# Baek A-yeon

Baek A-yeon (Korean: 백아연; born March 11, 1993) is a South Korean singer and songwriter signed under Eden Entertainment. She is best known as the second runner-up contestant of K-pop Star.
As a soloist, she has released a total of five extended plays and a total of ten singles, after her contract with JYP Entertainment expired in 2019, she subsequently joined EDEN Entertainment.

## Early life and education

Baek was born on March 11, 1993, in Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do. During her fifth year of elementary school she underwent treatment for cancer. She is currently studying at the Department of Practical Music at Howon University.

## Career
### 2011–2012: K-Pop Star

Baek participated in the first season of competition television show K-pop Star. She was one of the top three contestants, along with Park Ji-min and Lee Hi. After she was eliminated she was approached by a number of entertainment agencies seeking to sign her. Baek eventually signed with JYP Entertainment, the company of K-pop Star judge JYP.

### 2012–2014: I'm Baek, A Good Girl and original soundtrack

Baek released her debut EP, I'm Baek, on September 10, 2012, with a total of five tracks including the lead single "Sad Song". On September 16, Baek made her official debut stage on the music program Inkigayo with performances of "Stay" and "Sad Song".
On December 15, Baek released her first original soundtrack "Daddy Long Legs" for the SBS drama Cheongdam-dong Alice.
In April 2013, Baek recorded "Introduction to Love," for MBC's drama When a Man Falls in Love. Baek released her second EP, A Good Girl, on June 17, 2013, with the lead single "A Good Boy". One months later, she recorded "Tears Are Also Love", for the MBC's drama Goddess of Fire OST.
In May 2014, Baek released track, "The Three Things I Have Left", for the SBS drama Angel Eyes. Two months later, she released another track, "Morning of Canon", for MBC's drama You Are My Destiny.

### 2015–present: Breakthrough, Bittersweet, Dear Me, and Observe

Baek released her first single and first self-composed song, "Shouldn't Have" (featuring Day6's Young K), on May 20, 2015. The song went on to become a sleeper hit, reaching number one on several Korean music real-time charts a month after its release among fierce competition. Following the success of the song, she began promotions for it on music programs beginning with Show! Music Core on June 13. Later in the year, she contributed her vocals to the song "So We Are" for the SBS drama Yong-pal.
In May 2016, Baek released a digital single album, consisting of the lead track "So-So", composed and written by herself, as well as side track "Something to Say". "So-so" followed the success of "Shouldn't Have", securing the top spot on all major Korean music charts within a day of its release. Later that year, she released holiday single, "Just Because" (featuring Got7's JB), on November 30.
Baek's third EP, Bittersweet, was released on May 29, 2017, leading to the media coining the name "May Queen" for her consistency in releasing music during that month. The EP contained six tracks, with the lead single "Sweet Lies" featuring vocal trio The Barberettes. While Bittersweet did not have the same success chart-wise as its predecessors, the album was praised for its quality with Billboard including it among their top five critic's picks of the K-pop albums released that year.
   "The album as a whole, is hypnotic in its pop glory, and lives up to Baek's reputation within Korea as one of the country's most captivating young female soloists. As a whole, Bittersweet features a wide array of sounds that blend to create an otherworldly listening experience."
   - T.H., Billboard
Baek A Yeon's fourth EP, Dear Me was released on November 21, 2018, with the lead single "Sorry To Myself" along with five other songs. Later that year, she was confirmed to have landed a role in Korea's first virtual reality (VR) musical film, "Anna, Mari", which won Korea Creative Content Agency's 2018 "VR Frontier Content Project".
On September 16, 2019, it was revealed that Baek A Yeon's contract with JYP Entertainment had come to an end. She chose not to renew her contract, and left the company. On December 7, she formally announced that she had joined Eden Entertainment.
On July 13, 2021, Baek A Yeon was supposed to release her fifth EP, Observe, with the lead single "0%", but it was delayed due to rising cases of COVID-19 in Korea. It was later announced that the new release date would be September 7.
On August 17, 2022, Baek released the track "Doctor", a track that was included in the Pokémon Exhibition Track.
On October 21, 2022, it was announced that Baek has renewed her contract with Eden Entertainment.

