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

Profile:

Full Name: Kim Ga-eul (김가을)

Stage Name: Gaeul (가을)

English Name: Demi Kim

Nickname(s): Sloth, Grandma

Date of Birth: September 24, 2002

Age: 22 years old

Place of Birth: Bupyeong-gu, Incheon, South Korea

Nationality: South Korean

Gaeul is the oldest member of IVE, a six-person K-pop girl group that made its debut on December 1, 2021. Her name means "fall" in Korean. Her English name, Demi Kim, is sometimes spoken in fan circles, and her stage name corresponds to the season in which she was born. Gaeul, who is well-known for her composed manner and diligent work ethic, has gained the loving nicknames "Sloth" for her laid-back off-stage behavior and "Grandma" for her mature, caring role among her other group members.

Background:

Gaeul was born on September 24, 2002, in Bupyeong-gu, Incheon, South Korea, into an ethnically Korean household. Like many K-pop idols, she grew up in a loving family with her parents and an older brother, though specifics about her family are kept confidential. Her early interest in the performing arts was fostered by the rich cultural environment she experienced while growing up in the busy port city of Incheon. Gaeul's love of dancing, which would eventually serve as the foundation of her career, was evident from an early age. The strong feeling of community that has influenced her personal life is reflected in her tight relationship with her IVE members, whom she views as an extended family.
Reading mystery books and watching scary movies are two of Gaeul's pastimes, which demonstrate her curiosity and spirit of adventure. She is noted for her guarded yet warm nature, often described by her bandmate Yujin as someone who works diligently without mood swings. Her capacity to create enduring relationships in the cutthroat K-pop industry is demonstrated by her friendship with former HINAPIA member Bada, which she developed during her trainee days.

Education:

Gaeul's scholastic path demonstrates her dedication to striking a balance between her studies and her developing entertainment profession. She attended Incheon Buwon Elementary School, where she first explored her passion in performance through school activities. She joined the school's dance club at Bupyeongseo Girls' Middle School to further her education, hone her abilities, and cultivate her love of choreography. Later, while preparing for her future as a K-pop trainee, Gaeul continued to take part in dance-related events at Bupyeong Girls’ High School. Her rigorous training schedule with Starship Entertainment prevented her from pursuing higher education, but her participation in school dance groups gave her a solid basis for her career as the lead dancer for IVE.

Career:

Training and Pre-Debut:

In 2017, Gaeul started her career in entertainment as a trainee with Starship Entertainment. For three or four years, she trained hard, concentrating on rap, dancing, and vocals. She honed her performance abilities and established a solid foundation in choreography during this time, which would eventually set her apart as IVE's principal dancer. She was recognized by the agency for her hard work during her trainee years, and on November 4, 2021, she was announced as IVE's second member, after leader Yujin.

Make your debut with IVE IVE, which consists of Yujin, Wonyoung, Gaeul, Liz, Rei, and Leeseo, made their debut with the single album Eleven on December 1, 2021. "Eleven," the title tune, was a financial triumph, reaching the top of the Gaon Albums Chart in South Korea and receiving platinum certification. Fans were immediately drawn to Gaeul's strong rap verses and slick dancing, which made her a vital part of the group's exciting live performances. Love Dive (2022) and After Like (2022), two of IVE's later albums, further cemented their supremacy in the K-pop scene, with Gaeul's skills as a rapper and dancer receiving a lot of recognition.

Songwriting and Creative Contributions:

In addition to performing, Gaeul has contributed to the music of IVE, showcasing her versatility. She wrote the lyrics to a number of songs, including "Royal" (Love Dive, 2022). - Composing the rap song "Kitsch" (I've IVE, 2023) - Composing the rap song "Hypnosis" (I've IVE, 2023) "Not Your Girl" (I've IVE, 2023) is being written. "Next Page" writing (I've IVE, 2023) "Supernova Love" (Supernova Love, 2024) is being written. Composing

Her poetic contributions demonstrate her inventiveness and capacity to mold IVE's sound.

