Oh Hye-rin (born May 7, 1989),[1] better known by her stage name Raina, is a South Korean singer. She is best known as a former member of the South Korean girl group After School and member of the sub-unit Orange Caramel. Raina debuted with the group in November 2009 following the release of the group's third single, "Because of You".[2] She debuted as a solo singer in September 2014 with the single "You End, And Me".

Raina
Raina in July 2021
Raina in July 2021
Background information
Born (1989-05-07) May 7, 1989 (age 35)
Ulsan, South Korea
Genres
OccupationSinger
Years active2009–present
LabelsAer Music
Formerly of
Korean name
Hangul
오혜린
Hanja
吳惠麟
Revised RomanizationO Hye-rin
McCune–ReischauerO Hye-rin
Stage name
Hangul
레이나
Revised RomanizationReina
McCune–ReischauerReina

Career

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Predebut

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Raina tried to audition with JYP Entertainment to become a rapper before joining Pledis Entertainment.[3] Before debut, Raina was a barista at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. She also previously auditioned for Mnet's Superstar K and was a student at the SM Academy. Raina is considered to be one of the best vocalists among idol girl groups in South Korea.[4]

2009–2014: Debut with After School and Orange Caramel

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Raina officially debuted with After School for the release of their second single, "Because of You", which attained No. 1 on the Gaon Digital Chart and won the "triple crown" on SBS Inkigayo. She debuted in After School's sub-unit Orange Caramel on June 18, 2010, on KBS Music Bank with the song "Magic Girl".[5] She released her first solo single for the My Shining Girl OST in February 2012. Raina has written lyrics for Orange Caramel's "Still..." and "In this Place". Raina also wrote the lyrics for After School's "Love Love Love" and "Timeless".

2014–present: Solo career

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On June 12, 2014, Raina and rapper San E released an R&B duet called "A Midsummer Night's Sweetness".[6] The collaboration topped all major music charts in South Korea soon after it was released, and it was No. 4 on the year-end Gaon Digital Chart.[7]

In October 2014, Raina became the first After School member to make a solo debut with the release her solo single titled "Reset", which was released on October 8.[8] The single consists of title track "You End, and Me" and b-side track "Repertoire".[9]

 
Raina performing in 2015

Raina released her second digital single titled "I Don't Know" on November 24, 2015.

On June 16, 2016, Raina and rapper San E released their second duet, called "Sugar and Me".

On June 5, 2017, Raina released her third OST titled When Rain Falls for MBC's drama Lookout; fellow After School member E-young participated in lyric-writing, composition and arrangement for the track. Raina released her first single album, Loop on July 31. The single album contains three tracks, with title track "Loop" featuring NU'EST's Aron.

In August 2018, Raina released the single "It's Okay" as part of a project single with producer Bumzu. Subsequently, on September 5, 2018, Raina's soundtrack single entitled "Home" was released as the fifth OST for SBS' drama Your Honor. On December 17, 2019, it was shared that Raina had left Pledis following the expiration of her contract.[10]

Following her departure from Pledis, Raina has yet to join an agency. In April 2020 Raina participated in her first project since leaving Pledis as a member of the X-MAS project in which she released her version of Lena Park's "Ann" (앤).[11] To much excitement of fans, Raina released her next OST for KBS's Once Again alongside former Myteen member and Produce X 101 contestant Song Yuvin, called "Love is Danger".[12] Since then, Raina has been announced as part of the line-up for MBN's female idol revival show Miss Back hosted by Baek Ji-young.[13]

On December 4, 2021, Raina signed a contract with Aer Music.[14]

Discography

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Single albums

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Title Album details Peak chart positions
KOR
[15]
Reset
Track listing
  1. You End, And Me (장난인거 알아) (feat. Kanto)
  2. Repertoire (레파토리)
Loop
  • Released: July 31, 2017
  • Label: Pledis Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, digital download
Track listing
  1. Loop (밥 영화 카페) feat. Aron of NU'EST
  2. Your Day (맡겨줘)
  3. Treat You Better (같이 있고 싶어)
41
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Singles

