(Red Velvet) Seulgi Biography: Profile, Background, Education, Net Worth 2025, and Career

Profile:

Stage Name: Seulgi (슬기)

Birth Name: Kang Seul-gi (강슬기)

English Name: Angela Kang

Birthday: February 10, 1994

Birthplace: Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea

Seulgi's powerful stage presence and gentle demeanor have garnered her nicknames, such as "Teddy Bear" and "GomDoli," which translates to "little bear" in Korean. She is a fan favorite because of her ability to strike a balance between her dominant performing style and her kind off-stage persona.

Background:

On February 10, 1994, Seulgi was born in Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, into a loving family consisting of her grandmother, parents, and older brother. She showed an innate gift for singing and dancing at an early age. When she was in her first year of middle school in 2007, she tried out for SM Entertainment since her father saw her ability early on and pushed her to follow her desire.
Seulgi was a busy and gifted student growing up. She participated in extracurricular activities like track and field, where she competed at the provincial level, and she excelled academically, especially in advanced mathematics. Her early love of the arts was demonstrated when she established dance groups with friends and competed in school talent competitions. Her rendition of BoA's "Atlantis Princess" even earned her first prize at a blood donation event. Her future career was paved with this early performance exposure.
Seulgi's proficiency in both Korean and Japanese has also been a big help, increasing her adaptability when interacting with fans around the world. Aspiring idols look up to her because of her serene and reflective personality as well as her commitment to her art.

Education:

Seulgi's dedication to striking a balance between her academic endeavors and her demanding training as an idol is evident in her educational path. She excelled academically and participated actively in school activities while attending Ansan Howon Elementary School and Ansan Byeolmang Middle School. She further developed her musical and performance abilities at the esteemed School of Performing Arts Seoul (SOPA), a well-known establishment for aspiring artists.
Seulgi balanced her training at SM Entertainment with the rigorous schedule of coursework throughout her tenure at SOPA. As instructed by SM, she concealed her trainee status from her peers, exhibiting professionalism and discipline even as a teenager.

Career:

Pre-Debut and SM Rookies:

Seulgi's path to fame started in 2007 after she was chosen during a public audition by SM Entertainment. Her seven years of training, one of the longest among Red Velvet members, attests to her tenacity and commitment. She struggled during her training years, including a phase of self-doubt regarding her career choice, but she remained inspired by her passion of performance and her family's support.
Seulgi made her public debut in 2013 as a member of SM Rookies, a pre-debut initiative that featured SM Entertainment's trainees. Along with Jeno and Taeyong from NCT, she was one of the first three trainees to be exposed. She had appearances in Henry Lau's music videos for "Butterfly" and "Fantastic" at this time, and she and fellow trainee Irene danced to a cover of S.E.S.'s "Be Natural." Her remarkable dancing abilities were showcased in these early appearances, which attracted the interest of both industry insiders and fans.

Red Velvet Debut and Group Activities:

On August 1, 2014, Seulgi made his Red Velvet debut with the single "Happiness." Their distinctive "red" (vibrant, pop-driven) and "velvet" (mature, R&B-infused) concepts helped the trio, which at first consisted of Irene, Seulgi, Wendy, and Joy (Yeri joined in 2015), gain rapid notoriety. Red Velvet's popularity was largely attributed to Seulgi's spectacular performances as the lead vocalist and main dancer. Three studio albums, one reissued album, thirteen extended plays, and several number-one singles, including "Red Flavor," "Power Up," and "Psycho," are among the group's discography.
Among Red Velvet's many accolades are the Mnet Asian Music Award for Best Female Group and the Golden Disc New Artist Award. Their Japanese EPs, such #Cookie Jar and Sappy, and tours like the Redmare Tour, which stopped in the US and Canada, helped them become more well-known abroad.

Sub-Units and Supergroup:

Red Velvet – Irene & Seulgi, the group's first subunit, was formed in 2020 by Seulgi and Irene. On July 6, they released their debut EP, Monster. The EP featured Seulgi's solo song "Uncover" together with the strong title tune "Monster," which demonstrated her flexibility as a singer. Her reputation as a remarkable artist was cemented by the sub-unit's success.
Along with bandmate Wendy and other SM musicians, Seulgi became a member of SM Entertainment's supergroup Got the Beat in 2022. When the group made its debut on January 3, 2022, her impact in the K-pop business grew even more.

Solo Career:

Seulgi became the third member of Red Velvet to record a solo album when she released the mini-album 28 Reasons on October 4, 2022. A darker, more intense side of her artistry was displayed in the six-track EP, which explored themes of duality in relationships and was led by the dance-pop single "28 Reasons." Her talent to combine dance-pop with R&B was demonstrated by songs like "Dead Man Runnin'" and "Bad Boy, Sad Girl." Inspired by movies like Joker, Seulgi wrote the lyrics for the album's title tune as part of his active creative involvement.
Seulgi is scheduled to make her solo debut with the publication of Accidentally On Purpose, her second mini-album, in March 2025. It is believed that this eagerly awaited endeavor will further highlight her development as an artist.

Other Ventures:

Seulgi is more than just a musician. She has advanced significantly as a model and is now in high demand as a brand ambassador. She joined Converse Korea as its first female ambassador in 2018 and has since collaborated with companies like Salvatore Ferragamo, Nike, Coca-Cola, L'Occitane, and Volkswagen. She was selected as the 2023 muse for the unisex streetwear brand Istkunst and the cosmetics company AMUSE.
Off to School (2015), King of Mask Singer (2016) as “Cinema Heaven,” Law of the Jungle in Mexico (2018), and Cool Kids (2018) as a co-host are just a few of the variety shows she has appeared on. She also starred as Dorothy in the 2015 holographic musical School Oz by SM Entertainment. She also worked with Wendy on a number of drama OSTs, including as "Don't Push Me" and "You're the Only One I See."
Seulgi's first cinematic photography exhibition, Nothing Special, But Special, debuted in 2024 and featured her own images along with a photobook. By the end of 2024, she had over 600,000 subscribers to her lifestyle, fashion, and hobby-focused YouTube channel, Hi Seulgi.

2025 Net Worth:

As of 2025, Seulgi’s projected net worth is roughly $4 million USD. Her work with Red Velvet, her solo music career, brand sponsorships, and TV appearances are the sources of her riches. Her financial situation has been greatly influenced by her lucrative agreements with well-known companies like Salvatore Ferragamo, Converse, and Volkswagen, as well as by the sales of her solo record and Red Velvet's international success. Seulgi's diverse career and increasing impact are reflected in her net worth.

Personal Life and Interests:

Seulgi is renowned for her serene and reflective nature, and she frequently uses journaling, eating with loved ones, or karaoke to decompress. She loves painting and playing the guitar, and she is passionate about film photography. Her tone-on-tone style and partnerships with high-end brands demonstrate her passion for fashion. Seulgi mentions Britney Spears' "Everytime" as a pivotal song in her life and states that romantic comedies are her favorite genre of films. She has stated that she looks up to Beyoncé as an inspiration and hopes to work with her fellow SM Entertainment label members in the future.
As of 2025, Seulgi is still unmarried and has no verified relationships. Seulgi clarified that she sees model Julien Kang as a brotherly figure, dispelling previous suspicions that she was related to BTS's Jimin and Kang. Her work and artistic development continue to be her top priorities.