# Park So-yeon (singer)

Park So-yeon (born Park In-jung on October 5, 1987), referred to as Soyeon, is a South Korean singer and actress. She debuted as a member of girl group T-ara in July 2009. The group went on to become one of the best-selling girl groups of all time. She debuted as a solo artist in 2021.

## Early life and education

Park was born Park In-jung on October 5, 1987, in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. She has legally changed her name to Park So-yeon. In 2005, she took part and was awarded the Gold Award for the CMB Chin Chin Singing Competition. Park has studied at the prestigious Anyang High School of Arts, located in Anyang, Gyeonggi, South Korea.
Park was formerly a trainee under SM Entertainment, preparing to be a member of girl group Girls' Generation. However, she left the company six months before their debut due to personal circumstances. After debuting with T-ara, she revealed on the tvN's show Taxi that at that time she felt the opportunity came so easily and she was in two minds, not fully prepared for the debut.

## Career
### 2007–2011: Career beginnings

Park was the second new member to be added to T-ara after two former members Jiae and Jiwon left the group in mid-2009. In 2010, she was rushed to the hospital after complaints of not feeling well while filming for her cameo role in Master of Study. She was then diagnosed with H1N1 while T-ara was still promoting the follow-up track Like The First Time off of their first full-length album, Absolute First Album. Park participated in the OSTs for the movie Death Bell 2: Bloody Camp and the SBS drama Coffee House. In 2011, she was a fixed cast member for KBS's variety show 100 Points Out Of 100.

### 2012–2013: Acting roles and QBS

Park participated in the musical adaption of T-ara's hit song Roly-Poly, which opened on January 13, 2012, at the Seongnam Arts Center. She has stated that it is one of her dreams to stand on stage and act on it. She replaced Hyomin as T-ara's new leader starting on December 7, 2011, for their Lovey-Dovey promotions. She is the fourth leader of T-ara after Eunjung, Boram, and Hyomin. In July 2013, she stepped down as leader and Qri became the fifth leader.
Park appeared in the KBS drama Lovers of Haeundae as Lee Gwan-soon. The drama aired on August 13, 2012. Park along with Qri and Boram formed a sub-group called QBS in May 2013. The sub-group focused on the Japanese market. They released their debut single titled "Kaze no You ni" (風のように, Like the Wind) on June 26, 2013.

### 2017–present: Departure from T-ara and solo debut

On March 6, 2017 MBK announced that T-ara would be releasing their last album as a six-member group in May, after Boram and Park's contracts ended, and the other members would remain until December 31, 2017. On May 7, MBK Entertainment revealed the group's plans had changed and that the new album's release had been rescheduled to June 2017, with Boram and Park not participating due to the expiry of their contracts. On May 8, it was announced that T-ara's last performance as a six-member group would be in Taiwan concert on May 13.
On July 11, 2020, it was announced that Park had signed with Think Entertainment. On February 5, 2021, Park released her first ever single as a solo artist in 12 years entitled "They Are All The Same" under Think Entertainment. Before the release of the song, she received support from the members of T-ara. On March 24, 2021, Park released her second single entitled "Interview".

## Endorsements

In February 2021, Park became the exclusive model for the Korean tea brand "HOBEATEE". In March 2021, the brand announced a 100% sold-out. It was also mentioned that Park helped the brand's image by drawing attention from both domestic users and her overseas Chinese fans.

## Personal life

On January 18, 2022, Park's agency confirmed that she will marry soccer player Cho Yu-min in November 2022. They have been in a relationship for 3 years. Later, it was announced the wedding ceremony in November has been postponed until next year, due to Cho Yu-min joined the national team and planning to focus for the 2022 FIFA Qatar World Cup. But the couple had already registered their marriage and were a legal couple. On September 22, Park revealed through her Instagram that she bought her mother a 3-volume apartment in Seoul's green forest area.

