Virtual influencer Han Yu-a signs exclusive contract with YG KPlus

Virtual influencer Han Yu-a will make her debut as YG KPlus’ K-pop star, according to YG KPlus Wendesday. [ILGAN SPORTS]

Virtual influencer Han Yu-a is set to make her debut as YG KPlus’ K-pop star this month.

According to YG KPlus on Wednesday, Han has signed an exclusive contract with the agency and will drop her first album near the end of February. Further details of the release and the album have not been disclosed.

Han was first showcased to the public in 2019 as one of the main female characters on VR Game “Focus on You.” She was an animation in the VR game but video game developer Smile Gate newly launched Han as a 3D virtual influencer in August last year. For the three dimensional version of Han, Smile Gate worked with Giant Step, an advertising company that also created the AI avatars of girl group aespa.

Since then, Han has been appointed as an ambassador for the food shortage issue at an NGO called “Hope Friend” (translated) and has taken part in photoshoots for fashion magazines.

Other artists represented by YG KPlus include boy band ATO6 and singers Viini, Hwangbo and Yoo Hyun-woo.

YG KPlus is owned by YG Plus which is a subsidiary entertainment agency of major K-pop powerhouse YG Entertainment.

BY LEE JIAN [lee.jian@joongang.co.kr]