SoRi

Kim So-ri (; born July 21, 1990), professionally known by the mononym Sori (stylized as SoRi), is a South Korean singer and actress. She is a former member of the duo CocoSori and the project girl group Real Girls Project.

Life and career

1990–2014: Early life and career beginnings Kim So-ri was born on July 21, 1990, in Mapo District, Seoul, South Korea. As a teenager, she migrated to Japan for her secondary education. Additionally, she became a cheerleader at her high school, which became the "base experience that made her yearn for the stage." She debuted as an actress the following year in KBS2's romantic comedy television series Hi! School: Love On, in which she portrayed a high school student. CocoSori auditioned to become members of the project girl group Real Girls Project on May 6, 2016, resulting in Sori scoring a spot in the group. The group debuted with the single "Dream" on August 24, 2016. Consequently, she was billed as one of the main cast members of Amazon Video's musical drama television series The Idolmaster KR, a South Korean adaption of the video game series of the same name. The series premiered on April 28, 2017, and ran for twenty-four episodes prior to its conclusion on October 6, 2017.

Alongside former Real Girls Project groupmates Heo Young-joo, Lee Ye-eun, and Yukika Teramoto, Sori competed as one of Mol Entertainment's four representatives in JTBC's reality television competition Mix Nine, during which she became the subject of controversy following a comment made by the judge Yang Hyun-suk regarding her age and the state of her career. She released a single titled "To Myself" in the midst of the controversy on November 5, 2017. Sori ultimately finished in seventh place in a field of ninety-seven female contestants and therefore became a member of the resulting girl group during the final episode on January 26, 2018. However, the group was defeated by their male counterpart for the opportunity to debut after the former garnered 7,866 points against the latter's 8,114 points.

2018–2020: Solo career beginnings Sori announced her debut as a solo artist through her official YouTube channel on July 31, 2018. She launched a Makestar project in order to fund the expenses of her debut on August 1, 2018. The project ultimately concluded on August 28, 2018, with over $20,000 raised by approximately 250 supporters. Sori's debut single titled "Touch", featuring the rapper Basick, was released on September 4, 2018, in conjunction with the premiere of its music video. The song was arranged, composed, and penned by the record producer Gamen Rider. "Touch" was performed for the first time during its showcase held at the Dongja Art Hall in Seoul, South Korea on the day of its release. The single enjoyed minor commercial success, where its physical version debuted and peaked at number 49 on the Gaon Album Chart. To promote the single, Sori performed on music programs and radio programs, and held street performances as well. A Japanese version of "Touch" was released as her debut single in Japan on November 14, 2018, with the music video premiering two days later. The Japanese version was performed for the first time during its showcase, which was held for four days at the HMV flagship in Harajuku, Shibuya.

Sori launched a Kickstarter project on December 7, 2018, in order to fund the expenses of her sophomore release. Throughout its run, she documented herself preparing the rewards for the supporters of the project on her YouTube channel. It was directed by the film director Kyotaro Hayashi. Promotions for the single were held the following month due to the holiday season, which included a collaborative performance with the internet personality StarTy in Hongdae, Seoul. "I'm Ready" was re-released on February 8, 2019, in Japan prior to Sori's first fanmeet titled SoriNation in Japan", which was held on February 11, 2019, at Club Citta in Kawasaki, Kanagawa. The fanmeet was presented by the singer Miho Miyazaki, while choreographers MikuNana and former Real Girls Project groupmate Lee Su-ji appeared as guests. The single debuted and peaked at number 126 on the Oricon Singles Chart.

Following CocoSori's disbandment on March 6, 2019, Sori became the host of a segment titled Sori Action for TBS' variety show Fact in Star. Its first episode premiered on March 13, 2019, in which she analysed the music video of "Noir" by the singer Sunmi. Sori subsequently became a cast member of Channel J's travel documentary Travel in Japan That Even Japanese Don't Know for its fourth and fifth season set in the Ibaraki Prefecture and the Tottori Prefecture respectively. She announced that she will be releasing a collaboration with the record producer Folded Dragons as her third single through her official Patreon page on May 17, 2019. A Kickstarter project was subsequently launched in order to fund the expenses of the single, which ran from May 23, 2019, until June 20, 2019. The project concluded with approximately ¥1,900,000 raised by 245 supporters. The single was ultimately released in conjunction with the premiere of its performance-oriented music video on July 10, 2019. It was directed by the film director Park Sang-won of the Zanybros. "I Am Not Alone" was arranged and penned by the rapper Grace under the pseudonym Storm. Sori became a cast member of the second season of Mnet's reality television series Somebody, which premiered its first episode on October 18, 2019.

2020–present: Recent work Sori made a cameo appearance as a jazz club singer in the fourth episode of OCN's action and science fiction television series Rugal, which premiered on April 5, 2020. She portrayed a fictionalized version of herself in Naver TV's romantic drama web series Almost Famous, which was based on her personal struggles. Prior to the development of the series, Sori quietly retired from the music industry without informing her company and fan base and was employed as a part-time barista, but she returned shortly after online petitions emerged that encouraged her to resume her career. Sori subsequently announced the release of her fourth single the following month through her official YouTube channel on July 31, 2020. The single was released on August 31, 2020, with an accompanying music video. It was directed by the film director Sohn Il-hyung. "Initial S" was composed and penned by Gamen Rider.

Sori contributed to the soundtrack of the reality web series YouTuLover with the single "Deja Vu" on May 20, 2021. She appeared in the final episode of TVN's fantasy and historical drama Bulgasal: Immortal Souls on February 6, 2022, during which she portrayed Min Sang-woon. Sori subsequently received a World Creator Award for her work as an influencer during its ceremony on February 23, 2022. She returned to Channel J as a cast member of its variety television show I Live in Korea, which premiered on April 30, 2022. Sori held a series of concerts at the Shinjuku Idol Stage in Kabukichō, Shinjuku from July 16, 2022, until July 24, 2022.

Filmography

Television Year Title Role Notes 2014 Hi! School: Love On High school student Television debut 2017 The Idolmaster KR Sori Main role (24 episodes) 2017–2018 Mix Nine Contestant Mol Entertainment representative; 7th place 2019 Travel in Japan That Even Japanese Don't Know Herself Main cast member (season 4–5) Somebody Main cast member (season 2) 2020 Rugal Jazz club singer Cameo role (Air date: April 5, 2020) 2022 Bulgasal: Immortal Souls Min Sang-woon Cameo role (Air date: February 6, 2022) I Live in Korea Herself Main cast member (13 episodes)

Web

Year Title Role Notes 2019 Sori Action Host Fact in Star segment; 17 episodes 2020 Almost Famous Lee So-ri Lead role (16 episodes) 2026 Made in Korea Hansol Jo Tamil language film by Netflix

Music videos

Year Title Other performer(s) credited Director(s) Ref. 2018 "Touch" Basick Hong Won-gi (Zanybros) JPN "To Myself" 2017 — Mix Nine Part 2 "Touch"(featuring Basick) 2018 49 — "I'm Ready"(featuring Jaehyun) — 126 "I Am Not Alone"(with Folded Dragons) 2019 — "Melting Love" 2020 — Almost Famous (Original Television Soundtrack), Pt. 2 "Initial S"(이니셜S) — "Deja Vu" 2021 — YouTuLover OST, Part 2 "Always"(with Ra.D) 2023 — "—" denotes releases that did not chart.