## Personal life

On February 28, 2023, Baek's agency confirmed that she is in a relationship with her non-celebrity boyfriend. On March 2, 2023, Baek announced in a handwritten letter that they will be holding their wedding ceremony. The couple married on August 12, 2023.
Baek announced her pregnancy on April 30, 2024. She gave birth to her first child, a daughter, on September 12, 2024.

## Discography
### Extended plays

| Title | EP details | Peak chart positions | Sales |
| Title | EP details | KOR | Sales |
| I'm Baek | Released: September 10, 2012 Label: JYP Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download Track listing "Sad Song" (느린노래) "Stay" (머물러요) "Love, Love, Love" "Always" (feat. Jun.K) "You're Leaving" (니가 떠나간다) | 11 | KOR: 2,148+ |
| A Good Girl | Released: June 17, 2013 Label: JYP Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download Track listing "A Good Boy" "Tell Me" (말해줘) "Because of You" (너 때문에) (feat. Jia) "I Love It" (맘에 들어) (feat. Baro) "Like Oxygen" (산소처럼) | 14 | KOR: 1,765+ |
| Bittersweet | Released: May 29, 2017 Label: JYP Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download Track listing "Sweet Lies" (feat. The Barberettes) "Just Friends" (연락이 없으면) "Jealousy" (질투가 나) (feat. Park Ji-min) "Magic Girl" (마법소녀) "Screw You" (넘어져라) "The Last of You" (끝모습) | — | — |
| Dear Me | Released: November 21, 2018 Label: JYP Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download Track listing "Sorry to Myself" (마음아 미안해) "True Lies" (진짜 거짓말) "Starlight" "Hug Me" (안아줘) "I Wish" (말하지 않아도) "Infinite Loop" (시간은 돌고 돌아서) | — | — |
| Observe | Released: September 7, 2021 Label: Eden Entertainment, Kakao Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download Track listing "0%" (아무것도 하기 싫으면 어떡애) "The War on Loneliness" (외로 War) "Wanna Be Crooked" (베뚤어질래) "Imagination" (그래서 요즘 생각이 많아) "Day Dream" (환상) "0%" (아무것도 하기 싫으면 어떡애) (Inst.) | — | — |

### Singles

| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Sales (DL) | Album |
| Title | Year | KOR Gaon | KOR Hot 100 | Sales (DL) | Album |
| As lead artist ||||||
| "Sad Song" (느린노래) | 2012 | 2 | 11 | KOR: 995,710+ | I'm Baek |
| "A Good Boy" (어굿보이) | 2013 | 12 | 26 | KOR: 346,987+ | A Good Girl |
| "Shouldn't Have" (이럴거면 그러지말지) feat. Young K of DAY6 | 2015 | 1 | — | KOR: 2,500,000+ | Non-album singles |
| "So-So" (쏘쏘) | 2016 | 1 | — | KOR: 1,070,347+ | Non-album singles |
| "Just Because" (그냥 한번) feat. JB of GOT7 | 2016 | 12 | — | KOR: 185,203+ | Non-album singles |
| "Sweet Lies" feat. The Barberettes | 2017 | 5 | — | KOR: 278,224+ | Bittersweet |
| "The Little Match Girl" (성냥팔이 소녀) with Wendy of Red Velvet | 2017 | 55 | — | KOR: 59,483+ | SM Station |
| "Sorry to Myself" (마음아 미안해) | 2018 | — | — | — | Dear Me |
| "Looking for Love" (썸 타긴 뭘 타) | 2020 | 47 | — | — | Non-album singles |
| "I Need You" (춥지 않게) | 2020 | — | — | — | Non-album singles |
| "Fickle Person" (변덕쟁이) | 2021 | — | — | — | The Late Kim Hyun Sik's 30th Anniversary Memorial Album |
| "0%" (아무것도 하기 싫으면 어떡애) | 2021 | 113 | — | — | Observe |
| As featured artist ||||||
| "Pursuit of Happiness" (행복을 찾아서) Yim Jae-beom feat. Baek A-yeon | 2012 | — | — | — | TO… |
| "Please Come Back" (돌아와줘) Taecyeon & Chansung of 2PM feat. Baek A-yeon | 2014 | — | — | — | Go Crazy! (Grand Edition) |
| "Kibuntat" (기분탓) Sleepy feat. Baek A-yeon | 2015 | 39 | — | KOR: 51,563+ | F/W |
| Pre-debut singles ||||||
| "Atlantis Princess" originally by BoA | 2012 | 154 | — | — | K-Pop Star Top 8 |
| "Can't Fight the Moonlight" originally by LeAnn Rimes | 2012 | 100 | — | KOR: 45,274+ | K-Pop Star Top 7 |
| "Saving All My Love for You" originally by Whitney Houston | 2012 | 93 | — | KOR: 46,548+ | K-Pop Star Top 6 |
| "Run Devil Run" originally by Girls' Generation | 2012 | 55 | 97 | KOR: 111,780+ | K-Pop Star Top 5 |
| "I Miss You" originally by Kim Bum-soo | 2012 | 23 | 37 | KOR: 325,867+ | K-Pop Star Top 4 |
| "Ma Boy 2" with Lee Seunghoon, originally by Electroboyz | 2012 | 50 | 67 | KOR: 116,457+ | K-Pop Star Special No. 3 |
| "I Was Wrong" originally by 2AM | 2012 | — | — | — | K-Pop Star Top 3 |
| "—" denotes release did not chart. ||||||

