Girls Generation Profiles
Girls’ Generation is a popular nine-member South Korean girl group formed by SM Entertainment in 2007. The members are, in order of announcement to be in the group, Yoona, Tiffany, Yuri, Hyoyeon, Sooyoung, Seohyun, Taeyeon (leader), Jessica, and Sunny. They are commonly referred to as SNSD, the acronym of the group’s Korean name So-Nyeo Shi-Dae or So-Nyuh Shi-Dae, Chinese name Shao Nü Shi Dai, Japanese name ShōJo JiDai. They are also referred as SoShi which is the abbreviation of the groups’ Korean name. The group’s official fan-club is named as S♥NE (소원) pronounced as “So-won” which means “wish” in Korean.
Girls’ Generation had their official debut stage on August 5, 2007 with their first single “Into the New World”. The group has released two albums and various singles, which went on to achieve commercial success. Their 2009 single “Gee” holds the record for the longest-running #1 song on KBS’s Music Bank, at 9 weeks. That year also saw the girls winning various awards, including consecutive Artist of the Year (Daesang) awards at the Seoul Music Awards, Golden Disk Awards, Melon Music Awards, and the Korean Cultural Entertainment Awards.
Yoona
Yoona has appeared in several music videos and commercials. She gained a minor role in the Korean drama, 9 Ends 2 Outs (9회말 2아웃) and won a major role in a new drama, You Are My Destiny. In this drama, Yoona portrays a girl who was once blind. You Are My Destiny has the highest rating and number of viewers for daily dramas in its time slot, beating other per popular dramas from major Korean networks, MBC and SBS.[not in citation given] Yoona has been accepted by Dongguk University and will continue her studies. On February 10, 2009 YoonA was spotted at her High School Graduation.
* Birth name: Im Yoon Ah (Hangul: 임윤아; Hanja: 林允兒)* Date of birth: May 30, 1990 (1990-05-30)
* Discovery: 2002 SM Saturday Open Casting Audition
* School(s): Daeyoung High School
* Position : Vocalist, Lead Dancer
* Awards/Recognitions
* 2008 Korean Drama Festival: Netizen Popularity Award (You Are My Destiny)
* 2008 KBS Drama Awards: Best New Actress Award (You Are My Destiny)[10]
* 2008 KBS Drama Awards: Netizen Award
* Featured in music videos for TVXQ's "Magic Castle, The Grace's "열정 (My Everything)", Super Junior's "U" and "Marry U", Lee Seung Chul's "Propose"
* Featured in commercials for Sanyo Eneloop, Teun Teun English, Elite, Sunkist Lemondae, Clean & Clear, Sola VitaminC, YeJiMiIn
* Starred in MBC dramas 9 Hits, 2 Outs and Park Jung Geum, and KBS drama You Are My Destiny, MBC drama Cinderella Man
* Featured in SHINee's Japanese version of "Replay" MV
* Starred in the 2012 drama 'Love Rain' with Jang Geun Suk
* Female lead in the 2013 drama 'Prime Minister and I'
Yuri
Birth Name: Kwon Yu-ri (권유리)
Nicknames: Yul, Kkab-Yul (playful Yul), Black Pearl
Date of Birth: December 5, 1989 (1989-12-05)
Height: 167 cm.
Weight: 45 kg.
Bloodtype: AB
Position: Supporting Vocalist/2nd Main Dancer
Language: Korean (Fluent), English, Chinese (Fluent), Japanese
Speciality: Dance, Acting, Swimming
Casted: 2001 SM 1st Annual Youth Best Contest (Best Dancer, 2nd Place)
Training: 5 Years 11 Months
School: Neunggok High School (능곡고등학교) | ChungAng University
Career: – 2005 KM Super Junior Show ‘The King’s Boyfriend’
- 2006 CF Dongil Highvill Lake City
- 2006 MV DBSK ‘Beautiful Life‘
- 2006 CF China Chocopie CF (with Jang Dong-gun)
- 2006 CF East-West food Hat Choco mitte
- 2007 Movie ‘Attack on the Pin-Up Boys‘ (as Ballet Girl)
- 2007 KBS Sitcom ‘Unstoppable Marriage’ (as Kwon Yu-ri)
- 2008 OST for SBS drama Working Mom ‘Ggok‘ (with Sooyoung)
- 2009 MV K.Will ‘Tears are Dropping (눈물이 뚝뚝)‘
- 2009 MV Joo Hyunmi & Seohyun ‘Jjalajajja (짜라자짜)‘
- 2009 MC MBC Music Core (with Tiffany)
- 2009 Variety show KBS2 ‘Invincible Youth’ (as part of Girl7)
Hyoyeon
Stage Name: Dancing Queen HYOYEON (댄싱퀸 효연 – dancing queen Hyoyeon)
Birth Name: Kim Hyo-yeon (김효연)
Nicknames: Hyoraengi (pun: tiger), Kim-choding (elementary school-kid Kim), Kim Yeolsal(10-year-old Kim), Fiona
Position: Supporting Vocalist/Main Dancer
Date of Birth: September 22, 1989
Zodiac Sign: Virgo
Bloodtype: AB
Sibling(s): 1 younger brother (Kim Min-goo)
Language: Korean (Fluent), English , Chinese (Fluent), Japanese (Basic)
Specialty: Dance
Casted: 2000 SM Casting System
Training Duration: 6 Years 1 Month
School: China Beijing Language Courses (중국북경어학연수)
Career:
- 2004 Hip hop dance crew ‘Little Winners‘ (with Miss A Lee Min-young)
- 2005 MKMF BoA’s ‘Over the Top’ silhouette dancer
- 2010 Recurring guest on KBS2 ‘Dream Team’
TRIVIA
The best dancer and the fastest runner of SNSD.
