Taeyeon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Taeyeon
Taeyeon in 2023
Born	Kim Tae-yeon (1989-03-09) March 9, 1989 (age 36) Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, 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
Revised Romanization	Gim Taeyeon
McCune–Reischauer	Kim T'aeyŏn
Stage name
Hangul	태연
Revised Romanization	Taeyeon
McCune–Reischauer	T'aeyŏn
Signature

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

Taeyeon has also been part of other music projects. These include Girls' Generation-TTS, Girls' Generation-Oh!GG, and the supergroup Got the Beat. In 2015, she started her solo music career. Her first album, I, had a song that went straight to number one in South Korea.

She has released many hit songs like "Rain", "11:11", and "Fine". Her albums, such as My Voice (2017) and Purpose (2019), have also been very successful. Her 2022 album INVU also had a number-one song.

Besides singing, Taeyeon has appeared on TV shows like We Got Married and Amazing Saturday. She has also sung many songs for TV dramas and movies, including the very popular "All About You" for Hotel del Luna. Taeyeon is one of South Korea's top solo artists, having sold millions of albums and songs. She has won many awards for her music.

Life and Music Journey

Growing Up and Starting Out (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. From a young age, Taeyeon loved to sing and dreamed of becoming a singer.

When she was in middle school, Taeyeon went with her dad to SM Academy. This was a music school connected to SM Entertainment. She took vocal lessons there. The school's principal was very impressed by Taeyeon's clear voice. For a year, Taeyeon and her dad traveled from their hometown to Seoul every Sunday for her lessons. She looked up to singers like BoA and Whitney Houston.

Taeyeon trained for three years. Her teacher, The One, said she was a very smart student. In 2004, she sang in his song "You Bring Me Joy." That same year, she won first place at a competition and signed with SM Entertainment. The training was hard, but she kept going. In August 2007, she debuted as a member of the girl group Girls' Generation. Taeyeon graduated from Jeonju Art High School in 2008 and received a special award.

Soundtracks and New Groups (2008–2015)

Taeyeon started to become well-known for singing songs for TV shows. She sang "If" for the drama Hong Gil-dong (2008) and "Can You Hear Me" for Beethoven Virus (2008). These songs became very popular. "Can You Hear Me" even won an award. She also sang a duet called "It's Love" with Girls' Generation member Sunny.

In 2010, Taeyeon tried acting in a musical called A Song to the Sun. She played a girl who loved music and learned to play the guitar for the role. People praised her singing and acting in the show. However, Taeyeon later said musicals were difficult for her.

Taeyeon performing at Nongshim Love Sharing Concert 2011

She continued to release popular songs. "Like A Star" reached number one on the music charts. Her song "I Love You" for a drama soundtrack also did very well. In 2011, she sang with Kim Bum-soo on his song "Different."

In 2012, Taeyeon sang "Missing You Like Crazy" for the drama The King 2 Hearts. The song's composer praised her for understanding the song perfectly. This song was named the most popular soundtrack at the 2012 Seoul Drama Awards.

In April 2012, a smaller group from Girls' Generation was formed called TTS. It included Taeyeon, Tiffany, and Seohyun. Their first album, Twinkle, was very successful. They released two more albums later. In 2013, Taeyeon sang "And One" for the drama That Winter, the Wind Blows, which 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" as a duet with Shinee's Jonghyun. She also released other songs like "Love, That One Word." In 2015, she sang in "Shake that Brass" with f(x)'s Amber.

Solo Debut and First Concert (2015–2016)

Taeyeon started working on her solo music in late 2014. She felt it was the right time after eight years with Girls' Generation. Her first solo album, I, came out in October 2015. It was a big hit in South Korea and worldwide. The main song, "I," was different from her usual ballads and had a pop rock sound. It reached number one in South Korea.

To celebrate her solo debut, Taeyeon held small concerts and a reality show called Daily Taeng9Cam. She won awards for Best Female Artist at the 2015 Mnet Asian Music Awards and 2016 Golden Disk Awards.

Taeyeon in July 2015

In 2016, she released "Rain" as part of SM Entertainment's digital music project. This song also reached number one. Taeyeon also appeared in commercials and sang for games.

Her second album, Why (2016), had more upbeat songs with EDM and tropical house styles. It topped the album charts. The album had two hit songs: "Starlight" and the title track "Why." Taeyeon held her first big solo concert, "Butterfly Kiss," making her the first active girl group member to do so. In November 2016, she released "11:11," which was also very popular.

First Full Album and Japanese Debut (2017–2019)

Taeyeon at a fansigning event in April 2017

Taeyeon's first full studio album, My Voice, came out in February 2017. It included the hit song "Fine." Both the album and song were very successful, reaching number one on the charts. A special version of the album was released with the song "Make Me Love You." She also sang in "Lonely" with Jonghyun. After this, Taeyeon went on her first Asian tour called "Persona."

In December 2017, Taeyeon released a special Christmas album, This Christmas: Winter Is Coming. Critics praised her strong vocals on the album. The main song, "This Christmas," was also a hit. She held a Christmas concert to promote the album.