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Title Year Peak chart
positions
Sales (DL) Album
KOR
[16]
"A Midsummer Night's Sweetness"
(with San E)
2014 1 Non-album single
"You End, And Me" (장난인거 알아)
(feat. Kanto)
25
  • KOR: 142,407
Reset
"Don't Know" (모르겠다) 2015 69 Non-album singles
"Sugar and Me" (달고나)
(with San E)
2016 5
  • KOR: 454,350
"Loop" (밥 영화 카페)
(feat. Aron of NU'EST)
2017 55 Loop
"It's Okay" (작아지는 중) 2018 Non-album single
"Ann" () 2020 X-MAS Project Vol.3
"Piggyback Ride" (어부바)
(with Nada)
MBN Miss Back Part.2
"tantara"
(with Nada & Soyul (Crayon Pop))
MBN Miss Back Part.4
"Winter Fantasy"
with Dalsooobin, Sera, Gayoung, Soyul (Crayon Pop), Nada & Jung Yujin (The Ark)
MBN Miss Back Part.5
"Can We Break Up?" (헤어질 수 있을까)
with Junggigo
2021 [a] MBN Miss Back Part.7
"Finale"
with Sera, Dalsooobin, Gayoung, Soyul (Crayon Pop), Nada & Jung Yujin (The Ark)
MBN Miss Back Part.9
"We Are The One"
with Sera, Dalsooobin, Gayoung, Soyul (Crayon Pop), Nada & Jung Yujin (The Ark)
"A Midsummer Night's Sweetness: Summer Again"
(with San E)
2021 68 A Midsummer Night's Sweetness: Summer Again (TEN PROJECT Part.3)
"Morning Aroma" (아침향기) 2022 Project 'Hwaeum': Morning Scent with Raina
"Just like us back then" (그때 우리처럼) 2023 [b] Non-album single
Soundtrack appearances
"Glowing" (자체발광)
(feat. Man Seong)
2012 97 Glowing She OST Part 2
"Faraway"
"Stay Weird Stay Different" (이상하자)
(with Hanhae, feat. Verbal Jint)
2015 Stay Weird Stay Different OST
"When Rain Falls" (주르륵) 2017 The Guardians OST Part 3
"Home" 2018 Your Honor OST Part 5
"LOVE IS DANGER"
(with Song Yuvin)
2020 Once Again OST Part 4
"Waiting For You " (오늘 연락해) 2021 How to Be Thirty OST Part 1
"Endless Night" (끝나지 않는 밤) 2022 Café Minamdang OST Part 3
"Angel Wings" (그린나래) 2023 Oh! Youngsim OST Part 3
"Enduring Long And Clumsily" (한참을 서툴고 한참을 견디며) CEO-dol Mart OST Part 3
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Other songs

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Title Year Album
"Allday Allnight" (볼래)
(with Jakops, ₩uNo, Day Day)
2015 XXX Digital Single
"Forgotten Season" (잊혀진 계절) King of Mask Singer Volume 34
"You in My Imagination" (상상 속의 너)
(with Lizzy)
2016 Two Yoo Project Sugar Man Part 13
"By My Side" Melody to Masterpiece Track 1
"Jingle Jingle Jingle Bells" (징글징글징글벨)
(feat. Z.NU)
Sing For You
"Once" (한 때)
(Bumzu feat. Raina)
2017 Non-album single
"When autumn comes" (가을이 오면) 2019 Project 10
"Merry Merry Christmas Day" (메리메리크리스마스데이)
(among Aer Music artists)
2021 2021 Christmas Story

Theater

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Year Title Role Ref.
2022 Again, Oh Hae-Young Oh Hae-young [22]

Awards and nominations

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Mnet Asian Music Awards

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Year Nominee / work Award Result
2014 San E & Raina – "A Midsummer Night's Sweetness" Song of the Year[23] Nominated
Best Collaboration[23] Nominated

Melon Music Awards

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Year Nominee / work Award Result
2014
[24]
San E & Raina – "A Midsummer Night's Sweetness" Song of the Year Nominated
Hot Trend Award Nominated
Rap/Hip Hop Won

