEF Korea. In 2023 she appeared on the cover of Harper’s Bazaar.

Physical stats

Joy’s height is listed at approximately 168 cm (about 5 feet 6 inches) and her weight is reported around 55 kg. Her listed eye and hair color are black.

Awards and honours

Across her career with Red Velvet and in solo and variety work, Joy has been associated with numerous awards and honors, including music awards, television awards and a Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism commendation. Her group and solo recognitions span rookie prizes, Bonsang awards, genre and performance prizes, and industry-level accolades through the early 2020s.

Family and relationships

Joy is the eldest of three sisters. Publicly available information lists her marital status as unmarried. Other personal relationship details reported in media are not included here beyond what is explicitly noted in public records.
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Recent Work

Hello (EP)

Solo EP release

2021
Love Song (with Wonstein)

Charity single released for the World Peace Project with proceeds donated to UNICEF Korea

2022
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Career Highlights

  1. Debuted with Red Velvet in 2014 with the single "Happiness"
  2. Lead actress in MBC series Tempted (2018)
  3. Hosted JTBC’s Sugar Man Season 2 (2018)
  4. First female soloist from SM Entertainment nominated for Album of the Year Daesang at the Melon Music Awards (2021)
  5. Featured on the cover of Harper’s Bazaar (November 2023)
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Joy (Red Velvet) born?

3 September 1996

What is Joy (Red Velvet) known for?

Singer, Actress, Host

What is Joy (Red Velvet)’s marital status?

Unmarried