Kim Ji Yeon (김지연), popularly known as Kei, is a South Korean musician and actress under A2Z Entertainment. She is a member of the global project girl group EL7Z UP. She is also the former main vocalist, lead dancer, and face of the girl group Lovelyz under Woollim Entertainment.
On November 17, 2014, she debuted as a member of the Lovelyz with their first studio album "Girls’ Invasion". Kei is also known as the aegyo queen of Woolim. Her “Oppa-yah” aegyo gained a lot of popularity after she performed it on the show Weekly Idol.
She also made her debut as a soloist under her real name Kim Ji Yeon. She released her first solo mini album "Over and Over" on October 8, 2019. On November 1, 2021, Woollim Entertainment announced that 7 of the members, except Baby Soul, decided to leave the agency after their contracts ended on November 16.
On January 10, 2022, it was announced that she had signed an exclusive contract with Palm Tree Island to promote as a musical actress.
On April 24, 2023, she participated in the survival show Queendom Puzzle and finished in 4th place earning her spot in the project girl group EL7Z UP. They made their debut on September 14, 2023, with their first mini album “7+Up”.