## Philanthropy

In May 2012, Park represented T-ara and attended public interest agreement ceremony to sign an agreement with TTOMA, a drinks brand for which T-ara was a model for. Subsequently, a portion of proceeds from T-ara's personalized drinks with the brand will be donated to the Fruit of Love Foundation.
Park is an advocate for animal protection. In 2015, she participated the anti-animal abuse campaign hosted by Blue Angel Volunteer Group. On March 29, 2015, she held a fan sign at the 2015 K-Pet Fair. All proceeds went to the organization. In 2017, Park was revealed to have been secretly donating ₩1 million every month for 2 years to Blue Angel Volunteer Group. In November that year, News1 reported that Park is an honorary member of the organization.

## Discography
### Singles
#### As lead artist

| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Album |
| Title | Year | KOR | KOR Hot | Album |
| "I Know" (알아요) (with Lee Bo-ram and Yangpa) | 2012 | 12 | 10 | Together |
| "Painkiller" (진통제) (with Seong Yoo-jin, Seo Eun-kyo, Taewoon and Choi Sung-min) | 2013 | 11 | 13 | Non-album single |
| "They Are All The Same" (다 그대로더라) | 2021 | — | — | Non-album single |
| "Interview" (인터뷰) | 2021 | — | — | Non-album single |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. |||||

#### As featured artist

| Title | Year | Album |
| "Tell Him to Go" (with Jung Dakyung) | 2022 | Non-album single |

#### Promotional singles

| Title | Year | KOR | Album |
| "Song For You" (널 위해 부르는 노래) (with Ahn Young-min) | 2011 | 52 | Ahn Young-min A-Family |
| "Don't Forget Me" (나를 잊지 말아요) | 2015 | — | Non-album singles |
| "Letter" (信件) (CHN) | 2020 | — | Non-album singles |

### Soundtrack appearances

| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Album |
| Title | Year | KOR | KOR Hot | Album |
| "How Does It End" (뭐라고 끝낼까) | 2010 | 45 | 14 | Death Bell 2: Bloody Camp OST |
| "Page One" (페이지원) (Part. 2) (with Ock Joo-hyun) | 2010 | — | — | Coffee House OST |
| "Page One" (페이지원) (with Ock Joo-hyun and SG Wannabe) | 2011 | 25 | 30 | Coffee House OST |
| "Until The End" (끝까지) (with Lee Bo-ram) | 2011 | — | — | Ghastly OST |
| "One Love" (하나의 사랑) (cover) | 2020 | — | — | Homemade Love Story OST |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. |||||

### Other appearances

| Title | Year | Album | Notes |
| "Sign" (with Areum) | 2013 | Bunny Style! (Single) | Tracks found on T-ara's first original Japanese single |
| "Love Poem" | 2013 | Bunny Style! (Single) | Tracks found on T-ara's first original Japanese single |
| "Sad Engagement" (슬픈 언약식) | 2020 | Family | Part of Think Entertainment's special Chuseok holiday album |
| "Don't worry" (걱정말아요 그대) (with Ahn Seong-hoon) | 2020 | Kim Ho-jung's Partner | Live cover track from Variety show Kim Ho-jung's Partner |

## Songwriting credits

All song credits are adapted from the Korea Music Copyright Association's database, unless otherwise noted.
| Year | Artist | Song | Album | Lyricist | Lyricist | Ref. |
| Year | Artist | Song | Album | Credited | With | Ref. |
| 2020 | Kim Ho-joong | "Full Bloom" | Our Family (우리家) | | Shin Ji-hoo | |
| 2021 | Soyeon | "Interview" | Non-album single | | Jesus | |

## Filmography
### Films

| Year | Title | Country / Region | Notes |
| 2011 | Ghastly | South Korea | Cameo |
| 2019 | I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change zh | Hong Kong | Cameo |

### Television series

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2010 | Giant | Bunny Girls' member | Cameo |
| 2010 | Master of Study | Bad Student | Cameo |
| 2012 | Lovers of Haeundae | Lee Gwan-soon | Supporting role |

### Web series

| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
| 2010 | Bubi Bubi | So Yeon | Main Role | |
| 2015 | Sweet Temptation | So Hee | Main Role | |

