Taeyeon

**Taeyeon** (**Hangul**: 태연; **Katakana**: テヨン) is a South Korean singer under SM Entertainment. Currently she is also the main vocalist of Girls' Generation, which she debuted with in 2007. Taeyeon made her solo debut with the mini album *I*, which was released in 2015.

## Early Life

Taeyeon was born in Jeonju, South Korea to her 2 parents, along with having siblings as well. In her second year of middle school she accompanied her father to an SM Academy to take vocal lessons. In 2004 her vocal trainer "The One" wanted and gave her a change to sing in a song. That same year she won the *" SM Youth Best Competition"* where she signed a contract with SM Entertainment. As of August 2007, she debuted as a member of Girls' Generation.

## Career

### 2008-2015

*See more-Girls' Generation - TTS, Girls' Generation*

Following a radio hosting job in 08-10. That same year her and Ahn Young Min worked together and relased "Like A Star" featuring The One which reached number 1 on the Gaon Digital Chart. Somewhere in 2012 she also released the OST "가까이 (Closer)" for *To the Beautiful You drama which reached number seven on the Gaon charts and the K-pop Hot 100.*

Starting in April 2012, rumors f a sub-unit forming between Girls' Generation's Taeyeon, Tiffany, and Jessica. April 12, a representative from the agency stated that nothing had been confirmed yet. Later on the 16th it was announced their would be a comeback from the group in May, with no sub unit formation. Soon it was confirmed the sub unit would release their first mini album *Twinkle*, and the unit would consist of members Taeyeon, Tiffany, and Seohyun [hence the name **TaeTiSeo**]. The group would make their debut on April 29th. The mini album quickly became no. 1 on the sales chart beginning on March 2, continuing all the way to May 3rd. It topped the chart on various realtime charts such as Mnet, Bugs, Olleh Music, and Naver Music.

Next year on March 3, 2013 she released the single *"그리고 하나 (And One)"* for the soundtrack of That Winter, The Wind Blows. The song rose to number on the Hot K-pop 100 chart and number 2 on the Gaon chart. Taeyeon was soon invited to record the theme song *"Bye"* for the *Mr. Go* film.

Feburary 3, 2014 Taeyeon was also confirmed for SM project "SM the Ballad" where she would sing her solo "Set Me Free" and the Korean version of "Breath" with SHINee's Jonghyun. In Feburary 2015 she accepted an offer from f(x)'s Amber to feature in her song *"Shake That Brass"* in her album Beautiful.

### 2015-2016; Solo debut with *"I"*

According to an inside source from outlet Sports Donga, Girls' Generation's Tiffany and Taeyeon would be preparing to release solo albums. Stated on September 3, it was also reported that Taeyeon's would be released first, somewhere in October. Soon after, SM clarified the discussion of solo albums, by stating that the release date of the album was undecided. Later on September 14, 2015 industry insiders told Sports Today that EXO's Baekhyun and Taeyeon were broken up, after their previous relationship that started in 2014. In October 15, her solo album *I* was officially released. THe album peaked at number 2 on the Gaon Digital Chart, along with charting atop on the US Billboard World Albums.

Furthermore, Taeyeon was also featured on artist Yim Jae Beom's *사랑보다 깊은 상처 (Scars Deeper Than Love)*, Verbal Jint's *세상이 완벽했다면 (If the World Was a Perfect Place)*, and Crush's *Don't Forget*. In addition, on Jan 27, 2016, Taeyeon would be the first to feature on SM Entertainment's new digital platform STATION, with the digital single *"Rain"*, which peaked at at number 1 in South Korea and sold over 2.5 million digital copies. Later that year it was revealed she would be releasing her 2nd mini album *Why* as well.

## References

1. ↑ Korea Times:Girls’ Generation Dominates MBC
2. ↑ Newsen:소녀시대 태연, 보컬스승 더원 듀엣 ‘별처럼’ 음원차트 올킬
3. ↑ Gaon Music Chart:2012년 37주차 Digital Chart (in KOR)
4. ↑ Billboard:Korea K-Pop Hot 100
5. ↑ Soompi:Girls’ Generation to Form Subunits?
6. ↑ Soompi:No Subunits but Comeback in May?
7. ↑ Soompi:Girls’ Generation Unit Group "TaeTiSeo" to Release "Twinkle" Online on April 29
8. ↑ Soompi:TaeTiSeo’s New Mini Album #1 On Album Sales Chart!
9. ↑ Billboard:Korea K-Pop Hot 100
10. ↑ Gaon Chart:2013년 12주차 Digital Chart
11. ↑ Soompi:SM Reveals the Singers and Tracklist for “SM The Ballad” New Album, “Breath”
12. ↑ Soompi:Girls’ Generation’s Taeyeon and Tiffany to Release Solo Albums
13. ↑ Sports Donga:태연 이어 티파니도 솔로앨범 낸다 (in KOR)
14. ↑ Soompi:Girls’ Generation’s Taeyeon’s Solo Album Release Date Still Undecided
15. ↑ Naver TV:SM "태연, 솔로 앨범 준비중…발표 시기 미정" (in KOR)
16. ↑ Soompi:Girls’ Generation Taeyeon and EXO Baekhyun Reported to Have Broken Up
17. ↑ [단독] 태연 백현 결별, SM 좋은 선후배로 남았다 (in KOR)
18. ↑ Gaon Music Chart:2015년 42주차 Album Chart
19. ↑ Billboard:Girls' Generation's Taeyeon Is Its First Member to Go Solo & First to Hit No. 1: Check Out the Stunning 'I'
20. ↑ Soompi:Taeyeon’s Solo Album to Feature Rapper Verbal Jint
21. ↑ Soompi:Crush Teams Up With Girls’ Generation’s Taeyeon for New Single
22. ↑ Soompi:Girls’ Generation’s Taeyeon Reveals New Teasers for “Rain”
23. ↑ Nate News:소녀시대 태연, 27일 디지털 싱글 'RAIN' 티저 기습 공개…SM 'STATION' 다음 주자는? (in KOR)
24. ↑ Gaon Music Chart:2016년 06주차 Digital Chart (in KOR)
25. ↑ Gaon Music Chart:GAON′s 관찰노트\_2019.09.19 (in KOR)
26. ↑ Soompi:Taeyeon Drops Teasers For Solo Comeback