### Other charted songs

| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Sales (DL) | Album |
| Title | Year | KOR Gaon | KOR Hot 100 | Sales (DL) | Album |
| "Stay" (머물러요) | 2012 | 37 | 47 | KOR: 136,772+ | I'm Baek |
| "Love, Love, Love." | 2012 | 44 | 65 | KOR: 81,151+ | I'm Baek |
| "Always" feat. Jun.K of 2PM | 2012 | 55 | — | KOR: 70,219+ | I'm Baek |
| "You're Leaving" (니가 떠나간다) | 2012 | 59 | — | KOR: 68,973+ | I'm Baek |
| "The First Time I Met You" (너를 처음 만난 그때) with Hwang Chi-yeul | 2015 | 49 | — | KOR: 51,089+ | 투유 프로젝트 - 슈가맨, Pt. 4 |
| "Something to Say" (할말) | 2016 | 29 | — | KOR: 102,393+ | So-So (single) |
| "Screw You" (넘어져라) | 2017 | 81 | — | KOR: 34,548 | "Bittersweet" |
| "Just Friends" (연락이 없으면) | 2017 | 94 | — | KOR: 30,231 | "Bittersweet" |
| "Jealousy" (질투가 나) feat. Park Ji-min | 2017 | 27 | — | KOR: 71,801 | "Bittersweet" |
| "Magic Girl" (마법소녀) | 2017 | — | — | KOR: 21,070 | "Bittersweet" |
| "—" denotes release did not chart. ||||||

### Soundtrack appearances

| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Sales (DL) | Album |
| Title | Year | KOR Gaon | Sales (DL) | Album |
| "Daddy Long Legs" | 2012 | 6 | KOR: 469,000+ | Cheongdam-dong Alice OST |
| "Introduction to Love" (사랑학개론) | 2013 | 37 | KOR: 170,436+ | When a Man Falls in Love OST |
| "Tears Are Also Love" (눈물도 사랑인 걸) | 2013 | — | — | Goddess of Fire OST |
| "The Three Things I Have Left" (내게 남은 세가지) | 2014 | 11 | KOR: 232,433+ | Angel Eyes OST |
| "Morning of Canon" (캐논의 아침) | 2014 | 70 | KOR: 79,425+ | You Are My Destiny OST |
| "So We Are" (이렇게 우리) | 2015 | 14 | KOR: 265,169+ | Yong-pal OST |
| "A Lot Like Love" (사랑인 듯 아닌 듯) | 2016 | 25 | KOR: 131,894+ | Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo OST |
| "Was it You" (너였었니) | 2018 | — | — | Wok of Love OST |
| "Why" | 2018 | — | — | Webtoon Yeonnom (웹툰 연놈) OST |
| "Always Be with You" (그대여야만 해요) | 2019 | 164 | — | Encounter OST |
| "Story of Us" (둘만의 이야기) | 2019 | — | — | Anna, Mari OST |
| "Just Go" | 2019 | — | — | Doctor John OST |
| "Hello My Lover" | 2019 | — | — | Vagabond OST |
| "나는 니가 되고 싶어" | 2020 | — | — | Anna, Mari OST |
| "Wherever" (어디라도) | 2020 | — | — | The Spies Who Loved Me OST |
| "Sweet Home" (집에만 있었지) | 2021 | — | — | Webtoon Bunny and Guys (바니와 오빠들) OST |
| "Stay with Me" (그대를 조금 더) | 2021 | — | — | Monthly Magazine Home OST |
| "Stained" (물들이다) | 2022 | — | — | Elsword OST |
| "There, There" (당신의 밤이 그만 불안하기를) | 2022 | — | — | Love All Play OST |
| "—" denotes releases did not chart. |||||

