Rei (IVE) Biography, Background, Education, Net Worth 2025, and Career

Profile:

Full Name: Naoi Rei (直井 怜)

Stage Name: Rei (레이)

Korean Name: Kim Rei (김 레이)

Date of Birth: February 3, 2004

Age: 21 (as of 2025)

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Chinese Zodiac Sign: Monkey

Nationality: Japanese

Rei's unique voice, incisive rapping, and multifaceted talent distinguish her stage presence. She adds a certain Japanese flavor to the group's dynamic as the lead rapper and vocalist for IVE, which helps explain their appeal on a global scale. Fans known as DIVE like her because of her warm and friendly attitude, which is reflected in her nicknames, which include "Darling," "Reyomi," and "Kirei."

Background:

Although Anan, Tokushima, is mentioned in some sources, Rei was born in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. She grew up in a close-knit family with an elder brother and sister (born in 2002). Her parents, who are known as Mr. and Mrs. Naoi, have kept their family life private and out of the spotlight. Jay Park, Lee Hi, and Red Velvet were among the musicians who naturally exposed Rei to music and performance at a young age. Her decision to pursue a career as a K-pop idol was motivated by their "Red Room" concert.
She has a shy but inquisitive nature during her early years. Rei was a shy child who frequently sobbed when strangers came up to her. Her passions, however, were sketching, collecting butterflies and roses, and conjuring up fantastical worlds like zombie apocalypses or toys that came to life. Her songwriting, especially her rap lines, was later impacted by these artistic endeavors. Rei's decision to try out for a K-pop agency was a turning point in her life, and her passion of music was apparent from a young age.
When Rei was fourteen years old, her older sister enrolled her in the "Loen Friends Global Audition" in Japan in April 2018, which marked the beginning of her journey to South Korea. Rei's confidence and innate talent won her a seat with Starship Entertainment despite her lack of training. She relocated to Seoul in May 2018, adjusting to a new language and culture while immersing herself in the demanding world of K-pop training.

Education:

Rei's dedication to striking a balance between her intellectual and artistic endeavors is evident throughout her scholastic path. She went to Tamagawa Gakuen Elementary School in Japan. She focused in music at Seoul Performing Arts Seoguk High School after relocating to South Korea at the age of 14. Her IVE bandmate Yujin also attended this esteemed university, which gave Rei a solid foundation in performing and vocal abilities. Rei performed exceptionally well, passing Level 4 of the Korean Proficiency Test (TOPIK), in spite of the difficulties she faced studying Korean and adjusting to a new setting. She deliberately avoided utilizing translators during her trainee days in order to fully immerse herself in the language, demonstrating her commitment to learning Korean.

Career:

Pre-Debut and Training:

When Rei started working as a trainee for Starship Entertainment in 2018, her journey to fame officially began. She made the audacious and incredibly courageous decision to leave Japan at the age of 14 in order to follow her goal in South Korea. Rei demonstrated her versatility by honing her singing, rapping, and dancing abilities during the course of her three years of training. She became close to fellow trainee Liz, with whom she shared a room in the hostel, and they relied on one another to get through the difficult trainee phase. Rei's ability to write rap rhymes in English, Korean, and Japanese made her stand out and prepared the way for her to become the primary rapper for IVE.

Debut with IVE:

Rei joined Yujin, Gaeul, Wonyoung, Liz, and Leeseo as the fifth member of IVE, the new female group from Starship Entertainment, which was announced on November 6, 2021. The group's single album, Eleven, which included the title track "Eleven" and the b-side "Take It," was released on December 1, 2021. With Eleven at the top of the charts and IVE becoming a prominent fourth-generation K-pop group, the debut was an enormous success. Rei immediately became well-known for her rap verses and captivating stage appearance, and she was praised for giving the group's sound a distinctive edge.
Love Dive (2022), After Like (2022), and I AM (2023) were among IVE's later releases that cemented its dominance on a global scale. In order to demonstrate her creative input, Rei wrote lyrics for a number of songs, such as "Love Dive," "After Like," "Hypnosis," "Not Your Girl," and "Next Page." Fans responded favorably to her ability to write accessible and uplifting lyrics, which strengthened IVE's thematic emphasis on self-assurance and independence.

Solo Ventures and Hiatus:

Rei briefly stopped participating in group activities in 2023 because of health issues, such as stuffiness and palpitations in her heart. She concentrated on getting better during this time and came back stronger, starring in her own reality show Follow Rei?, which ran on YouTube from May 11 to June 22, 2023. Fans were given a taste of her personality through the performance, which highlighted her warmth, humor, and inventiveness.
Rei kept up her impressive performance in 2025, both with IVE and on her own. The group's single "Rebel Heart" and extended play "IVE Empathy" reached the top of the charts, and their third fan show, "IVE SCOUT," attracted enormous crowds in Japan and South Korea. Rei's rising versatility in the entertainment world was further highlighted when she made waves as an MC at the Asia Star Entertainer Awards (ASEA) 2025. To further highlight her diverse skill set, she also performed on variety shows including Sixth Sense City Tour and House of Doggy Luxury, and she sang songs like "Luther" and "Kiss."

Endorsements and Media Presence:

As a 2022 inspiration for companies like Bonajour, FCMM, and Peach C, Rei has been in high demand for endorsements. She solidified her reputation as a fashion and beauty icon by appearing in magazines like ARENA (2022) and COSMOPOLITAN (2023). Her engaging stage presence has been demonstrated by the millions of views her performances, including face-cam appearances at events like SBS Inkigayo and the 2025 Koryo University Festival, have received.

Rei Net Worth 2025:

It is projected that Rei will have a net worth of $1 million to $5 million in 2025. This sum represents the money she makes as an IVE member from brand endorsements, music sales, concert tours, and other business ventures. A large portion of IVE's revenue comes from her international popularity, which includes sold-out performances and collaborations with high-end companies. Each member's financial situation is improved by IVE's multimillion-dollar brand worth as a whole, yet individual profits differ depending on things like songwriting or solo endorsements.

Personal Life and Fun Facts:

Rei's shy but humorous demeanor is well-known, and her bandmate Wonyoung frequently describes her as too protective in a loving manner. She likes to read (Pride and Prejudice is one of her favorites), watch scary movies, and eat Japanese sweets that her mother sends her. Her passion for food is well known, especially her fondness of Hawaiian pizza, udon, and strawberry-flavored sweets. Rei's artistic side is shown in her interests, which include jewelry-making, drawing, and collecting goods with butterfly themes.
Although she cheerfully acknowledges that she finds jogging difficult, she is left-handed, extremely flexible, and an excellent swimmer and skier. Rei's friendly relationships within the industry are shown by her close ties with idols such as Dayeon of Kep1er and Dayoung of ex-YOURS. Her distinct attractiveness is enhanced by the fact that fans frequently point out how much she resembles actress Nishino Nanase and SHINee's Minho.

Discography Highlights

With IVE:

Eleven (2021) – Single Album

Love Dive (2022) – Single Album

After Like (2022) – Single Album

IVE Empathy (2025) – Extended Play

Rebel Heart (2025) – Single

Solo Works

U-utsu (from Tōmei na Fusen)

Kyōkan Sarenakute mo Ii Janai (from Ao wo Ikiru)

Covers: “Luther” (2025), “Kiss” (2024), “Hiiigh” (English ver., 2022), “Solo” (2022)