Jo Yong-jin (; born November 20, 1984), known professionally as Ali (), is a South Korean singer, songwriter, pianist, musical artist, radio host and professor in applied musical arts at the Seoul Technical Arts College. Following her debut in 2009, she was primarily recognized for her time as a contestant on the KBS program Immortal Songs 2.
Career ALi debuted as a singer in 2009, and gained fame for her appearances on music shows, most notably Immortal Songs 2 on KBS2 and King of Mask Singer on MBC. Currently, ALi has the highest score and most wins for a female artist on Immortal Songs 2, hence her being known as the "madam of Immortal Songs". She also worked as a professor in applied musical arts at the Seoul Technical Arts College.
As a professor, ALi has taught BtoB members, Changsub and Hyunsik, as well as renowned singer Kim Feel.
ALi released her first album SOULri in December 2011, two years after her official debut. One released track, "Na Young", garnered immediate controversy as it referenced a sexual assault case that had become publicly known in South Korea. Many detractors criticized the song for being insensitive to the subject of its lyrics. ALi later addressed this controversy by revealing that she herself was a survivor of sexual assault. Following the release of her album, she held her first independent concert. She was also a vocalist on several Leessang songs, including "Ballerino" and "I'm Not Laughing". She has also released several OSTs for Korean dramas, including "Hurt" ("상처") from "Rooftop Prince", "The Vow" from "Golden Rainbow" and "In My Dream" from "Empire of Gold".
Recently, Ali has made her musical debut in the Korean rendition of the musical Rebecca and started working on her own label, Soul Sting, and radio station. From her label, she produced her first duo group, Am:Pm, consisting of two of her students.
Personal life Ali's father is newspaper publisher Jo Myung-shik. She has one younger brother and one younger sister.
Ali married an office worker on May 11, 2019 in Seoul. She gave birth to a son in September 2019.
Discography Studio albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales KORStudio albums:
Extended plays:
Soul-Ri: A Village With Soul(영혼이 있는 마을) Released: December 13, 2011 Label: Yedang Entertainment Format: CD, digital download23KOR: 3,159Cumulative sales of Soul-Ri: A Village With Soul:
ALi Immortal Songs(ALi 불후의 명곡) Released: January 27, 2012 Label: Yedang Entertainment Format: CD, digital download20KOR: 1,720
Extended plays Title EP details Peak chart positions Sales KORAfter the Love Has Gone Released: October 8, 2009 Label: Trophy Entertainment Format: CD, digital downloadEraser (지우개) Released: January 30, 2013 Label: Yedang Entertainment Format: CD, digital download20KOR: 812Turning Point Released: November 12, 2014 Label: Juice Entertainment Format: CD, digital download14KOR: 1,192White Hole Released: October 15, 2015 Label: Sony Music Format: CD, digital download23KOR: 733Expand Released: November 16, 2017 Label: Juice Entertainment Format: CD, digital download72O Esca Viatorum (나그네의 양식) Released: July 22, 2020 Label: Soul Sting Format: CD, digital download
Singles Title Year Peak chart positions Album KOR
"365 Days" (365일)200943After The Love Has Gone"Hey Mr." (Hey 미스터)201081"The Unwritten Legend" (전설속의 누군가처럼)9520th Anniversary Shin Seung Hun"I Tried Everything" (별 짓 다해봤는데)201123rowspan="3" "Rice Bowl" (밥그릇)89"If I Confess, You'll be Surprised" (내가 고백을 하면 깜짝 놀랄거야)75"I'll Be Damned" (뭐 이런게 다 있어)11 Soul-Ri: A Village with Soul"Don't Act Countrified" (촌스럽게 굴지마)4"Selfish" (이기적이야)201333Eraser"Eraser" (지우개)11"Rainy Gomoryeong" (비 내리는 고모령)88"Do You Remember?" (그땐 그랬지)25Shaking Heart"I Love You"8 rowspan="5" "Because of Me" (나 때문에)201414"Tears Keep Falling" (자꾸 눈물이 납니다)33"What Is Luv"54"Let Me Say First" (여자가 먼저)69"Song Can't Lie" (노래는 거짓말을 못해요)90Turning Point"Pung Pung" (펑펑)22"As If Nothing Happened" (아무일 없었다는 듯)14 rowspan="2" "Goodbye Mr. Kim" (잘가요 Mr. Kim)2015—"Heaven's Song"—The Message Part 2"Shining Is Blue"—White Hole"I, Me" (내가, 나에게)—"Say Say Say"— rowspan="8" "Poom" (품)2016—"Suddenly" (또 생각이 나서)22"Winter Wonderland"—"You Are Not Here" (너만 없다)201795"Cherry Blossom Road" (벚꽃 길)—"Don't Speak"—"For Less Than a Month" (한 달을 못 가서)—"No Way" (말이 되니)—Expand"Only You" (너만)2018— rowspan="6" "Proposal" (청혼)—"It Was You" (너였나 봐)—"Love Did Not End Yet" (사랑은 아직도 끝나지 않았네)2019—"On My Way Back" (회로)2020—"Azaleas" (진달래꽃 피었습니다)2025158
Soundtrack appearances Title Year Peak chart positions Album KOR
"All of a Sudden" (울컥)2009 rowspan="3" Terroir OST"Come On, Antique!"Antique OST"A Dream Comes True" (돌멩이의 꿈)A Dream Comes True OST"Hurt" (상처)2012—Rooftop Prince OST"Carry On"16Faith OST"In My Dream"201345Empire of Gold OST"The Vow" (서약)201446Golden Rainbow OST"A Flower in the Rock" (돌 틈 꽃)88Gunman in Joseon OST"Give Me One Day" (하루만 내게 줘)2018—My Only One OST"Just Stay"https://cdnimg.melon.co.kr/cm/album/images/102/78/925/10278925_1000.jpg?08e90f7bbfb867ba57111c07cf8d7d15/melon/quality/80/optimize2019—Kill It OST
Filmography
Television shows Year Title Notes 2011–2015 Immortal Songs 2 Contestant2014 Mnet 100 Second War Contestant 2016 King of Mask Singer Contestant (Episodes 79–80, 82, 84, 86) 2022 Goal Girls Cast Member; Season 2
Musical theater Year Title Role 2016 Turandot (musical adaptation) Turandot 2019 Rebecca Mrs. Danvers
Awards Year Award Category Result 2009 Cyworld Digital Music Awards Female Newcomer of the Year 2012 Hong Kong Asian-Pop Music Festival Best Vocal Performance Super Nova Award
References
23. "[종합] '불후의명곡' 알리, '골든걸스' 1부 우승...'" "[Summary] Ali of 'Immortal Songs' Wins Part 1 of 'Golden Girls'..." Joynews (in Korean) January 27, 2024 Retrieved January 29th 2024.