Lim Jeong-hee (; born May 17, 1981), also known as J-Lim, is a South Korean singer who debuted in 2005 under JYP Entertainment. One of her notable performances in 2005 was the 5th Pattaya Music Festival in Thailand, which helped promote and expose her to the foreign music industry. She was signed under Big Hit Music in 2012 and left the company in 2015, going on to join her current agency, Oscar ENT.
Biography When she was in high school Lim participated in a song contest for teens held by the Seoul government and won the grand prize. The experience of competing in the song contest and winning the top prize led Lim to enter college to study popular music.
Career She signed with JYP Entertainment. Even before she had her official debut, Lim held countless street performances on her own which led to the creation of her multiple fan clubs.
Lim debuted in 2005 with her first album Music is My Life.
Her third album, Before I Go, J-Lim, made headlines for featuring Big Boi from Outkast who also appeared in the music video. On May 8, 2011, she released a music video featuring G.NA, Hyuna and comedian Park Hwi Soon called "Golden Lady". On May 12, 2011, she made her comeback performance on M Countdown with her single "Golden Lady". On July 2, 2011, she announced that she had been cast as the female lead for the musical Temptation of Wolves and would be tackling the challenge of her first musical. From July 12 to October 3, Lim Jeong Hee played Jung Hankyung, a charming girl who's caught between two different guys for her love. On November 20, 2011, she announced that she was Brian McKnight's duet partner for his twelfth album JUST ME. She stated, "It's a huge honor to be standing on the same stage as world-renowned R&B legend, Brian McKnight". In 2011, she also appeared on tvN's survival program Opera Star 2011, where she made it to the semi-finals.
Personal life On October 3, 2023, Lim married ballet dancer Kim Hee-hyun, a former soloist at the Korea National Ballet, in Seoul after dating for a year. Lim announced her pregnancy on May 29, 2025. On September 8, 2025, Lim gave birth to a son named Ha-im.
Discography Studio albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales KORMusic is My LifeReleased: June 10, 2005 Label: JYP Entertainment Format: CD, cassette 20KOR: 14,837+ThanksReleased: March 24, 2006 Label: JYP Entertainment Format: CD, cassette 8KOR: 29,995+Before I Go, J-LimReleased: October 4, 2007 Label: JYP Entertainment, Big Hit Entertainment Format: CD 15KOR: 18,330+
Extended plays Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales KORIt Can't Be RealReleased: September 30, 2010 Label: JYP Entertainment, Big Hit Entertainment Format: CD, digital download 22 Golden LadyReleased: May 9, 2011 Label: JYP Entertainment, Big Hit Entertainment Format: CD, digital download 15KOR: 1,341+
Singles Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Album KORGaon Digital Chart positions for singles:
"Tears That Didn't Fall": "On The Way To Break Up With You": "It Can't Be Real": "Himawari": "Golden Lady": "Luv Is": "Feel So Good": "Crazy": Gaon Digital Chart positions for collaborations:
"Beautiful You": "It's Been A Long Time": "Like A Movie": "Perfect Christmas": "There Is No Love": As lead artist "Music Is My Life" 2005 — Music Is My Life "Tears That Didn't Fall" () 30 KOR: 208,004 "Don't Go, My Love" () 2006 —Thanks "Trace" () — "Madly in Love" () 2007 —Before I Go, J-Lim "Heaven Breeze" () — "On The Way To Break Up With You" () 2010 3 KOR: 1,453,729 It Can't Be Real "It Can't Be Real" () 5 KOR: 1,423,854 "Himawari" (Sunflower / 해바라기) 2011 44 KOR: 211,173 "Golden Lady" 4 KOR: 1,602,615 Golden Lady "Luv Is" 2013 7KOR: 458,553Cumulative sales of "Luv Is":
rowspan="5" "Feel So Good" 23KOR: 188,686 "Crazy" 2016 93 KOR: 18,931 "I.O.U" — "The Christmas Day" 2017 — Collaborations "Beautiful You" () 2010 11 rowspan="5" "It's Been A Long Time" () 2013 31 "Like A Movie" () 53 "Perfect Christmas" 45 "There Is No Love" () 2014 63"—" denotes releases that did not chart.
Soundtrack appearances Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Album KORGaon Digital Chart positions for soundtrack appearances:
"I Can't Love You": "If You Turn Back Time": "Filament": "Don't Love Me": "Poison Love": "I'll Be There": "Scent of a Flower": "It Hurts, It Hurts": "I Can't Love You" () 2010 81 Smile, Mom OST Part 3 "If You Turn Back Time" () 2011 40 Royal Family OST Part 3 "Filament" () 2012 42 Wild Romance OST Part 1 "Don't Love Me" () 34 Five Fingers OST Part 1 "Poison Love" () 2013 52 Don't Look Back: The Legend of Orpheus OST "I'll Be There" () 65 Medical Top Team OST Part 4 "Scent of a Flower" () 2014 24 Emergency Couple OST Part 2 "It Hurts, It Hurts" () 2015 85 Super Daddy Yeol OST Part 4 "Hope" () 2016 — My Lawyer, Mr. Jo OST Part 3 "Distressed" () — Secret Healer OST Part 3 "The Coat" () 2017 — Two Cops OST Part 6 "Black Diamond" 2019 —Graceful Family OST Part 1 "My Song" 2023 —Live Your Own Life OST Part 1"—" denotes releases that did not chart.
Awards and nominations + Name of the award ceremony, year presented, award category, nominee of the award and the result of the nominationAward ceremonyYearCategoryNominee / WorkResultGolden Disc Awards2005Best New Artist"Music Is My Life"Mnet Asian Music Awards2005Best New Artist2006Best R&B Performance"Trace"
References