Taeyeon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Taeyeon
Taeyeon in 2025
Born	Kim Tae-yeon (1989-03-09) March 9, 1989 (age 36) Jeonju, South Korea
Occupation	Singer
Musical career
Genres	K-pop pop rock R&B soul
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	2007–present
Labels	SM Universal Japan
Korean name
Hangul	김태연
RR	Gim Taeyeon
MR	Kim T'aeyŏn
Signature

Kim Tae-yeon (Hangul: 김태연), born on March 9, 1989, is a famous South Korean singer. She is known by her stage name, Taeyeon. She first became known in August 2007 as a member of the girl group Girls' Generation. This group became one of the most popular K-pop groups around the world.

Taeyeon has also been part of other music projects. These include Girls' Generation-TTS, SM the Ballad, Girls' Generation-Oh!GG, and the supergroup Got the Beat.

In 2015, Taeyeon released her first solo album, called I. The main song from this album, "I", became number one in South Korea. She released another number-one song, "Rain", in 2016. Her second album, Why, also topped the charts.

Taeyeon's first full studio album, My Voice, came out in 2017. It featured popular songs like "11:11" and "Fine". She also started releasing music in Japan in 2018. Her album Purpose (2019) had the number-one song "Four Seasons". Her third studio album, INVU (2022), also had a chart-topping song called "INVU". Her latest album, To. X, was released in November 2023.

On TV, Taeyeon has appeared in reality shows like We Got Married (2009) and Begin Again (2019). She also hosted Queendom 2 (2022). Since 2020, she has been a regular cast member on Amazing Saturday. Taeyeon has also sung many songs for TV shows and movies. These include "If" for Hong Gil-dong (2008) and "All About You" for Hotel del Luna (2019).

Taeyeon is one of the best-selling solo artists in South Korea. By 2021, she had sold over one million physical albums. She has won many awards, including seven Golden Disc Awards and six Seoul Music Awards.

Taeyeon's Early Life and Career Beginnings (1989–2008)

Taeyeon was born on March 9, 1989, in Jeonju, South Korea. She has an older brother and a younger sister, Kim Hayeon, who also became a singer in 2020. From a young age, Taeyeon loved singing and dreamed of becoming a singer.

When she was in middle school, Taeyeon went with her father to SM Academy. This was a music school connected to SM Entertainment. She started taking vocal lessons there. The school's principal was very impressed by Taeyeon's clear voice.

For the next year, Taeyeon traveled from her hometown to Seoul every Sunday. She took vocal lessons from a singer named The One. She looked up to singers like BoA and Whitney Houston.

Taeyeon trained with The One for three years. He said she was a "smart" student who truly wanted to be a singer. In 2004, she sang in his song "You Bring Me Joy." That same year, she won first place at a competition held by SM Entertainment. She then signed a contract with them.

The training was very hard, and she almost gave up. But she kept going and debuted with Girls' Generation in August 2007. Taeyeon graduated from Jeonju Art High School in 2008. She even received a special Lifetime Achievement Award from her school.

Soundtracks, Subgroups, and Collaborations (2008–2015)

Taeyeon sang "7989" with Kangta in 2007. She became very popular for singing songs for TV shows. These included "If" for Hong Gil-dong (2008) and "Can You Hear Me" for Beethoven Virus (2008). "Can You Hear Me" won an award in 2008.

In 2009, she sang "It's Love" with Sunny, another Girls' Generation member. Taeyeon also tried acting in 2010. She played the main role in the musical A Song to the Sun. She learned to play the guitar for this role. People praised her singing and acting in the musical. However, Taeyeon later said musicals were difficult for her.

Taeyeon performing at Nongshim Love Sharing Concert 2011

Taeyeon continued to release popular songs. In 2010, her song "Like A Star" reached number one. Her song "I Love You" for the TV show Athena: Goddess of War reached number two. A composer said he was amazed by how well Taeyeon could sing emotional songs.

In 2011, she sang "Different" with Kim Bum-soo. In 2012, she sang "Missing You Like Crazy" for the TV show The King 2 Hearts. This song was very popular and won an award. Later that year, she sang "Closer" for the show To the Beautiful You.

In April 2012, a smaller group from Girls' Generation was formed. It was called TTS, and included Taeyeon, Tiffany, and Seohyun. Their first album, Twinkle, was very successful. They released two more albums in 2014 and 2015.

In 2013, Taeyeon sang "And One" for the TV show That Winter, the Wind Blows. This song topped the charts. She also sang "Bye" for the movie Mr. Go. In 2014, Taeyeon joined SM the Ballad, a group known for ballads. She sang "Breath" with Shinee's Jonghyun. She also released other songs like "Love, That One Word." In 2015, she was featured in Amber's song "Shake that Brass."

Solo Debut and First Concerts (2015–2016)

Taeyeon in July 2015

Taeyeon started working on her solo music in late 2014. She felt it was the right time after being with Girls' Generation for eight years. Her first solo album, I, came out in October 2015. It was very popular in South Korea and the US. The album's main song, "I", was a mix of pop and rock. It reached number one in South Korea.