Hyoyeon is ambidextrous, she actively use both of her left hand and right hand.
The other eight members think revealed that she’s SNSD’s mood maker and also the funniest member.
One of her most well-known nickname is “Kim Yeolsal” (ten-year old Kim) or because her jokes are similar to that of ten-year old and she also has a lot of mood swings.
Hyoyeon collects cute, colorful stationery and stickers.
She hits people and tell secrets when drunks. The members revealed that the maknaes, Yoona and Seohyun, are her usual drunk “victims”.
SNSD’s “fashion terrorist”.
Prior to her debut, Hyoyeon traveled to Beijing, China in 2004 with Super Junior’s Siwon to learn Mandarin and more about Chinese culture.
In 1999, she enrolled in Winners Dance School, a famous dance school in South Korea specializing in popping, locking, animation and various other hip-hop styles.
At Winners Dance School, Hyoyeon teamed with MissA’s Min and formed a dancing duo called Little Winners.
Besides Hip -hop dance, Hyoyeon also learned Jazz and Latin dance.
She received dance instruction from the Electric Boogaloos and top choreographers such as Kim Hye Rang, Poppin Seen, Kwang Hoo (aka Crazy Monkey), Poppin DS, Kwon Seok-Jin (aka Locking Khan) and ex-Black Beat’s / Beat Burger’s Shim Jae Won.
Hyoyeon’s Chinese name is 孝渊 (Xiàoyuān)
Jessica
Stage Name: Ice Princess JESSICA (얼음공주 제시카 – eoleum gongju Jessica)
Birth Name: Jessica Jung (제시카 정)
Korean Name: Jung Soo-yeon (정수연)
Nicknames: Sica, Jessi, Jess, Sergeant Sic, General Sic, Sicachu, Sickal (knive), Sica-sama
Position: Main Vocalist
Date of Birth: April 18, 1989
Zodiac Sign: Aries
Bloodtype: B
Sibling(s): 1 younger sister (Krystal Jung)
Language: Korean (Fluent), English (Fluent), Chinese (Basic), Japanese
Specialty: Dance
Casted: 2000 SM Casting System
Training Duration: 7 Years 6 Months
School: Korea Kent Foreign School (K.K.F.S.) [graduated]
Career:
- 2007 MV Kim Jo Han – ‘Love is so late, I’m sorry‘
- 2007 Featured with 8eight ‘I Love You‘
- 2009 Featured with Park Myung Soo ‘Naengmyun‘
- 2009 MV Super Junior M – ‘Super Girl‘
- 2009 Musical ‘Legally Blonde – The Musical‘ (as Elle Woods)
- 2010 CF Song for SPC Corp. (Dunkin Donuts, Paris Baguette, Baskin Robbins) ‘Sweet Delight‘
- 2011 OST for KBS drama Romance Town ‘Because Tears are Overflowing‘
TRIVIA
Nicknamed as Ice Princess, Sergeant Sic, and Sica-sama because of the cold, predominant vibe she has.
Jessica is often considered as a real-life tsundere; A tsundere is a Japanese manga/anime character development process that describes a person who is initially cold and even hostile towards another person before gradually showing their warm side over time.
Jessica was born in San Francisco, California. After street-casted by SM Entertainment when she was 11 year-old, she and her family moved to South Korea.
Jessica trained for more than seven years before debuting with SNSD, making her the one who trained longest among the nine members.
