Kim Ji-yeon (; born August 19, 1995), known professionally as Bona (), is a South Korean singer and actress. She is a member of the South Korean girl group WJSN, and also its sub-unit WJSN The Black. She made her acting debut in the KBS2 drama Hit the Top (2017), and was cast as the female lead in the teen drama Girls' Generation 1979 (2018).
Bona gained recognition for her portrayal as world champion and gold medalist fencer Ko Yu-rim in the tvN television series Twenty-Five Twenty-One (2022). Credited under her full name, she later starred in the television series Joseon Attorney (2023) and Pyramid Game (2024).
Early life and education Bona was born on August 19, 1995, in Dalseo District, Daegu, South Korea and attended high school in the same city. Bona was a trainee under Cube Entertainment before joining Starship Entertainment in 2013.
Career
2015–2020: Music career debut with WJSN as Bona and acting debut She was revealed to be a member of WJSN and its Wonder Unit on December 15, 2015, and proceeded to debut with them on February 25, 2016, with their debut mini-album Would You Like? and the single "MoMoMo".
In 2017, she made her acting debut in the KBS2 drama Hit the Top, and was cast as the female lead in the teen drama Girls' Generation 1979. She made a cameo in Radio Romance in 2018, before her second lead role in Your House Helper. Bona was revealed to have joined the cast of Law of the Jungle in Northern Mariana Islands.
In 2020, Bona joined the KBS2 drama Homemade Love Story, playing as Lee Hae-deun. She earned the Best New Actress at the 2020 KBS Drama Awards for her acting in the series.
2022–present: Rise in popularity and credited in full name In 2022, Bona rose to prominence for her role as a world champion and gold medalist fencer alongside Kim Tae-ri and Nam Joo-hyuk in the tvN drama Twenty-Five Twenty-One. The drama became one of the highest-rated Korean dramas in cable television history.
After scheduling conflicts with the filming of Twenty-Five Twenty-One, Bona joined WJSN in the third round of Mnet's competition show Queendom, which the group ultimately won in June 2022.
Credited as Kim Ji-yeon In March 2023, Kim starred in the historical legal revenge drama Joseon Attorney (2023) as a princess during the Joseon period.
In February 2024, Kim under her full name starred in the series Pyramid Game (2024) as Sung Soo-ji of Class 5 at Baekyeon Girls' High School, who was bullied in the school under the pretext of a game.
Discography
Soundtrack appearances + List of soundtrack appearances with selected chart position, showing year released and album name Title Year Peak chart position Album KOR Gaon"With": Hot"With": "With" 2022 40 54 Twenty-Five Twenty-One OST
Filmography
Television series
Year Title Role Notes 2017 Hit the Top Do Hye-ri Girls' Generation 1979 Lee Jung-hee 2018 Radio Romance DJ Jay Cameo (Episode 3) Your House Helper Im Da-young 2020–2021 Homemade Love Story Lee Hae-deun 2022 Twenty-Five Twenty-One Ko Yu-rim 2023 Joseon Attorney Lee Yeon-joo 2024 Pyramid Game Sung Su-ji 2025 The Haunted Palace Yeo-ri 2026 Dive into You Yoon Ha-na
Television shows Year Title Role 2018 Law of the Jungle in Northern Mariana Islands Cast member
Accolades
Awards and nominations +Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination Award ceremony Year Category Nominee / Work Result Asia Artist Awards 2022 Popularity Award – Actor Bona Best Acting Performance Twenty-Five Twenty-One Brand of the Year Awards 2021 Acting Idol of the Year (Female) Bona KBS Drama Awards 2017 Best New Actress Hit the Top, Girls' Generation 1979 Best Actress in a One-Act/Special/Short Drama Girls' Generation 1979 2018 Best Couple Award Bona Your House Helper 2020 Best New Actress Homemade Love Story Korea Culture and Entertainment Awards 2022 Excellence Award, Actress Twenty-Five Twenty-One Korea Drama Awards 2022 Best New Actress Korea First Brand Awards 2019 Female Idol-Actor Award Bona 2020 Best Idol Actress Homemade Love Story MBC Drama Awards 2023 Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Joseon Attorney Best Couple Award Bona Joseon Attorney SBS Drama Awards 2025 Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Humanity/Fantasy Drama The Haunted Palace
Honors + Name of country or organization, year given, and name of honor or award Country or Organization Year Honor or Award Newsis K-Expo Cultural Awards 2024 Seoul Tourism Foundation Award
Notes
References
External links