YENA Opens Official Global Fan Community on Berriz, Invites "Jigumi" to "Play Sweeter"

YENA Takes Her Fandom Global With a New Digital Home

So here is some exciting news for fans of Choi Yena (YENA) around the world. On June 2nd, Kakao Entertainment officially launched YENA's fan community on Berriz, the company's global K-culture fan platform. And YENA wasted absolutely no time making her fans feel the love.

Right after the community went live, she posted a message that pretty much set the whole tone: "I will communicate more with our Jigumi and come back with various content that can only be found on Berriz. Jigumi! Let's have even sweeter fun together." If you are wondering who "Jigumi" are — that is the official name for YENA's fanbase, and it carries a genuinely heartfelt meaning. The name is a play on Korean words meaning "fans who have supported her consistently, now and always." So yeah, the bond between YENA and her fans runs a little deeper than your average artist-audience relationship.

Who Is YENA, and Why Should You Care?

For those who might be newer to the K-pop world, Choi Yena first rose to fame as a member of IZ*ONE, a hugely popular Korean-Japanese co-ed project group that ran from 2018 to 2021. After the group disbanded, she launched her solo career and has been carving out a very distinct musical identity ever since.

What makes her stand out? Two words: "Yena Core." That is the fan-coined term for her signature style — a chaotic, colorful, and intensely energetic blend of concepts that is entirely her own. It is a little bit quirky, a lot of fun, and undeniably hers. She has leaned into it fully, and it has paid off.

What's really interesting is how she has used that identity to build genuine momentum as a solo act in a market that is notoriously tough for artists stepping out from under a group's umbrella.

Fresh Off a Comeback and a Packed Tour Schedule

The community launch comes at a particularly buzzy time for YENA. Back in March, she dropped her fifth mini-album, LOVE CATCHER, which further cemented her standing as a serious solo artist. The title track "Catch Catch" has been performing exceptionally well — landing in the upper ranks of major Korean music streaming charts, including platforms like Melon, which is South Korea's dominant music streaming service and widely considered the benchmark for domestic music popularity. On top of that, the song has been driving trends on global short-form video platforms, giving YENA an international boost that goes well beyond the traditional K-pop fanbase.

And then there is the tour. Starting in Seoul in April, YENA has been running the 2026 YENA Live Tour, officially titled Almost Within Reach, the 2nd World! — a title that is as playfully mysterious as her whole brand. The tour has already swept through Macau, Taipei, and Hong Kong, with YENA reportedly winning over local crowds with her bright, high-energy performances. The grand finale is set for Tokyo, Japan, on June 13th and 14th, which promises to be a memorable cap to what has been a seriously impressive run.

What Is Berriz, Exactly?

If you have not heard of Berriz yet, here is a quick rundown. Berriz is Kakao Entertainment's global fan platform designed specifically for fans of K-culture — and that covers a pretty wide net. We are talking K-pop, Korean dramas, variety shows, sports, and more. Think of it as a one-stop digital playground built for dedicated fanbases worldwide.

The platform officially launched in March 2025, and the growth has been striking. Within just one year, Berriz had attracted subscribers from 202 countries, with overseas fans making up a full 80 percent of its user base. That is a pretty clear signal that the platform is doing something right when it comes to connecting international audiences with the Korean content they love.

Beyond fan communities, Berriz also offers differentiated services like official merchandise stores — including partnerships with SM Entertainment and Korean professional baseball team Samsung Lions — making it a more comprehensive fan experience platform rather than just a social feed.

Recently, Berriz also rolled out a full redesign of its main home screen, making it easier for fans to intuitively browse artist content, community updates, and fandom news all in one place. The goal, according to Kakao Entertainment, is to seamlessly connect content discovery, community participation, and shopping into one fluid experience.

What Fans Can Expect From YENA's Community

So what exactly will Jigumi get out of this new community space? Based on what has been shared, the plan is for YENA to offer a mix of content that goes beyond the polished, stage-ready version of herself. We are talking everything from her dazzling performances to candid, everyday glimpses into her life — the kind of authentic content that fans genuinely crave and that builds a real connection over time.

There is also the promise of Berriz-exclusive content, meaning things fans simply will not be able to find anywhere else. That exclusivity factor is a smart move, giving existing fans a compelling reason to join the platform and new fans a reason to stick around.

A Bigger Picture for K-Culture Fandom

What YENA's community launch really represents is part of a broader shift in how Korean artists are engaging with their global audiences. Dedicated fan platforms are becoming increasingly important as the K-culture wave continues to expand well beyond its traditional Asian market strongholds. For an artist like YENA — who has fans spread across Asia, Europe, the Americas, and beyond — having a single, centralized space to foster that community is more than just convenient. It is strategic.

With her tour wrapping up in Tokyo and a thriving new community space ready to go, YENA is clearly heading into the second half of 2026 with a lot of momentum. For the Jigumi out there — and for anyone curious enough to see what "Yena Core" is all about — it sounds like there is plenty more sweetness on the way.

This article is based on reports from Breaknews, Osen, Gamefocus.