Her younger sister, Krystal Jung, is a member of label-mate idol group, f(x).
Jessica is allergic to cucumber.
Jessica is SNSD’s resident sleepy-head. She can sleep up to 16 hour a day and is the hardest member to wake up.
Jessica once revealed that her hobbies are soccer and boxing. She also loves reading books and magazines.
She made her musical debut as Elle Woods in the musical adaptation of Legally Blonde.
A “Sica Effect” (Sica Hyogwa) is when the atmosphere went down or turned cold once Jessica said something.
Jessica is close to FinKL’s Ock Juhyun and actress Park Minyoung of drama Sungkyunkwan Scandals fame.
Seohyun
* Stage name: SeoHyun (Hangul: 서현; Hanja: 徐玄)
* Birth name: Seo Joohyun (Hangul: 서주현; Hanja: 徐珠賢)
* Date of birth: June 28, 1991 (1991-06-28)
* Discovery: 2003 SM Casting System
* School(s): Daeyoung High School
* Position : Lead vocalist, Maknae
* 2004 SMART Uniform Model
* Appeared in the reality show "We Got Married" (2010-2011) with her husband Yong Hwa of CN. Blue
* Released 'Banmal Song' in 2010 with CNBlue's Yonghwa
* Released the song 'Mabinogi' (It's Fantastic!) with Jessica & Tiffany in 2008
* Released the song 'Bad Oppa' with Jessica & Tiffany in 2008
* Released 'JjaRaJaJja' with Joo Hyun-Mi and Davichi in 2008
* Sang 'It's Okay Even If It Hurts' for the drama 'Kim Soo Ro' in 2010
* Released 'Dreams Comes True' with Super Junior's Donghae in 2011
* Released 'The Magic of Yellow Ribbon' with Kim Hyun Joong for 'TheFaceShop' in 2011
* Released 'Don't Say No' with Yoon Gun in 2012
* Sang 'I'll Wait for You' for the drama 'Fashion King' in 2012
* Featured in TVXQ's track titled 'Journey' in 2012
* Host of MBC's 'Show! Music Core' from 2012 to Mid April of 2013 with Taeyeon and Tiffany
Seohyun is the youngest member of the Girls' Generation. She is also a pianist. Along with Tiffany and Jessica, they released a single "오빠 나빠" ("Bad Oppa"), And "Mabinogi (It's Fantastic!)". On February 17, 2009 the Digital Release Of the song 짜라자짜 (Go to sleep, Let's go to sleep). She Sang it alongside with Ju Hyun Mi.
SNSD's Shows
Reality shows
2007: Girls' Generation Goes to School
2007: MTV Girls' Generation
2008: Factory Girl
2009: Girls' Generation's Horror Movie Factory
2009: Himnae-ra-him!/Cheer Up!
2009: Girls' Generation's Hello Baby
2010: Right Now It's Girls' Generation
2011: Girls' Generation Star Life Theater
2011: Girls’ Generation and Dangerous Boys
Sooyoung
Stage Name: Lively Princess SOOYOUNG (명랑공주 수영 – myeongrang gongju Sooyoung)
Birth Name: Choi Soo-young (최수영)
English Name: Summer Choi (썸머 최)
Nicknames: Shik shin (God of food), NaSoo (interrupter), DJ Syoung
Position: Supporting Vocalist/Lead dancer
Date of Birth: February 10, 1990
Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
Bloodtype: O
Sibling(s): 1 older sister (Choi Soo-jin)
Language: Korean (Fluent), English, Chinese (Basic), Japanese (Fluent)
Specialty: Dance, Eloquence, Acting
Casted: 2000 SM Open Audition | 2002 Korea-Japan Ultra Idol Duo Audition
Training Duration: 6 Years 3 Months
School: ChungAng University (중앙대학교) Department of Theater | graduated from Jeongshin Girl’s High school
Career:
- 2002 Japanese duo ‘Route φ‘ (with Marina Takahashi)
- 2003 CF Samsung Anycall Battle of Music (with Jewerly Park Jung-ah)
- 2004 School uniforms ‘Rocks’ model
- 2005 VJ for M.Net ‘Hello Chat’
- 2005 OST for Inuyasha ‘I Am‘ (Korean ver.)
