|
|
Yun Clara, known mononymously as Clara, is a South Korean singer, rapper, and songwriter under DELUXEO Labels. She debuted as a soloist in 2025 with the full-album Insanity & Romance.
History[]
2003 - 2023: Early Life[]
Yun Clara was born on May 1st, 2003 in Seoul, South Korea. She was born into an upper-middle class family, with her father working as a chef and her mother working as an editor for several fashion magazines. Clara was very close with her identical twin brother, Hyunsu, growing up. The two of them were both fans of K-Pop idols from a young age and promised each other that they would both debut someday. While Hyunsu was more inclined to rap, Clara was determined to become the industry’s greatest all-rounder.
Clara’s mother received sample outfits from the magazines she worked with over the years, but left the ones she didn’t wear for Clara and Hyunsu to play with or give to their friends. Hyunsu did not care for the outfits, but Clara loved dressing up in them. Although her father disapproved of it, her mother encouraged her to wear whatever she wanted because at least it gave the clothes a purpose. In middle school, Clara learned how to use her mother’s sewing machine and would alter the clothes so that she could add them to her uniform. She was ostracized at school for dressing “too feminine”, but Clara felt uncomfortable when her uniform was the standard boy’s uniform. Although most of her friends from elementary school turned into bullies, Clara found her place in the school’s small K-Pop dance cover club, where the other members didn’t care how she dressed as long as she wanted to perform girl group covers with them.
When she was 13, Clara came out to her mother as transgender. Although her mother accepted her, Clara kept her identity a secret from her brother and father. Her brother knew she was keeping something hidden from him, and it caused a rift between them. During this time, Clara began writing lyrics as a way to escape from her worries. She eventually came out to her brother during an argument about which high school she wanted to attend, as Hyunsu was set on enrolling at an all-male high school.
In high school, Clara performed as the guitarist for a band formed by students. She wrote lyrics for the band, and helped with composing songs. The band performed mostly at school events, but were invited to a few local music showcases.
When Hyunsu auditioned for SUN Entertainment in 2020 and was accepted into their training program, he encouraged Clara to do the same so that they could pursue their shared dream of debuting. Clara refused to audition until she graduated high school, as she knew how cruel the industry was and wanted a plan in case she couldn’t become a trainee.
Following her graduation, Clara began working at a clothing repair store while auditioning. She auditioned for several companies, but was rejected from all of them. One of the auditions was a public audition, where applicants uploaded their audition videos online. In 2023, a staff member of DELUXEO Labels was recommended Clara’s audition video. The company contacted her and offered her a training deal despite not having a training program. Clara was skeptical at first, but the CEO offered to fund her transition in return for her signing with them.
2023 - 2025: Predebut[]
Clara was DELUXEO Labels’ only trainee throughout her training period. She was mentored by the label’s other artists. Clara signed with DELUXEO Records, the label’s recording branch, for her solo career.
2025 - present: Career[]
Clara made her solo debut on February 15th, 2025 with the full-length album Insanity & Romance.