By Jay Kwon
Meet rising K-pop girl group UNIS, and get to know their Filipino-Korean leader, Hyeonju.
Born on November 3, 2001, in Naju, South Korea, Jin Hyeon Ju — also known by her stage names Hyeonju, Belle, and Lucky — was raised by a Korean father and a Filipina mother from Davao, Philippines.
Hyeonju’s passion for performing started young. She loved dancing at local events and later trained at a singing and dancing academy. Some of her earliest memories include dancing with friends and creating joyful moments that sparked her dream of becoming an idol.
Despite growing up in Korea, Hyeonju’s mom kept her Filipino culture alive — serving pancit and Filipino-style spaghetti, celebrating Filipino Christmases, and introducing her to classic dishes like adobo, her favorite. Hyeonju has visited the Philippines several times and proudly shares her roots.
Supported endlessly by her parents, Hyeonju auditioned multiple times before getting recruited, with her childhood goal always fixed on becoming an idol.
Hyeonju didn’t start her idol career the way she hoped. She debuted as the lead dancer, vocalist, and maknae (youngest member) of GOOD DAY under C9 Entertainment, using the stage name Lucky. The group debuted with the track “Rolly.”
Soon after, she joined the survival show The UNIT, where she placed No. 24 and was eliminated in Episode 13. Although she didn’t make the final lineup, her charm and positivity captured attention from both fans and judges.
Sadly, GOOD DAY quietly disbanded in 2019 without an official statement.
But her idol journey didn’t end there. In 2020, C9’s sub-label J9 Entertainment announced Hyeonju would debut with a new girl group: cignature, alongside members Chaesol, Jeewon, Ye Ah, Seline, Sunn, and Semi.
Their February 2020 debut with “Nun Nu Nan Na” gained attention, especially among Filipino fans proud of Belle’s (Hyeonju’s) heritage. This was followed by ASSA and the viral Arisong, known for its experimental, high-energy style.
After Ye Ah and Sunn’s departure, the group went on hiatus. In 2021, Chloe and DoHee were added to the lineup. With “Boyfriend,” they returned with a stronger, more emotional concept, followed by their second mini-album. Yet, another quiet period followed.
Eventually, they made a solid return with their third mini-album, “My Little Aurora,” featuring the wintery title track Aurora. It sold over 8,000 copies — a high point for the group at the time.
Just when fans thought her path was set, Belle (Hyeonju) surprised everyone by joining another survival show: Universe Ticket. As one of the oldest contestants, she naturally stood out for her leadership, vocals, and charisma.
Throughout the show, Hyeonju was frequently selected to lead group missions. She also bonded with fellow Filipino contestants Elisia, Gehlee Dangca, and Aya Natsumi (eliminated in Episode 6).
In the final, Elisia was chosen first by the judges, Gehlee earned over two million fan votes, and Hyeonju secured her spot in UNIS with nearly 500,000 votes, making her one of the final 8 debut members.
Hyeonju debuted in UNIS alongside Nana, Gehlee, Yoona, Kotoko, Yunha, Elisia, and Seowon. The group will be promoting for 2 years and 6 months.
Their debut track We UNIS from the mini-album “SUPERWOMAN” sold 60,000 copies — a strong start that drew attention worldwide, especially from the Filipino community.
Thanks to their growing success, F&F Entertainment organized a fan meeting in the Philippines, helping expand their reach even more.
Their comeback, CURIOUS, marked a new high — selling 60,000+ copies in the first week, and reaching 70,000 total sales in South Korea so far.
In celebration of this success, F&F held another two-day fan event in Cebu and Manila. Despite coinciding with typhoon season, thousands attended. On top of the performances, F&F announced they would donate a portion of the proceeds to Typhoon Kristine victims.
“We would like to send a message of comfort to those who were affected by the typhoon. UNIS will be donating a part of the income from the fan concert to those who were affected. We hope that there will be not much damage to those who were affected.”
— UNIS Hyeonju
Thanks to their growing fanbase and steady momentum, UNIS has started winning awards and even a daesang (grand prize) — making them the fastest girl group to win one.
Most recently, F&F Entertainment confirmed UNIS will have their third comeback in April after a seven-month break and an Asian tour, sending fans into a frenzy online.
