Lee Ayumi, known professionally as Ayumi and also known as Yumi Itō in Japan, is a South Korean singer, actress and entertainer based in Japan and South Korea. Ayumi debuted in 2001 as the lead vocal of South Koreangirl groupSugar and continued until the groups disbanded in 2006. Following the disbanded, Ayumi remained her solo career with only releases three digital singles. In 2008, she moved to Japan and began her acting career with her Japanese name Yumi Itō. In 2009, she debuted as soloists in Japan with stage name Iconiq and since then, she has released one studio album, one EP and seven digital singles.
Lee was scouted by the entertainment company Starworld at a H.O.T. concert, debuting as part of Korean girl group Sugar in 2001. The band released two albums in Japan and three in Korea, to only moderate commercial success. During her career in Sugar, she and Park Soo-jin appeared on the Gag Concert 200th episode special, in the sketch Poncho Siblings as special guests. This makes them as the first girl group to ever appear on Gag Concert.
2006–2012: Solo career
In 2006, the bandbroke up, and Lee released her first digital album entitled "Cutie Honey". The first single, a remake or cover of the theme song for Cutie Honey, was released on July 13, 2006 with an instrumental version. The second single, "Jalmotdoen Mannam" was released on November 7, 2006, and is a cover of Kim Gun Mo's hit from 1995. The third single, "Like a virgin" was released on December 31, 2006, and is a cover of Madonna's hit from 1980's. She switched labels in February 2007, moving from SM Entertainment's sister label Starworld to SM Entertainment and started collaborating with SM Town on their summer and winter albums that year. However, she did not release any solo material at this time. In 2008, Lee was made her acting debut in Japan as Ito Yumi and signed contract with Avex Entertainment. She also vacationed to Los Angeles to study dance, and find new inspiration as a musician. In late 2009, She return to Japan and making solo debut as Iconiq under Avex's Rhythm Zone. Her first promotions were for Shiseido's Maquillage cosmetics line, for which her song "I'm Lovin' You" was used in commercials, and Lee's images used in billboards. Lee was marketed around her buzz cut hair-style. After two more promotional songs used in Maquillage commercials, "Change Myself" and "Bye Now!," she released her debut album, Change Myself, on March 10, 2010. The album debuted at #3 on Oricon's albums chart, the highest position for a debut album since Yui Aragaki's Sora in late 2007. Since then, she has released her debut single "Tokyo Lady," and released an EP called Light Ahead in September. The EP was promoted with three music videos directed by Diane Martel, including "Tokyo Lady."
2015–present: Acting Career
In 2015, Lee appeared on a Korean program again, for the first time after nine years on JTBC program Witch Hunt. In August 2016, Sense magazine was introduced Lee as an actress under name Ito Yumi. In September, Lee made appearance in ReLIFE. In May 2017, Lee was cast in a Fuji TV drama Code Blue Season 3.In August 2017, Lee was confirmed to cast in South Korean new variety show MBN's Flying Girl.
