Jennie Kim was born on January 16, 1996, in Seoul, South Korea. At the age of 9, she was sent abroad to study in New Zealand. In 2006, she appeared in the MBC special documentary "English, Must Change to Survive" and spoke about her experiences with the language and her life in New Zealand. In 2010, she moved back to South Korea and participated in an audition held by YG Entertainment, later successfully joining the label as a trainee.