### Variety shows

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2009 | M Countdown | Special host | K-Chart announcer |
| 2009 | Invincible Baseball | Cast member | |
| 2010 | M Countdown | Special host | |
| 2010ㅡ11 | 100 / 100 | Fixed guest | |
| 2011 | Star Couple Battle 3 | Main Cast | Chuseok special program |
| 2011 | M Countdown | Special host | With Eun-jung |
| 2012 | Crown Princess Show | Main cast | |
| 2013 | Music Bank | Special host | |
| 2019 | Shopping King | Host | |
| 2020 | King of Mask Singer | Contestant | as "Diver" (Ep. 267–268) |
| 2020 | Miss Back | Contestant | |
| 2022 | We Are Family | Cast Member | |

### Hosting

| Year | Title | Notes |
| 2013 | Yongin Military Concert | |
| 2013 | APAN Star Awards | With Lee Hwi Jae |
| 2014 | APAN Star Awards | With Kim Sung Joo |
| 2015 | APAN Star Awards | With Lee Hwi-jae, Kim Sung-joo and Lee Hoon |
| 2020 | Kim Ho-joong fanmeeting | two-day fanmeeting |

### Musical

| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
| 2012 | Our Youth, Roly Poly Musical | Oh Hyun-joo | Main Role | |

## Live performances and events
### Fan meetings

| Year | Date | Fan meeting | Country | City | Venue | Ref. |
| 2019 | August 3, 2019 | SOYEON First Japan Fan meeting | Japan | Tokyo | Yokohama YTJ Hall | |

### Festivals

| Year | Date | Event | City | Country |
| 2005 | June 24, 2005 | CMB Chin Song Festival | Seoul | South Korea |
| 2011 | December 31, 2011 | MBC Music Festival | Seoul | South Korea |
| 2014 | September 28, 2014 | 5th Hallyu Dream Festival | Gyeongju | South Korea |

### TV shows and specials

| Year | Date | Show | Performed Songs | Notes |
| 2009 | August 14, 2009 | Music Bank | "Two of Us" (cover) | |
| 2010 | May 27, 2010 | M! Countdown | "Coffee over Milk" | |
| 2010 | June 6, 2010 | Inkigayo | "Coffee over Milk" | |
| 2010 | June 25, 2010 | Inkigayo | "What Should We Finish" | |
| 2010 | June 26, 2010 | Show! Music Core | "What Should We Finish" | |
| 2010 | July 2, 2010 | Music Bank | "What Should We Finish" | |
| 2010 | July 18, 2010 | Kim Jung-eun's Chocolate | "What Should We Finish" | |
| 2010 | September 22, 2010 | Idol Star Trot Match | "Seoul Trot" (cover) | Chuseok special program |
| 2011 | September 13, 2011 | Star Couple Battle 3 | "Come Back Home" (cover), "Candy" (cover) ,"Eternal Love" (cover) | Chuseok special program |
| 2014 | October 31, 2014 | Hidden Singer 3 | "You Are You" (cover) | |
| 2014 | September 24, 2014 | Weekly Idol | "Man is Ship, Woman is Harbor" (cover) | |
| 2020 | August 18, 2020 | King of Masked Singer | "Wait" (cover) | |
| 2020 | August 24, 2020 | King of Masked Singer | "Cold Noodles" (cover) | |
| 2020 | October 6, 2020 | Video Star | "I Loved You" (cover) | |
| 2020 | October 22, 2020 | Miss Back | "One Love" | |
| 2021 | March 26, 2021 | You Heeyeol's Sketchbook | "One Love", "Interview" | |

### Radio specials

| Year | Date | Show | Performed Songs |
| 2011 | January 4, 2011 | KBS Radio | "Bye Bye Bye" (cover) |

## Accolades
### Awards and nominations

| Award ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee / work | Result |
| Baidu Entertainment Awards | 2015 | Popular Artist Award | Herself | Nominated |
| CMB Chin Song Festival | 2005 | First Place Winner | Herself | Won |
| China Powerstar Awards | 2017 | Most Influential Female Foreign Artist | Herself | Nominated |
| China Powerstar Awards | 2018 | Most Influential Female Foreign Artist | Herself | Nominated |
| KBS Entertainment Awards | 2009 | Best Teamwork | Invincible Baseball | Won |

### Listicles

| Publisher | Year | List | Placement | Ref. |
| Forbes China | 2017 | Global Idol Chinese Popularity Ranking | 45th | |