Former Famous K-pop Girl Group Member Joins Top Acting Label— Her Career Twist Is Turning Heads

Jo Hye-won, formerly known as Zoa of the girl group Weeekly, has officially joined KeyEast Entertainment, marking a new chapter in her career as an actress.

On April 16, KeyEast announced the signing of an exclusive contract with Jo and shared the agency’s enthusiasm for her future, stating, “Jo Hye-won is a multi-talented artist with a passion for singing, acting, and variety. We will give her our full support so she can thrive as an actress. Please look forward to her new beginning with us.”

🎤 From K-pop Idol to Rising Actress

Jo debuted in 2020 as the main rapper and youngest member of Weeekly, quickly gaining public attention for her visuals and talent. The group won six Rookie of the Year awards, and their 2021 mini-album “After School” achieved record-breaking success, topping the iTunes Top Album chart, surpassing 100 million views on YouTube, and reaching over 200 million streams on Spotify—an exceptional achievement for a 4th-gen rookie girl group.

Early Praise for Her Screen Debut

Jo made her acting debut in 2022 with the web film “3.5 Period”, playing the role of Baek Ah-jin, a transfer student who discovers a mysterious watch that slows time by tenfold. Her performance received positive reviews for its emotional stability and distinctive vocal tone, hinting at her potential as a screen actress.

She further pursued her acting ambitions by enrolling as a freshman in the Department of Acting and Arts at Sungkyunkwan University, Class of 2024.

An All-Rounder With Unique Charm

Beyond singing and acting, Jo also showcased her charm in 2023 through her solo web variety show “Ohiryeo Joa (Even Better)” Season 1, where she won over viewers with her bright energy and quirky, unexpected humor.

With a promising career ahead and boundless potential, expectations are high for Jo Hye-won’s next chapter under the management of KeyEast.

“I’m thrilled and honored to begin this new journey with KeyEast, where so many senior actors I admire are signed. I will work hard to grow into an actress who can take on a wide range of roles and show sides of myself that I haven’t revealed before. Please look forward to it!”

KeyEast is home to some of South Korea’s most prominent actors, including Cha Seung-won, Kim Hee-ae, Kang Han-na, Park Myung-hoon, Chae Jung-an, and Han Sun-hwa. With Jo Hye-won joining the lineup, the agency is expected to expand its influence further into the next generation of K-content.

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