## Concerts and tours
### Headlining

* Baek A Yeon 1st Concert "Whispering the First Story" (2015)
* Baek A Yeon 2nd Concert "Whisper, Whisper - The 2nd Story" (2016)

### Concert participation

* 2014 JYP Nation ONE MIC (Seoul, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Bangkok)
* 2016 JYP Nation Mix & Match (Seoul and Tokyo)

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
| 2019 | Princess Aya | Princess Aya | animated, Korean dubbed, Officially released in 2022 | |
| 2019 | Anna, Marie | | | |

### Variety programs

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2011 | K-pop Star season 1 | Contestant | |
| 2015 | 100 People, 100 Songs | Contestant | Episode 34 |
| 2015 | 2015 Idol Star Athletics Ssireum Basketball Futsal Archery Championships | Participant | |
| 2015 | Sugar Man | Show Man with Hwang Chi-yeol | Remake a song 너를 처음 만난 그때 (The First Time I Met You) by Park Jun-ha |
| 2016 | Sugar Man | Show Man with Sandeul B1A4 | Remake a song 선물 (Gift) by UN |
| 2016 | Duet Song Festival | Duet with Park Soon-ho | Song choice 제발 (Please) by Lee So-ra |
| 2016 | King of Mask Singer | Contestant as "I Will Back Music Box" | Episodes 83–84 |

### Music video appearance

| Year | Song title | Artist | Role |
| 2013 | "Somebody" | 15& | Herself |

### Theatre

| Year | Title | Role | Ref. |
| 2015 | Cinderella | Cinderella | |
| 2021–2022 | Theatrical Boy Radio ONAIR | DJ | |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| 2013 | 22nd Seoul Music Awards | Best New Artists | — | Nominated |
| 2015 | 7th MelOn Music Awards | Top 10 Artists | — | Nominated |
| 2015 | 7th MelOn Music Awards | Best Ballad Song | Shouldn't Have (feat. Young K of DAY6) | Won |
| 2015 | 7th MelOn Music Awards | Song Of the Year | Shouldn't Have (feat. Young K of DAY6) | Nominated |
| 2015 | 17th Mnet Asian Music Awards | Best Vocal Performance – Female | Shouldn't Have (feat. Young K of DAY6) | Nominated |
| 2015 | 17th Mnet Asian Music Awards | Sina Weibo Global Fan's Choice – Female | — | Nominated |
| 2016 | 25th Seoul Music Awards | Bonsang Award | Shouldn't Have (feat. Young K of DAY6) | Nominated |
| 2016 | 25th Seoul Music Awards | Popularity Award | — | Nominated |
| 2016 | 25th Seoul Music Awards | Hallyu Special Award | — | Nominated |
| 2016 | 30th Golden Disk Awards | Digital Bonsang | Shouldn't Have (feat. Young K of DAY6) | Nominated |
| 2016 | 30th Golden Disk Awards | Popularity Award (Korea) | — | Nominated |
| 2016 | 30th Golden Disk Awards | Global Popularity Award | — | Nominated |
| 2016 | 5th Gaon Chart Music Awards | Discovery of the Year – Hot Trend | Shouldn't Have (feat. Young K of DAY6) | Won |
| 2016 | 18th Mnet Asian Music Awards | Best Female Artist | — | Nominated |
| 2016 | 18th Mnet Asian Music Awards | Best Vocal Performance – Female | So-So | Nominated |
| 2017 | 31st Golden Disk Awards | Digital Bonsang | So-So | Nominated |
| 2017 | 31st Golden Disk Awards | Asian Choice Popularity Award | — | Nominated |
| 2017 | 26th Seoul Music Awards | Bonsang Award | So-So | Nominated |
| 2017 | 26th Seoul Music Awards | Best Ballad Award | So-So | Won |
| 2017 | 26th Seoul Music Awards | Popularity Award | — | Nominated |
| 2017 | 26th Seoul Music Awards | Hallyu Special Award | — | Nominated |
| 2017 | 6th Gaon Chart Music Awards | Song of the Year – May | So-So | Nominated |