Kim Hyo Yeon is a South Korean singer, dancer, DJ, and member of GIRLS' GENERATION (소녀시대; also known as SNSD). She did not attend high school but later passed the High School Graduation Certification Examination.

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 the school, she met former MISS A member Min, with whom she formed the dance team LITTLE WINNERS (리틀위너스) and performed at several showcases. She joined SM Entertainment (SM엔터테인먼트) in 2000 after auditioning through the SM Open Audition. In 2004, she was sent to Beijing alongside SUPER JUNIOR'S Choi Si Won to study Mandarin. She returned to work with one of Janet Jackson's choreographers, and even before debuting, she was picked as South Korea's #1 idol dancer by Star News.

She made her debut in August 2007 as the group's main dancer, main rapper and sub-vocalist with the single "Into The New World", part of their self-titled album "Girls' Generation", released in November of that year. They quickly became one of the most known South Korean figures and successful K-pop groups worldwide and have earned numerous accolades and being labeled as the "The Nation's Girl Group". They rose to fame in 2009 with the single "Gee", which claimed the top spot on KBS's Music Bank for a record-breaking nine consecutive weeks and was Melon's most popular song of the 2000s decade.

Individually, she began appearing in variety shows involving dancing, earning 2nd place in "Dancing With The Stars Season 2" and later becoming a coach in the survival show "Dancing 9". Then, in July 2015, she published a book titled "Hyo Style", where she shared tips on beauty, fashion and lifestyle. She also appeared in several Chinese variety shows. She made her debut as a solo artist in September 2016 with the single “Mystery”.

In April 2018, she began promoting actively as a DJ in domestic club tours and EDM festivals under her new stage name, DJ HYO or simply HYO. Then, in September of that year, she became part of the group's second sub-unit, GIRLS' GENERATION-OH!GG (소녀시대-Oh!GG), alongside the other 4 members who renewed their contracts with SM. They released the single "Lil' Touch".

In December 2021, SM decided to create a new project called GIRLS ON TOP (걸스 온 탑). The concept involved 7 female idols from the company joining forces to form a group with a rotating lineup depending on the genre, theme and other factors. She was part of the project's first group, GOT THE BEAT (갓 더 비트), and released the digital single "Step Back" in January 2022. SM ended the project after 1 year and 3 months after Kakao acquired part of the company.

She has continued to promote as a solo artist as all the group members are busy with their individual activities.

(Source: MyDramaList) Edit Biography