Biography
One of the foremost voices in Korean pop, Kim Tae-Yeon—widely recognized as Taeyeon—first achieved global recognition through her role in Girls’ Generation and its offshoots TTS and S.M. the Ballad before establishing herself as a solo artist. Her debut full-length, My Voice, reached the summit of the Gaon Album chart in 2017, while later releases such as Purpose in 2019 and INVU in 2022 consistently landed inside the Top Ten.
Born March 9, 1989, in Jeonju, North Jeolla, South Korea, Taeyeon concluded early on that singing was her sole aptitude and sought rigorous instruction to turn it into a profession. During middle school she enrolled in vocal classes at an academy tied to S.M. Entertainment; after claiming first place in the school’s 2004 student talent contest, she secured a contract with the agency. Years of intensive preparation in performance and musicianship culminated in her addition to the all-female group Girls’ Generation in 2007.
The 2009 single “Gee” propelled the ensemble to domestic stardom and extended its reach to Japan and the United States. Within the rising spotlight, Taeyeon emerged as a central figure, leading to solo television appearances and stage opportunities. Two splinter projects further highlighted her profile: TTS, formed in 2012 with bandmates Tiffany and Seohyun, and S.M. the Ballad, which she joined in 2014 to focus on ballads and classic repertoire.
Taeyeon stepped out on her own in 2015 with the EP I, one of that year’s strongest sellers, then delivered her first solo album, My Voice, in February 2017. The set topped the Gaon chart and peaked at number two on Billboard’s World Albums ranking; she closed the year with the seasonal release This Christmas-Winter Is Coming. Her second studio album, Purpose, arrived in October 2019, featuring the hit tracks “Four Seasons” and “Dear Me,” and placed second in South Korea while entering the Billboard World Albums Top Ten. The EP What Do I Call You followed in December 2020. In February 2022 she issued her third Korean studio album, INVU, which benefited from the Top Ten title song as well as the earlier singles “Weekend” and “Can’t Control Myself” and again reached number two on the Gaon chart.
Born March 9, 1989, in Jeonju, North Jeolla, South Korea, Taeyeon concluded early on that singing was her sole aptitude and sought rigorous instruction to turn it into a profession. During middle school she enrolled in vocal classes at an academy tied to S.M. Entertainment; after claiming first place in the school’s 2004 student talent contest, she secured a contract with the agency. Years of intensive preparation in performance and musicianship culminated in her addition to the all-female group Girls’ Generation in 2007.
The 2009 single “Gee” propelled the ensemble to domestic stardom and extended its reach to Japan and the United States. Within the rising spotlight, Taeyeon emerged as a central figure, leading to solo television appearances and stage opportunities. Two splinter projects further highlighted her profile: TTS, formed in 2012 with bandmates Tiffany and Seohyun, and S.M. the Ballad, which she joined in 2014 to focus on ballads and classic repertoire.
Taeyeon stepped out on her own in 2015 with the EP I, one of that year’s strongest sellers, then delivered her first solo album, My Voice, in February 2017. The set topped the Gaon chart and peaked at number two on Billboard’s World Albums ranking; she closed the year with the seasonal release This Christmas-Winter Is Coming. Her second studio album, Purpose, arrived in October 2019, featuring the hit tracks “Four Seasons” and “Dear Me,” and placed second in South Korea while entering the Billboard World Albums Top Ten. The EP What Do I Call You followed in December 2020. In February 2022 she issued her third Korean studio album, INVU, which benefited from the Top Ten title song as well as the earlier singles “Weekend” and “Can’t Control Myself” and again reached number two on the Gaon chart.
Albums
Our Blues, Pt. 6 (Original Television Soundtrack)
2022
#GirlsSpkOut
2020
Voice
2019
Moonlovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, Pt. 5 (Original Television Soundtrack)
2016
Singles
