After the successful release and promotions of the fourth album ‘I Got A Boy’ in January, we are greeted by a brand new start in February with more milestones coming our way.

First up, February 10th. February 10th is a special day, a doubly special day this year, because it is not only the second concert of the kickoff of Girls’ Generation’s second Japan tour ‘Girls & Peace’ as well as the start of the Lunar New Year, but it is also a very important day that SONEs celebrate every year.

February 10th is the birthday of a member of Girls’ Generation, a member as kind as she is tall, as witty as she is sensible and yet, as fun-loving and dorky as the girls can be. She is Choi Sooyoung, resident average height booster and a food connoisseur (a.k.a shikshin).

It is not an exaggeration if we proclaim the past year as a witness of the growth and showcase of Sooyoung’s talents and skills. In 2012, Sooyoung’s acting skills were first seen in a cameo appearance in ‘A Gentleman’s Dignity’. The short appearance was just a teaser and a prelude to prepare us for the heartwrenching role of Eui Jin, a violinist in the medical drama ‘The 3rd Hospital’, where she worked with famous actors Kim Seungwoo, Oh Jiho and Kim Minjung. Her acting in the drama impressed not only her fans and viewers but also her co-stars.

Even in a group of nine girls, it was obvious that Sooyoung has a knack for talking well in interviews and other such occasions with her wits and sensibility. Therefore, it was a very pleasant surprise when it was announced in May 2012 that Sooyoung will be hosting SBS’s ‘Midnight TV Entertainment’ along with Yoon Dohyun. MC Sooyoung with her wits and charms brought a fresh breath of air to the weekly entertainment show and her efforts were also recognized with a nomination in the SBS Entertainment Awards, which was also hosted by her back on December 30th.

Time and time again, Sooyoung showed that she wasn’t only a tall and pretty member of a girl group. A couple of years back, she had another identity added to her name; she became a lyricist with her beautiful lyrics for ‘How Great is Your Love’, which was included in Girls’ Generation’s 3rd Korean album ‘The Boys’ back in 2011. In 2013, she took up the role of a lyricist yet again when she collaborated with fellow members Yuri and Seohyun for the sweet song ‘Baby Maybe’ in their fourth album ‘I Got A Boy’.

While some skills and talents can be honed throughout one’s life, certain qualities are not; kindness is something one is born with and Sooyoung is definitely a good example of such person. Throughout the years, we have witnessed Sooyoung’s acts of kindness and it was no different in the past year. Even as recent as the start of 2013, Sooyoung initiated a charity campaign to help patients with retinitis pigmentosa and in one of the events Girls’ Generation members donated their treasured items to put up for auction. Throughout the years, Sooyoung also kept up her visits of Park Seungil, a former basketball coach who is suffering from Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Although there were many memorable moments that involves Girls’ Generation and Sooyoung, one particular moment stuck out at the top of my head. Back in 2011, Sooyoung was injured in an accident and SONEs were very worried for her well-being. Being the thoughtful person that she was, she made a video for the fans to thank everyone for their concerns and wishes. To me, it was an extremely sweet and heartwarming gesture, from an idol to her fans.

With that, all of us here at Fanwonder.com would sincerely like to wish Sooyoung a very happy 24th birthday! May all your dreams and wishes come true, but remember to always stay true to yourself (smart, kind, loving, dorky and more), smile and may the world smile with you! Happy Birthday!!

Video credit: smtown@youtube.com + bug fany@youtube.com
Photo credit: Onlysosi, NINE ANGELS

Girls’ Generation members have revealed their ranking of their faces without make-up (bare faces).

During the recent filming of KBS-2TV talk show ‘Hello’, Girls’ Generation revealed truths about their bare faces.

On that day, the MC asked, “Which member looks most different with and without make-up?” and the members gave their answers while saying “She’s pretty”.

However, Hyoyeon added, “I like my face after make-up”, making the entire studio burst into laughter. Upon hearing Hyoyeon’s unexpected answer, Girls’ Generation started their discussion on the topic of bare faces.

MC Lee Young-Ja said, “We have received information that Sunny looks different with and without make-up.” Sunny answered, “I have 2 modes, one being Girls’ Generation’s Sunny and another being Soonkyu.”

Sunny continued her story, “When the Soonkyu mode is on, my hair is tied backwards and even my members say that I look like a man.” She also revealed that members who live together with her were shocked.

Tiffany continued, “After getting her short haircut, Sunny looks more boyish now.”

This episode of ‘Hello’ will be aired on January 14th, 11.15pm KST.