Golden Disc Awards

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Year Nominee / work Award Result
2015 San E & Raina – "A Midsummer Night's Sweetness" Digital Bonsang Nominated

Seoul Music Awards

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Year Nominee / work Award Result
2014 San E & Raina – "A Midsummer Night's Sweetness" Hip Hop/Rap Award Won

Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards

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Year Nominee / work Award Result
2014 San E & Raina – "A Midsummer Night's Sweetness" Artist of the Year – July Won

Notes

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  1. ^ "Can We Break Up?" did not enter Gaon Digital Chart, but peaked at number 106 on the component Gaon Download Chart.[20]
  2. ^ "Just like us back then" did not enter Circle Digital Chart, but peaked at number 107 on the component Circle Download Chart.[21]

References

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  1. ^ "Profile After School" (in Japanese). Avex Japan. Archived from the original on August 3, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  2. ^ "Introducing After School's new member, Raina". Allkpop.com. November 18, 2009. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved July 31, 2012.
  3. ^ Arirang Radio interview April 2, 2014 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIVw9z5IIls
  4. ^ "걸그룹 가창력 서열 공개, "1위는 씨스타 효린!"". February 25, 2012.
  5. ^ "[Video] Orange Caramel debuts with "Magic Girl" on today Music Bank". Dkpopnews.net. June 18, 2010. Retrieved July 31, 2012.
  6. ^ Benjamin, Jeff (June 13, 2014). "San E & After School's Raina Serve Addictive Melodies in 'A Midsummer Night's Sweetness'". Billboard. Retrieved February 16, 2015.
  7. ^ "2014 Digital Chart". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Archived from the original on February 3, 2015. Retrieved February 16, 2015.
  8. ^ Park Gyu-oh (September 29, 2014). "After School's Raina to go solo". K-Pop Herald. Retrieved February 16, 2015.
  9. ^ Hong, Grace Danbi (October 8, 2014). "After School's Raina Says to Stop Fooling Around in You End, And Me MV with Troy's Kanto". enewsWorld. Mwave. Archived from the original on October 15, 2014. Retrieved February 16, 2015.
  10. ^ "레이나, 10년 몸담은 플레디스 떠난다 "재계약 않기로"(공식입장 전문)".
  11. ^ "레이나, 박정현 '앤' 재해석..X-Mas 프로젝트 3번째 주인공".
  12. ^ "송유빈X레이나, '한 번 다녀왔습니다' Ost 참여". June 8, 2020.
  13. ^ "티아라 소연→와썹 나다·소율, '미쓰백' 라인업 확정 [공식]".
  14. ^ Kim Na-young (December 4, 2021). "아에르뮤직, 서인국·레이나·남영주 전속계약…"함께 성장할 것" (공식)" [Aer Music, Seo In-guk, Raina, Nam Young-joo signed exclusive contracts… “We will grow together” (Official)] (in Korean). MK Sports. Retrieved December 4, 2021 – via Naver.
  15. ^ "Gaon Album Chart". Gaon Music Chart.
  16. ^ "Gaon Digital Chart". Gaon Music Chart.
  17. ^ "2014 Download Chart". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Archived from the original on February 14, 2015. Retrieved February 16, 2015.
  18. ^ "2015 Download Chart".
  19. ^ Total downloads for "Loop":
  20. ^ 2021년 02주차 Download Chart.
  21. ^ "Download Chart 2023 Weeks 06".
  22. ^ Jeon Hee-yeon (January 13, 2022). "뮤지컬 '또!오해영' 3월 8일 개막…손호영→SF9 재윤 캐스팅 [공식]" [Musical ‘Again! Hae-Young Oh’ opens on March 8th… Son Ho-young → SF9 Jae-yoon Casting [Official]] (in Korean). Sports Donga. Retrieved January 13, 2022 – via Naver.
  23. ^ a b "MAMA vote 2014". Mwave. Archived from the original on October 27, 2014. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
  24. ^ "2014 MelOn Music Awards". MelOn. LOEN Entertainment. Archived from the original on November 1, 2014. Retrieved November 1, 2014.
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