"Every single member is so precious to me and like family to me.. I may joke around with them a lot but I can’t talk seriously with them..because it’s awkward for me. But on the inside, I really do think of each one of you so much and I want you all to know that." —Hyoyeon
Kim Hyo-yeon (born September 22, 1989), better known as Hyoyeon and HYO, is a South Korean singer, dancer, rapper, DJ and television personality. She is a member of the K-pop girl group Girls' Generation since 2007, its second sub-unit, Oh!GG since 2018 and the supergroup, Girls On Top, since January 2022, as well as a solo performer since 2016.
Early life[]
Hyoyeon was born and raised in Incheon, South Korea. Her family consists of her parents and younger brother, Kim Min-gu.
During her childhood, Hyoyeon attended a small neighborhood dance class, learning Jazz, Hip-hop, and Latin dance. In 1999, she began attending Winners Dance School, a famous dance school in South Korea, which taught popping, locking and other Hip-hop dance styles.
Hyoyeon auditioned to S.M. Entertainment at the age of 11 through the S.M. 2000 Casting System and passed her audition, thus she became a trainee under S.M. and trained for her career for six years and one month before debut. Hyoyeon revealed she had no intentions to audition, however, her mother was a fan of S.M. Entertainment's boy band H.O.T. and brought her to the offices in the hopes of seeing them. In 2004, she was sent to study Mandarin Chinese and to learn more about Chinese culture in Beijing, China with labelmate, Choi Siwon.
For her education, Hyoyeon attended Chungbuk Middle School.
Hyoyeon also received dance instructions from the Electric Boogaloos, and other top dance choreographers such as Poppin Seen, Kwon Seon-jin, Shim Jae-won and several others.
Predebut, Hyoyeon also worked with Janet Jackson and was BOA's silhouette dancer during a performance at the M.net Music Festival 2005, she furthermore was a member of the dance group, Little Winners, with current Miss A member, Min, the duo danced at various showcases.
Career[]
Hyoyeon is a sub vocalist, main rapper and main dancer, in the girl group, Girls' Generation, which debuted in 2007. She is well known for her brilliant dancing ability earning her the nickname, Dancing Queen.
Hyoyeon made a cameo, acting in the drama, Oh! My Lady and was on the second season of Invincible Youth, alongside bandmate Sunny. In 2011, Hyoyeon joined the second season of the Korean Dancing with the Stars, with her dance partner Kim Hyung Seok and placed second in the competition. In 2012, Hyoyeon debuted in the short lived group Younique Project with Super Junior's Eunhyuk and Henry, Shinee's Taemin and Exo's Kai and Luhan and they released one single Maxstep to promote Hyundai. Hyoyeon was named Topshop's Asia Ambassador in May 2013.
Hyoyeon has appeared on many shows and was a guest on the show, Jessica and Krystal. Hyoyeon furthermore featured in the music video for "Shake That Brass" by Amber featuring Taeyeon and the music video for "Whoa Ah!" by VASCO.
In 2015, Hyoyeon became the star of the reality television show called Hyoyeon's One Million Likes and released her own book, Hyo Style in the same year. In May 2015, she became a cast member on the Korean Chinese television show, Star Advent. And on February 3, 2016 was a special MC on the Television show, Get It Beauty.
In August 2016, Hyoyeon debuted in a group called Triple T, with Jo Kwon from 2PM and Min from Miss A, the trio released the song, "Born to be Wild" featuring Park Jin-young. In December 2016, Hyoyeon released a solo song, "Mystery" under SM Station.
On June 1, 2017, Hyoyeon released the single "Wannabe" featuring rapper, San E.
In 2018, Hyoyeon began her DJ career, taking the pseudonym, Hyo. She released the single, "Sober on April 18, 2018 under the new name.
In August 2018, S.M. Entertainment announced the formation of the Girls' Generation subunit Oh!GG, consisting of the remaining Girls' Generation members. The group is set to debut on September 5, 2018 with the single "Lil' Touch".
In November 13, as Hyo, she released the song 'Punk Right Now', a collaboration with 3LAU, which also got an English version. On July 20th 2019, she released a single by the name of 'Badster'.
On 22 July 2020, Hyo released the song 'Dessert' an electronic pop song with elements of rap, featuring Loopy and (G)-Idle's Soyeon.
In May 2022, she released her first mini-album, "DEEP".
On January 3rd, 2022, Hyoyeon, along with her fellow member Taeyeon, debuted in SM's latest supergroup, GOT the beat. They debuted with the single "Step Back".
In August 2022, Girls Generation, made their first comeback in five years with the song "Forever 1" and album of the same name.