Media Appearances and Endorsements:

Through a number of media appearances, Gaeul has increased her visibility outside of the music industry. She costarred with Leeseo on King of Masked Singer (MBC, episodes 400–401) and with Rei on I Can See Your Voice 10 (Mnet, episode 125) in 2023. She also appeared on the web series Narae Style (YouTube, episodes 20, 2025) alongside Rei and Han Moon-chul's Black Box Review (JTBC, episode 26). Her charm and range as an entertainer were on full display during these engagements.
Gaeul has represented IVE in well-known brand endorsements as a member, such as SK Telecom, Papa John's Pizza, and the 2023 Pepsi Project. These collaborations have helped increase Gaeul's prominence in the sector and IVE's worldwide visibility.

Awards and Achievements:

Several honors have been given to Gaeul in recognition of his achievements to IVE, including: 2022 Best New Female Artist at the MAMA Awards
2023 Best Group Dance Performance at the Seoul Music Awards
Song Division Bonsang (Love Dive) won the 2023 Golden Disc Awards.
Top 10 Artists of the Year at the 2024 Melon Music Awards

These honors are a testament to IVE's quick ascent to stardom and Gaeul's crucial contribution to the group's success.

Gaeul Net Worth 2025:

Her estimated net worth as of 2025 is between $1 million and $5 million. Her income from IVE's music sales, concert tours, brand endorsements, and other group endeavors is included in this estimation. However, considering the group's comparatively brief career period, these numbers seem speculative and less trustworthy.
Gaeul has benefited greatly from IVE's economic success, which includes chart-topping albums and rich endorsement deals. Her individual earnings, however, are probably split between group activities as a member of a group, with extra money coming from her media appearances and songwriting credits.

Personal Life:

In order to preserve their privacy and concentrate on their jobs, K-pop stars frequently keep their personal lives hidden, like Gaeul is well known for doing. In keeping with Starship Entertainment's custom of prohibiting its artists in their early stages of success from dating, she is now unmarried and no publicly available information indicates that she is in a personal relationship. Gaeul has a strong relationship with her IVE members—she frequently refers to them as family—and is a dependable member of the group because of her caring nature. Her interests in horror films and mystery books reveal something about her inquisitive and introspective personality.

Controversies:

Although there have been few conflicts with Gaeul, in 2023, some fans expressed displeasure over her sparse vocal lines in various IVE songs, which led to debates regarding the group's role distribution. Although Starship Entertainment addressed these issues by highlighting the group's cooperative style, the controversy brought attention to more general discussions around equity in K-pop dynamics. Furthermore, the agency and group swiftly refuted reports of conflict between Gaeul and another IVE member after a viral footage from a live broadcast surfaced, reaffirming their close friendship. Gaeul is still regarded as a respected member of the K-pop community, and these episodes haven't had a big effect on her reputation.

Social Media:

As of 2025, Gaeul had almost 1.6 million followers on Instagram, where she is active under the account @gaeul. She connects with people all over the world by using the platform to share behind-the-scenes photos, personal thoughts, and updates about IVE's operations. Gaeul's contributions are also featured on IVE's official social media sites, including as Instagram and Twitter, which increases her visibility even more.

Discography:

Gaeul has worked on the following releases as an IVE member:
I Am (2023) Off The Record (2024) After Like (2022) Eleven (2021) Love Dive (2022)

Her songwriting credits, especially in rap and lyrical composition, have enhanced IVE's discography and demonstrated her versatility.

Fun Facts and Trivia:

Gaeul's stage name, which means "fall," is a reflection of the fact that she was born in September, which is South Korea's fall season.
She spent more time training under Starship Entertainment than other of her bandmates—four years—which helped her hone her performance abilities.
Gaeul and Bada, a former member of HINAPIA, were great friends while she was still a trainee.
She is renowned for having a composed and stable demeanor, and her bandmate Yujin has praised her for her diligence and consistency.
Gaeul's love of suspense and narrative is reflected in her favorite pastimes, which include reading mystery novels and viewing horror films.