To celebrate her solo debut, Taeyeon held small concerts called "Taeyeon's Very Special Day." She also had a reality show called Daily Taeng9Cam. She won awards like Best Female Artist in 2015 and 2016.

Taeyeon also sang with other artists. She was featured in "Scars Deeper than Love" (2015) and "Don't Forget" (2016). In February 2016, she released "Rain" as part of SM Entertainment's digital music project. This song also reached number one in South Korea. She also sang for commercials, including one for Jeju Samdasoo water.

Her second album, Why (2016), had more upbeat songs like EDM and tropical house. It topped the album charts. The album had two popular songs: "Starlight" and "Why". Taeyeon held her first big solo concert, "Butterfly Kiss," in 2016. This made her the first Korean female artist from an active girl group to have a full-scale concert.

In September 2016, she sang "All With You" for the TV show Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo. Her next song, "11:11", came out in November 2016. It was a big hit and was named one of the best K-pop songs of 2016 by Billboard. Taeyeon was also named "Voice of the Year" in December 2016.

Studio Albums and Japanese Debut (2017–2019)

Taeyeon at a fansigning event in April 2017

Taeyeon's first full studio album, My Voice, was released in February 2017. It included the popular song "Fine". Both the album and song were very successful, topping the charts. A special version of the album came out in April 2017 with the song "Make Me Love You". She also sang "Lonely" with Jonghyun. In May 2017, Taeyeon started her first Asian tour called "Persona."

In December 2017, Taeyeon released a special Christmas album, This Christmas: Winter Is Coming. It was praised for her strong vocals and sophisticated Christmas songs. The main song, "This Christmas," was very popular. She held a Christmas concert called "The Magic of Christmas Time."

In June 2018, Taeyeon released her third album, Something New. It was popular in Korea and the US. That same month, she had a special tour in Japan. After this successful tour, she released her first Japanese song, "Stay," on June 30, 2018.

In August 2018, Taeyeon released "Page 0" with MeloMance. She also became part of Girls' Generation's second subgroup, Oh!GG. This group released their first song, "Lil' Touch," in September. Taeyeon went on her second Asian tour from October 2018 to January 2019. She was the first South Korean female solo artist to hold a concert at the AsiaWorld Expo Arena in Hong Kong.

In March 2019, Taeyeon released the song "Four Seasons". It was a huge hit, topping the charts for two weeks. In April 2019, she started her first concert tour in Japan called "~Signal~". She then released her first Japanese album, Voice, in May.

In July 2019, Taeyeon appeared on the reality show Begin Again. She performed street concerts in Berlin and Amsterdam. She also sang "All About You" for the TV show Hotel Del Luna. This song was number one for two weeks.

Taeyeon released her second studio album, Purpose, on October 28, 2019. The album was very popular and included the song "Spark". A new version of the album was released in January 2020 with bonus songs. Taeyeon started her third Asian tour in January 2020, but many shows were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recent Music and Activities (2020–Present)

On May 4, 2020, Taeyeon released the song "Happy". It reached number four on the charts. In November 2020, she released her second Japanese album, #GirlsSpkOut. The main song featured Japanese rapper Chanmina. Around this time, Taeyeon became a regular cast member on the TV show Amazing Saturday - DoReMi Market.

Taeyeon released her fourth Korean album, What Do I Call You, on December 15, 2020. This album was very successful. It made Taeyeon the first female artist to have five different albums sell over 100,000 copies each.

In 2021, Taeyeon was featured in Taemin's song "If I Could Tell You." Her next song, "Weekend", came out on July 6, 2021. It was a top-five hit. She also joined the TV show Petkage with Kim Hee-chul. In August 2021, she was featured in Key's song "Hate That...". In November 2021, she sang "Little Garden" for the TV show Jirisan.

On December 27, 2021, Taeyeon was announced as a member of the supergroup Got the Beat. The group debuted on January 3, 2022.

On January 17, 2022, Taeyeon released "Can't Control Myself". This was a preview for her third studio album, INVU, which came out on February 14. The album was very popular. The song "INVU" topped the charts for four weeks. She won Best Female Solo Artist at the 2022 Genie Music Awards.

Taeyeon held her fifth concert, The Odd of Love, starting in June 2023. On November 27, 2023, she released her fifth album, To. X, and the main song "To. X". Both were very popular. She also sang "Dream" for the TV show Welcome to Samdal-ri. This song became popular on Instagram.

On July 8, 2024, Taeyeon released the single "Heaven". On August 29, 2024, she sang a Korean duet version of "I'm Not the Only One" with British musician Sam Smith. On November 18, 2024, she released her sixth album, Letter to Myself.

Taeyeon started her sixth concert tour, The Tense, on March 7, 2025. This tour celebrates 10 years since her solo debut.

Taeyeon's Singing Style and Voice

Taeyeon's music style has changed over time, especially since she became a solo artist. When she first started, she often sang ballads for TV show soundtracks. People called her the "representative singer of popular OSTs" (Original Soundtracks).

