Background and career
Ahn Hye-jin (Korean: 안혜진; born July 23, 1995), known professionally by her stage name Hwasa (화사; sometimes stylized as Hwa Sa), is a South Korean singer, songwriter, and television personality. She rose to prominence as a member of the girl group Mamamoo in 2014. In February 2019, she made her solo debut with the song "Twit" which topped the Circle Digital Chart and won a Gaon Chart Music Award. In 2020, Hwasa debuted as part of the Refund Sisters with the single "Don't Touch Me", which reached number one in South Korea. In 2020, she released her EP, María, which charted at number five in her home country, while its lead single "María" peaked at number two on the Gaon Chart, earning her a Golden Disc and Mnet Asian Music Award. In 2023, Hwasa left RBW and signed with P Nation, releasing her second digital single, "I Love My Body", which reached the top-ten of the Circle Digital Chart and Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart in the United States.
Her 2025 single "Good Goodbye" became her biggest commercial success to date, reaching number 32 on the Billboard Global 200, spending nine weeks at number one on the Circle Digital Chart, and topping the World Digital Song Sales.
Name The stage name "Hwasa" (화사) is derived from the adjective "화사하다"; hwasahada; lit. 'to shine brightly'. In Hanja, her birth name "혜진" is written as "惠眞" meaning "Grace in Truth".
Ahn Hye-jin was born on July 23, 1995, in Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea, where she lived with her parents and two elder sisters. She graduated from Wonkwang Information Arts High School. Hwasa often cites Beyoncé as her music inspiration, stating that after hearing someone say that she was unique and good at singing but was fat and not pretty, she went home and watched videos of Beyoncé performing all night to comfort herself. Even before her K-pop debut, a number of South Korean artists – including artist Solbi and the band Standing Egg – recognized her talent and featured her on their tracks when she was 18.
How Hwasa makes money
In 2023, Hwasa left RBW and signed with P Nation, releasing her second digital single, "I Love My Body", which reached the top-ten of the Circle Digital Chart and Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart in the United States.
