Jihye’s movement journey began with rhythmic gymnastics in childhood, later expanding into various fitness modalities to enhance her physical conditioning. She excelled in her academic pursuits, graduating at the top of her class with both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Dance Kinesiology, and she is currently pursuing her doctoral research in Physical Education. Her career flourished as she won top awards at international dance festivals as a professional dancer and choreographer.

In 2004, she began her career as a Pilates instructor after obtaining her first certification, a natural extension of her life in motion. During her time as both an artist and a Pilates instructor, she completed three comprehensive Pilates training programs, the PMA, and many other fitness certifications.

In 2011, at a personal turning point in her life as an artist, she chose to step away and revisit the various physical disciplines she had experienced, both as a leader and as a participant. This period included training in Gyrotonic and Gyrokinesis, among numerous other methods, while her desire for functional movement continued unabated.

In 2015, her journey led her to Los Angeles, where she met Jay Grimes. This meeting became the luckiest moment of her movement life. At Vintage Pilates, where Jay Grimes was the director and Sandy Shimoda the owner, she rediscovered her passion and quenched her thirst for movement.

She was the first from Asia to be selected for and graduate from Jay Grimes’s Master Program, and even after graduation, she continued her training and practice under his education and teachings for approximately ten years, until his passing. During that period, she fully focused and consolidated her long-standing journey toward functional movement within that environment. Based on this experience, she was the first to introduce the complete Pilates system and Original Classes to the Korean market.

She is the author of the books ‘My Second Passion’ and ‘We’re Each Other’s First,’ and she seeks to share the positive physical and mental transformations of Pilates with others as both a guide and participant.

Currently, she is the director of POP PILATES™ and the Apprentice of Contrology®, continuing her passion for sharing her expertise.