Red Velvet’s Yeri to Use Real Name Kim Ye Rim for Acting Career Under New Agency

Yeri (Kim Yerim) has officially expanded her career into acting!

After parting ways with SM Entertainment last month, the Red Velvet member signed an exclusive contract with Blitzway Studio. The agency confirmed the partnership on Thursday (May 1), revealing that the idol actress will use her birth name for all future acting projects. Notably, she will continue Red Velvet activities with SM Entertainment moving forward.

Blitzway Studio’s CEO, Hong Min Ki, said, “We’re honored to be a part of Kim Ye Rim’s new journey, given her consistent activities both domestically and internationally. We’ll provide unwavering support to help her experiences and sensibilities gained from the global stage translate into a wide range of acting roles.”

Blitzway is home to Ju Ji Hoon, Jung Ryeo Won, Moon Chae Won, Chun Woo Hee, Woo Do Hwan, Park Hae Seon, Kang Min Ah, Kim Woo Seok, and Yoon Ha Young.

Yeri’s new profile photos were unveiled alongside the news of her exclusive contract signing. The image highlights her deep gaze and subtle style, striking a perfect balance between mystery and confidence that has fans excited for her acting endeavors.

Kim Ye Rim, better known as Yeri, debuted with Red Velvet in 2014 and has since garnered a dedicated fan base globally. Besides music, she has also been expanding her acting portfolio with projects like “Blue Birthday” and KBS1’s “Applause.” 

Yeri rose to global fame with a breakout role in the 2023 drama “Bitch X Rich,” which was released on OTT platforms like Netflix. She played Baek Je Na in “Bitch X Rich,” highlighting her character’s inner struggles behind a glamorous facade. Her nuanced performance added depth to the role and effectively delivered the character’s complexity. The show is set to release Season 2 due to its strong global reception.

Meanwhile, Yeri and Wendy have parted ways with SM Entertainment for individual activities. Wendy has signed with ASND (home to fromis_9), while still continuing group activities with SM Entertainment as part of Red Velvet.