- 2007 DJ for Melon ‘ChunJi Radio: Sungmin & Sooyoung’ (with Super Junior Sungmin)
- 2007 Sitcom KBS ‘Unstoppable Marriage‘ (as Choi Soo-young)
- 2008 OST for SBS drama Working Mom ‘Ggok‘ (with Yuri)
- 2008 Movie ‘Hello Schoolgirl! / 순정만화‘ (as Jung Da-jung)
- 2009 CF ‘Post Cereal‘ (with Sunny & Seohyun)
- 2009 Featured with The Blue ‘Feeling Only You‘ (with Tiffany)
- 2009 MC for MBC ‘Fantastic Duo’ (with Kim Jae-dong)
- 2009 CF ‘Post Cereal‘ (with Taeyeon & Tiffany)
- 2010 CF ‘Biotherm’ (with Tiffany & Yuri)
TRIVIA
The tallest member of SNSD.
Prior to SNSD, Sooyoung was a part of J-pop duo ‘Route φ’ along with Marina Takahashi. The duo released three singles.
Sooyoung is fluent in Japanese.
She’s the third youngest of SNSD. However, despite being a ’90ers along with Yoona, Sooyoung is considered as a part of the 89 line because she was in the same grade with the six ’89ers.
The biggest eater of SNSD, hence the nickname “Shikshin” (God of Food). However, she also doesn’t gain weight easily.
“Sooyoung” literally means “swimming” in Korean.
Her English name, Summer, was given by fellow member Jessica.
Sooyoung is a devout Christian.
Sooyoung has a great interest in fashion. She’s also considered as the most fashionable SNSD member.
Her older sister, Choi Soojin, is a musical actress.
Despite her tough image, Sooyoung is said to be the one who cries most easily.
Sunny
* Stage name: Sunny (Hangul: 써니)
* Birth name: Lee Sunkyu (Hangul: 이순규; Hanja: 李順圭)
* Date of birth: May 15, 1989 (1989-05-15)
* Discovery: 2007 SM Casting System
* School(s): Baehwa All-Girls High School
* Position : Lead Vocalist
* Participated in KBS Invincible Youth with Yuri
* Cast in Invincible Youth Season 2 with Hyoyeon
* Sang 'It's Love' with Taeyeon for MBC's 'Heading To The Ground' OST
* Sang 'Your Doll' for SBS 'Oh My Lady!' OST
* Was featured in Miryo's track titled 'I Love You, I Love You' in 2012
* Sang a duet titled 'It's Me' with f(x)'s Luna for SBS' 'To The Beautiful You'
* Dubbed the voice of Miranda for the Korean version of 'Koala Kid: Birth of A Hero'
* Played the role of 'Brenda' in the musical titled 'Catch Me If You Can'
Sunny was born in the United States, when she was still an infant they moved to Kuwait and then to South Korea during the Gulf War.
Sunny was a trainee under a different entertainment company before she transferred into SM Entertainment. After several months of training under SM Entertainment in 2007, Sunny debuted as a member of Girls' Generation that same year. She is the niece of SM Entertainment's CEO, Lee Soo Man, and her father was once the manager of the disbanded K-pop girl group Sugar. She was a co-DJ of Reckless Radio along with Sungmin of Super Junior until the broadcast ended on the July 30, 2008. Sunny appeared in Super Junior-H's music video for "Cooking? Cooking!". Sunny also sang the song "Finally Now" on the soundtrack for the movie Story of Wine.
Taeyeon
* Birth name: Kim Taeyeon 태연
* Date of birth: March 9, 1989 (1989-03-09)
* Discovery: 2004 8th Annual Best Contest (Best Singer 1st Place & Grand Award)
* School(s): Jeonju High School
* Sang "If" , Hong Gil Dong OST and "Can you Hear me" , Beethoven Virus OST, Heading to the Ground OST
* Position : Main Vocalist, Leader
* Received received the YEPP Popularity Award for her solo "Can you Hear Me", Beethoven Virus OST
* Has been part of the reality show We Got Married with her virtual husband Jung Hyung-don
* Former DJ of Chin Chin Radio
* Was one of the co-hosts of KBS celebrity talk show "Win Win"
* Starred in the musical "Midnight Sun"
* Dubbed the voice of 'Margo' for the Korean version of the movie 'Despicable Me'
* Sang 'It's Love' with Sunny for MBC's 'Heading To The Ground' in 2009
* Released her duet track titled 'Like a Star' with The One in 2010
* Sang 'I Love You', an OST of SBS's drama 'Athena: Goddess of War' in 2010
* Released her duet track titled 'Different' with Kim Bumsoo in 2011
* Sang 'Missing You Like Crazy' for MBC's drama 'The King 2 Hearts' in 2012
* Sang 'Closer' for SBS' drama 'To the Beautiful You' in 2012
* Sang 'And One' for SBS' drama 'That Winter, The Wind Blows' in 2013
* Host of MBC's 'Show! Music Core' from 2012 to Mid April of 2013 Seohyun and Tiffany
Taeyeon was born in South Korea on March 9, 1989. She is trained in singing and dancing. Taeyeon was discovered in the 2004 SM Entertainment's 8th Annual Best Contest winning Best Singer 1st Place & Grand Award in the contest. In 2004, she was featured in The One's song "You Bring Me Joy" before debuting as Girls' Generation's leader. She is a 2008 graduate of Jeonju Art High School and was decorated with the school's Lifetime Achievement Award.
