Soyou


Kang Ji-hyun, known professionally as Soyou, is a South Korean singer. She is best known as a former member of the South Korean girl group Sistar.

Life and career

1992–2010: Early life and career beginnings

Soyou was born on February 12, 1992, in Jeju Island, South Korea. Before debuting, she was a licensed hairdresser and worked in a hair salon. Soyou was known as a Cube Entertainment trainee, who was originally supposed to debut as a member of 4Minute. Soyou has said that she didn't make it into the group because she was lacking in many ways and was originally supposed to be in Sohyun's place. Instead, Soyou auditioned for Starship Entertainment, singing a cover of Navi's "On The Road". After training she debuted as a member of Sistar in June 2010. The group gained significant popularity after the release of their hit single "So Cool" in 2011.

2010–2017: Original soundtracks, collaborations and Sistar disbandment

In August 2010, Soyou collaborated with Kan Jongwoo of J2 for the soundtrack for the drama Gloria. In September, she also sang a soundtrack for MBC's drama Playful Kiss. The song is titled "Should I Confess".
In November 2012, Soyou sang a duet with hip-hop duo Geeks. The song "Officially Missing You, Too" is a remake of Tamia's song of the same title. It is a part of Geeks' project album, Re;Code Episode 1. She also collaborated with fellow label mates, K.Will and Boyfriend's Jeongmin, for Starship Planet's yearly holiday release, titled "White Love".
In September 2013, it was revealed that Soyou and Mad Clown would release a duet called "Stupid in Love" on the 10th.
In February 2014, Soyou and Junggigo released a duet called "Some".
In January 2015, it was revealed that Soyou, together with Lee Honey and Kim Jungmin, would be the new MCs of beauty tip program Get It Beauty. The new MCs' first episode aired on February 4, 2015.
In February 2017, Soyou and Baekhyun released a duet called "Rain".
In May 2017, Sistar released their last single "Lonely" and disbanded after their seven years together as a group. The group performed their most successful summer hits – "Touch My Body", "Shake It", "Loving U", "I Swear" and also their last song "Lonely" on four major music shows, before concluding the schedule on Inkigayo on June 4, 2017, and officially disbanding.
In August 2017, Soyou was featured as the vocalist on Primary's song "Right?".

2017–present: Solo debut

After Sistar disbanded in June 2017, Soyou debuted her solo career under Starship Entertainment, releasing a remake single of Choi Sung-wons's The Blue Night of Jeju Island on September 7. She was featured with K.Will on his fourth album Part.1 Nonfiction b-side track titled "Let Me Hear You Say", released on September 26. She released a collaboration track titled "Monitor Girl" with Geeks' Louie on October 26, it was their second collaboration since "Officially Missing You, Too" in 2012. On November 16, Soyou released "I Still" with Sung Si-kyung as pre-release track for her upcoming solo album. On November 28, Soyou was confirmed to become an MC for a new beauty program of JTBC titled SoyouXHani's Beauty View, which began airing on December 28. On December 13, Soyou released the first part of her solo album titled RE:BORN with the single "The Night" featuring rapper duo Geeks and produced by Primary.

Discography

Extended plays

Singles

As lead artist

As featured artist

Collaborative singles

Soundtrack appearances

Filmography

TV variety shows

Music videos

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominated workResult
20133rd Gaon Chart K-Pop AwardsArtist of the Year – September"Stupid In Love "
2014World Music AwardsWorld's Best Song"Some "
2014World Music AwardsWorld's Best Video"Some "
2014World Music AwardsWorld's Best GroupSoyou
2014World Music AwardsWorld's Best Live ActSoyou
20149th Seoul International Drama AwardsOutstanding Korean Drama OST"Once More" – Empress Ki OST
201416th Seoul International Youth Film FestivalBest OST by a Female Artist"Once More" – Empress Ki OST
20147th Style Icon AwardsTop 10 Style IconsThe Voice that Flirted with the Nation
20144th Gaon Chart K-Pop AwardsSong of the Year – February"Some "
20144th Gaon Chart K-Pop AwardsLong-Run Song of the Year"Some "
20146th Melon Music AwardsHot Trend Award"Some "
20146th Melon Music AwardsBest R&B/Soul Award"Some "
20146th Melon Music AwardsSong of the Year"Some "
201416th Mnet Asian Music AwardsBest Collaboration"Some "
201416th Mnet Asian Music AwardsUnionPay Song of the Year"Some "
2014SBS Gayo Daejun AwardsBest Song"Some "
201529th Golden Disc AwardsDigital Bonsang"Some "
201529th Golden Disc AwardsTrend of the Year"Some "
201524th Seoul Music AwardsRecord of the Year in Digital Release"Some "
201512th Korean Music AwardsSong of the Year"Some "
201512th Korean Music AwardsBest Pop Song"Some "
201512th Korean Music AwardsGroup Musician of the YearSoyou
201517th Mnet Asian Music AwardsBest Collaboration & Unit"Lean On Me "
201517th Mnet Asian Music AwardsUnionPay Song of the Year"Lean On Me "
20169th Korea Drama AwardsBest Original Soundtrack"Tell Me" – Lucky Romance OST
201719th Mnet Asian Music AwardsBest Collaboration"Rain"
20179th Melon Music AwardsTop 10 Artists
201810th Melon Music AwardsHot Trend Award"I Still"
2019Korea First Brand AwardsBest Female Solo