For her 2015 song "I," Taeyeon chose a pop rock sound. Her 2016 song "Rain" mixed jazz and R&B. Her album "Why" combined EDM, R&B, and tropical house. Some music experts have described her style as "K-Soul," meaning she sings with deep emotion.

Many South Korean music producers have praised Taeyeon's vocal talent. In 2009, Park Jin-young said he wanted to work with her because she could "tell a story through singing." Composer Yoo Young-seok noted her ability to sing with great expression. Music producer Jo Young-soo was also impressed by how she could show many emotions with her voice.

In October 2015, 40 music industry officials voted Taeyeon the best K-pop vocalist. In April 2016, she was named the best female vocalist in her twenties by twelve Korean music companies.

Experts have also praised her singing technique. Shin Yeon-ah, a vocal instructor, called Taeyeon a "vocalization master." She noted Taeyeon's excellent breath control and ability to sing perfectly even while dancing. Another expert, Seo Geun-young, highlighted Taeyeon's clear voice in both low and high notes. Oh Han-seung, a vocal department head, said Taeyeon's voice makes songs stand out without needing fancy music. He described her voice as "trendy, elegant, and sometimes poignant."

Helping Others: Taeyeon's Philanthropy

Taeyeon has shown great kindness by donating to important causes.

In July 2019, she gave ₩100 million (about $75,000 USD) to the Korean Red Cross. This money helped women, children, and teenagers from low-income families in her hometown. She also became a member of the "Red Cross Honors Club." The Red Cross used her donation to provide health supplies to schools in her home province.

In January 2023, Taeyeon donated another ₩100 million to the Stump Foundation for Youth. This donation helped young people who are leaving foster care and starting to live on their own. She became the second member of "The Forest Club," a group for major donors to the foundation. In July 2023, the foundation used her donation to improve facilities for children and youth. This included fixing bathrooms, stairs, and libraries.

In March 2025, Taeyeon donated another ₩100 million to the Korean Red Cross. This donation helped people recover from the March 2025 South Korea wildfires.

Taeyeon's Endorsements and Brand Deals

Many media outlets see Taeyeon as a beauty and fashion icon in Asia. She has worked with many beauty brands since her debut.

Her first solo endorsement was for A-Solution, an acne cosmetics brand, in 2008. For three years, she was the first female Asian ambassador for the Korean skincare brand Nature Republic. In 2016, she became the new face of the cosmetic brand Banila Co. because of her popularity.

Taeyeon has also worked with luxury brands. In March 2019, she promoted Chanel lipstick in Elle Korea. In September 2019, she was featured in a makeup pictorial for Givenchy Beauty. In May 2020, she became a muse for A'pieu, a Korean beauty brand. In August 2021, she became an ambassador for the skincare brand Sulwhasoo. This helped Sulwhasoo's sales grow a lot in China and other Asian countries. In April 2022, she became a muse for Benefit Cosmetics, and in March 2023, she became their brand ambassador. In February 2024, she worked with the fragrance brand Penhaligon's.

Besides beauty, Taeyeon has endorsed many other products. These include games like Waterside Stone 3 (2007) and Sword and Magic (2016). She also promoted Jeju Samdasoo water (2016) and Paris Baguette bakeries (2017). She was also a spokesperson for B-ing Collagen Drink in Thailand from 2013 to 2014.

More recently, she has been a model for the Gran Saga game (2020), ChongKunDang Healthcare's allatME Collagen (2021), and the pet lifestyle brand LieVe (2021). She also became a model for YoungMan Pizza (2021), and her contract was renewed in 2023. In July 2021, she worked with Olive Young for a campaign with Key. In September 2021, she became the new muse for the streetwear brand Nerdy.

In March 2022, Taeyeon became the global ambassador for the self-hairstyling brand eZn. In May 2022, she was chosen as a model for the game Moonlight Blade M. Also in May 2022, she was named a house ambassador for the French luxury fashion house Louis Vuitton. She has promoted Louis Vuitton in many magazines. In October 2024, she became an ambassador for Louis Vuitton's fine jewelry. In March 2023, Taeyeon became a global ambassador for Tsingtao's non-alcoholic drinks. In June 2023, she became the face of Narangd Cider, a zero-calorie soda. In May 2024, she was selected as a model for Madecassol, a plant-based wound care product.

Taeyeon's Music Albums

• My Voice (2017)
• Purpose (2019)
• INVU (2022)

Taeyeon's Film and TV Appearances

Films

Television Series

Television Shows

Web Shows

Radio Shows

Taeyeon's Theatre Work

Taeyeon's Concerts and Tours

Taeyeon's Awards and Nominations

Taeyeon has won many awards for her solo music, TV show songs, radio hosting, and musical theatre work. She has won two Best Female Artist awards at the Mnet Asian Music Awards. She also received important awards at the Seoul Music Awards and the Golden Disc Awards. In January 2020, Taeyeon won the OST Award, a main prize (Bonsang Award), and a grand prize (Daesang Award) at the 29th Seoul Music Awards.

See also

In Spanish: Taeyeon para niños