Tiffany
Stage Name: Brighter than Jewels TIFFANY (보석보다 빛나는 티파니 – boseok boda bitnaneun Tiffany)
Birth Name: Stephanie Hwang (스테파니 황)
Korean Name: Hwang Mi-young (황미영)
Nicknames: Fany, DdilFany (clumsy Fany), AjumNy, Mushroom, T-Manager / Manager Hwang, Myong, Jackson Hwang
Position: Lead Vocalist
Date of Birth: August 1, 1989
Zodiac Sign: Leo
Blood type: O
Sibling(s): 1 older sister (Michelle Hwang), 1 older brother (Leo Hwang)
Language: Korean, English (Fluent), Chinese (Basic), Japanese (Basic), Spanish (Basic)
Specialty: Flute, English
Casted: 2004 SM Casting System; 2004 CJ/KMTV (USA-LA) Contest 1st Place
Training Duration: 3 Years 7 Months
School: Korea Kent Foreign School (K.K.F.S.) [graduated]
Career:
- 2007 VJ for KMTV ‘Sonyun Sonyuh Gayo Baekso’ (with Kim Hyesung)
- 2008 Model for ‘A-Solution’ cosmetic
- 2008 Variety Show KBS2 ‘Kko Kko Tour’ season 1
- 2009 OST for MBC drama Jang Myung Go ‘By Myself (나 혼자서)‘
- 2009 Featured with K.Will ‘A Girl Meets Love‘
- 2009 Featured with The Blue ‘Feeling Only You‘ (with Sooyoung)
- 2009 MC for MBC Music Core (with Yuri)
- 2009 Model for ‘A-Solution’ cosmetic (with Taeyeon)
- 2009 CF ‘Post Cereal‘ (with Taeyeon & Sooyoung)
- 2010 CF ‘Biotherm’ (with Sooyoung & Yuri)
- 2010 OST for short movie Haru: Unforgettable Day in Korea ‘Banji (Ring)’
TRIVIA
One of Tiffany’s biggest charms is her eye-smile.
Tiffany was born in San Francisco, California and grew up in Diamond Bar, LA, California.
After casted in Los Angeles, Tiffany came to Korea in 2004 all by herself.
Although Tiffany graduated from Korea Kent Foreign School on April 2007, she had attended primary and secondary schools in California – South Pointe Middle School (US) and Diamond Bar High School (US).
Tiffany’s favorite color is Pink.
She shares the same birthday with her one-year-older brother, Leo Hwang.
Tiffany has a puppy named Romeo.
Tiffany is a devout Christian.
During her trainee days she roomed with Taeyeon and Zhang Liyin.
To avoid confusion with CSJH’s Stephanie, she picked the stage name Tiffany. She revealed that Tiffany was the name her mother wanted to give her, but her father named her Stephanie instead.
Her “idol title”, Brighter than Jewels (boseok boda bitnaneun), is the meaning of her Korean name, Mi-young.
During Tiffany’s debut days, she wasn’t as fluent in Korean and often makes pronunciation mistake. She mispronounced her introduction of “boseok” (보석, Jewel) to “beoseot” (버섯, mushroom) so the fans thought she was saying “Brighter than Mushroom”. She gained the nickname “Mushroom” ever since.
One of her nickname is Ti-manager or Manager Hwang because she often take the role of manager to her fellow members due to her caring nature.
I honestly don’t think the majority of SNSD had any surgeries done. I know that Seohyun, Yoona, Yuri, Sooyoung, and Jessica have not done it before debut, for the fact at looking at their pre-debut pictures. Taeyeon seems to have done the common eye-lid surgery, but I’m not too sure. Tiffany is the most questionable one, her nose and cheeks look very different than her pre-debut days. Hyoyeon, looks to have her nose done as well. And Sunny, i’m not sure if she just grew out of her looks, or what since there are not many pictures of her. but I do know that recently, Sooyoung has done something, and I’m pretty sure she had surgery somewhere along her upper lip. but nonetheless I still love the girls very much.