In June 2018, Taeyeon released her third album, Something New. She also started her first tour in Japan, visiting several cities. After this, she released her first Japanese song, "Stay."

In August 2018, Taeyeon joined Girls' Generation's second subgroup, Oh!GG. They released their first song, "Lil' Touch." Taeyeon then went on her second Asian tour, which included a show in Hong Kong, making her the first South Korean female solo artist to perform there.

In March 2019, Taeyeon released the digital single "Four Seasons," which was a big success and topped the charts for two weeks. She then had her first concert tour in Japan called "~Signal~." In May, she released her first Japanese album, Voice. Taeyeon also appeared on the reality show Begin Again, where she performed on the streets in Berlin and Amsterdam. Her song "All About You" for the drama Hotel Del Luna also topped the charts.

Taeyeon released her second studio album, Purpose, in October 2019. It included the hit song "Spark." A new version of the album came out in January 2020 with more songs. She started her third Asian tour, but many shows were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

New Music and Continued Success (2020–Present)

On May 4, 2020, Taeyeon released the digital single "Happy." In November 2020, she released her second Japanese album, #GirlsSpkOut. Around this time, Taeyeon also became a regular cast member on the TV show Amazing Saturday.

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

In 2021, Taeyeon was featured in songs by Taemin and Key. She also released her digital single "Weekend" in July, which was very popular. She joined the travel show Petkage. In December 2021, Taeyeon became a member of the supergroup Got the Beat, which debuted in January 2022.

In January 2022, Taeyeon released "Can't Control Myself" before her third studio album, INVU, came out in February. The album was very successful, and its main song "INVU" topped the charts for four weeks. She won the Best Female Solo Artist award at the 2022 Genie Music Awards.

In May 2023, Taeyeon announced her fifth concert tour, "The Odd of Love." In November 2023, she released her fifth album, To. X, which also did very well on the charts. She also recorded "Dream" for the TV show Welcome to Samdal-ri, which became popular online.

In 2024, Taeyeon announced a new single called "Heaven." She also worked with British singer Sam Smith on a Korean version of his song "I'm Not the Only One." In October, she announced her sixth album, Letter to Myself.

Singing Style and Voice

Taeyeon's music style has changed a lot since she started her solo career. Early in her career, she was known for singing ballads for TV shows. People called her the "queen of soundtracks."

When she debuted solo, she tried a pop rock sound with "I." Her song "Rain" used jazz and R&B styles, and "Why" mixed EDM and tropical house. Many music experts have praised Taeyeon's vocal talent.

Producers have said that Taeyeon can tell a story through her singing and express many different feelings. In 2015, music industry officials voted her the best K-pop vocalist. Experts also praise her breath control and how she can sing perfectly even while dancing. Her voice is described as "trendy, elegant, and sometimes poignant," making her songs stand out.

Helping Others

Taeyeon is also known for her kindness and generosity.

In July 2019, Taeyeon gave ₩100 million (about $75,000 USD) to the Korean Red Cross. This money helped women, children, and teenagers from families with low incomes in her hometown. She also became a member of the "Red Cross Honors Club."

In January 2023, Taeyeon donated another ₩100 million to the Stump Foundation for Youth. This donation helps young people who are leaving foster care and learning 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 welfare facilities for children and youth, like fixing bathrooms and dormitories.

Brand Partnerships

Taeyeon is seen as a beauty and fashion icon in Asia. She has worked with many beauty brands throughout her career.

Her first solo partnership was with A-Solution, an acne cosmetics brand, in 2008. She was also the first female Asian ambassador for the Korean skincare brand Nature Republic for three years. In 2016, she became the new face of the cosmetic brand Banila Co.. She has also worked with luxury brands like Chanel and Givenchy Beauty. In 2021, she became an ambassador for the premium skincare brand Sulwhasoo, which helped boost their sales. In 2022, she became a muse for Benefit Cosmetics. In 2024, she partnered with the fragrance brand Penhaligon's.

Besides beauty, Taeyeon has endorsed many other products. These include Jeju Samdasoo bottled water, the game Sword and Magic, Paris Baguette bakeries, and nail-art products. She was also the first foreign spokesperson for B-ing Collagen Drink in Thailand. In 2020, she became a model for the game Gran Saga. She has also worked with health and food brands like ChongKunDang Healthcare and YoungMan Pizza. In 2022, she became a global ambassador for the self-hairstyling brand eZn and the luxury fashion house Louis Vuitton. In 2023, she partnered with Tsingtao's non-alcoholic drinks and Narangd Cider. In 2024, she became a model for Madecassol, a wound care product.

Music Albums

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

Movies and TV Shows

Movies

Television Series

Television Shows

Web Shows

Radio Shows

Theatre

Concerts and Tours

Awards and Nominations

Taeyeon has won many awards for her solo music, TV show appearances, and musical roles. She has won the Best Female Artist award at the Mnet Asian Music Awards twice. She also received major awards at the Seoul Music Awards and Golden Disc Awards. In 2020, she won the Grand Prize at the 29th Seoul Music Awards.

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See also

In Spanish: Taeyeon para niños