In January 2023, GOT the beat made their first comeback with the EP, "Stamp On It", with a title track of the same name.
In February 2023, Hyo collaborated with PIMRYPIE, and released the single "PARTY".
In August 2023, she released the single "Picture".
In February 2024, HYO announced her US Tour, Cherry Blossom 2024 US Tour.
Personal Life[]
Hyoyeon currently lives in Girls Generation's dorm in Seoul, South Korea with her pet poodle dogs, Vivian and Barbara.
She dated Kim Jun-hyung, a writer and CEO of a global marketing brand from 2013 til 2014.
Facts[]
- Hyoyeon's nicknames are Princess Fiona, Dancing Queen, Specialist HY and Kim Yeolsa (ten-year old Kim).
- Her Greek star sign is Virgo.
- Her bloodtype is AB.
- Her height is 160 cm weight is 49 kg
- Hyoyeon can speak fluent Korean and Chinese and basic English and Japanese.
- Her hobbies are shopping and watching movies.
- Her favorite foods are soup and Korean food.
- Her favourite thing to wear is baggy trousers with feminine shoes.
- She was rumored to have had plastic surgery but has not confirmed this herself.
- She has a great sense of humour.
- She is poor at recalling people's names, hence she was named "Genius Renaming Center"
- Hyoyeon is considered the best cook in Girls Generation.
- In Korean, 'Hyoyeon' means 'filial abyss.' 'Filial abyss' is used to describe a child who is either very stubborn, self-reliant and independent or very obedient.
- As of 2021, only Yuri and her still live in the Girl's Generation Dorm.
Discography[]
Mini albums[]
- DEEP (2022)
EPs[]
- "Punk Right Now Remixes" (with 3LAU) (2019)
Digital singles[]
- "Mystery" (2016)
- "Wannabe" (2017)
- "Sober" (2018)
- "Badster" (2019)
- "Dessert" (2020)
- "Second" (2021)
- "Picture" (2023)
Collaborations[]
- "Born to be Wild" (with Min of Miss A & Jo Kwon) (2016)
- "Punk Right Now" (with 3LAU) (2018)
- "Think About Me" (with Raiden) (2020)
- "PARTY" (with PIMRYPIE) (2023)
Filmography[]
Drama[]
| Year | Title | Channel | Role | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Unstoppable Marriage | KBS2 | Bulgwang-dong's Seven Princesses Gang | Cameo |
| 2010 | Oh! My Lady | SBS | Herself |
Television[]
| Year | Title | Channel | Role | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Cutie Honey, Mini Musical | KBS2 | A bully | with Yuri & Jessica |
| 2011-2012 | Invincible Youth 2 | Main Cast | with Sunny | |
| 2011 | Dalgona | SBS | Herself | with Yuri & Sooyoung |
| 2012 | Dancing with the Stars 2 | MBC | Main Cast | Second Place |
| 2013 | Blind Test Show 180 Degrees | Herself | ||
| Dancing 9 | Mnet | Coach | with Yuri | |
| 2014 | Jessica & Krystal | OnStyle | Herself | with Tiffany & Shindong (Super Junior) |
| 2015 | Mash Up | SBS MTV | Contestant | |
| 2015-2016 | Hyoyeon's One Million Likes | OnStyle | Herself | |
| 2016 | Get It Beauty | |||
| Star Advent | Shandong TV | Main Cast | ||
| Hit The Stage | Mnet | Contestant | ||
| 2017-2018 | My English Puberty | tvN | Main Cast | |
| 2018 | Where is Mr.Kim |
Events[]
DJ Set[]
- DJ HYO Exclusive Set in Manila (2020)
- DJ HYO TOUR 2023 in North America (2023)
- Cherry Blossom 2024 US Tour (2024)
- Hyo USA Summer Tour 2024 (2024)
Gallery[]
| To view the Hyoyeon gallery, click here. |
MV[]
Gallery[]
| To view the Hyoyeon gallery, click here. |
[]
 | |
|---|---|
| Mini Albums | DEEP |
| Digital Singles | Mystery • Wannabe • Sober • Badster • Dessert • Second • Picture • Retro Romance |
| Remix EPs | Punk Right Now Remixes • IScreaM Vol.17 : DEEP |
| Collaborations | Born to be Wild • Time • Think About Me • Party • Retro Romance (House Remix) |
| Tours | DJ HYO Tour 2023 in North America • Cherry Blossom 2024 Spring USA Tour • Hyo USA Summer Tour 2024 |
 | |
|---|---|
| Single Albums | Lil' Touch |
| Digital Singles | Melody |