Credit: mydaily.co.kr
Translated by: imwhywhy@twitter

In a recent interview, Girls’ Generation was asked about their new comeback song – ‘I Got A Boy’. ‘I Got A Boy’ is an electronic dance song that combines pop, retro, urban genre. As the public listened to the song, most people thought it was ‘fresh’ or ‘unfamiliar’, so what do the members think?

They answered, “Since we are making a comeback after such a long time, we were troubled by the image that we should present this time. Although many people are still new to many things, in fact no matter which song we sing, a part of it definitely contains our style.” Taeyeon said, “As they listen, they will get used to it.” while Tiffany said, “Instead, if they are unable to understand the song the first time they listen, that will make them listen more.” To that, YoonA explained, “If you still find it difficult to understand, then please watch our performance.”

Without realizing it, it has been 6 years since Girls’ Generation’s debut. In these 6 years, other girl groups had their share of crises but it was smooth sailing for Girls’ Generation.

Yet, members did not agree with that. Sooyoung said, “Crises? Internally, we always have that. Every day, we encounter crises. It’s like, we are walking on a piece of ice. Also, how is it possible for a group with 9 girls to not have friction between them?”

To the question why there were no news reports of any friction, the girls revealed their method to solve problems. Hyoyeon said, “Usually, our talks that seem useless are actually useful. Even if we quarrel we will gradually solve it. We believe firmly in each other.” In fact, members of Girls’ Generation have known one another for an average of 10 years.

Girls’ Generation has also grown up to meet the legal drinking age. When asked to choose the member that drinks the most, they answered, “Our drinking capacity differs when drinking different types of alcohol. Among us, Sunny is a good drinker regardless of type of drink while Tiffany and Yoona are the members, whose cheeks do not flush after drinking.”

When they were asked if they were afraid of pictures being taken recently, they said, smiling, “That’s why we choose to stay at home instead of going out and we play games a lot.”

On the day when the interview was conducted, Sunye of Wonder Girls attended a wedding dress photoshoot. Her natural image led the topic of discussion to marriage.

Unexpectedly, Girls’ Generation stayed cool towards this where Taeyeon said, “If members want marriage, of course we will be supportive” and Seohyun added, “but that is possible only after our approval (of the opposite party).”

Tiffany said, “When members of Spice Girls gathered to watch the musical ‘Viva Forever’, we talked about marriage. We said, “By then, we also hope to gather, either bringing our husbands or going alone.”

Meanwhile, Girls’ Generation will be promoting ‘I Got A Boy’ in January in Korea and move on to their Arena Tour concert in Japan in February.

Source: sportschosun.com

Translated by: imwhywhy@fanwonder.com

Girls’ Generation – the group that attracts many clicks of the mouse from the public with just a mention of their name – has made their much-awaited comeback.

Girls’ Generation is currently promoting their 4th album ‘I Got A Boy’ actively, more than one year after their 3rd album ‘The Boys’. As Girls’ Generation made a powerful start in the new year, they are expected to become some of the busiest people this year.

With that in mind, it would be interesting to know Girls’ Generation’s plans for the new year.

Taeyeon: “As time goes by, my ambition for music has grown. I can feel that my enthusiasm for music is growing. Simply having music broadcasts does not quench my thirst. I would like to perform more and my goal is to transfer more energy to fans who want it.”

Yuri: “For me, I hope that I can be more creative in many areas and that I can work in more fields. That’s why I aspire to be an artiste who can express herself from her work. Since I do not stand out in any particular area, I would like to work in more fields so that I can connect them together.”

Seohyun: “I was involved in lyrics writing for the first time. I also tried writing a song. The unnies are really committed to these so they are my role models. I would also like to try challenging new things like musicals and emceeing, those that unnies have once experienced.”

Tiffany: “For me, too, as I keep doing the same thing, my thoughts on music and songs are growing bigger. In the future, I would like to continue doing music. Besides that, I’m also interested in acting. I am currently reading lots of Korean as well as English scripts because I want to take up this challenge.”

Sooyoung: “I am currently an MC for SBS’s ‘Midnight TV Entertainment’. Personally, I feel that it’s very interesting. It seems to me that in the future, as I accumulate more experiences and grow older, I will be able to do many things well. Therefore as I grow older, I would like to have more talk shows. If I see good dramas or movie productions, I would also like to give it a try.”

YoonA: “Although I am an actress, I think that I can receive many opportunities because I have ‘Girls’ Generation’ as a title. I’m working with devotion as part of Girls’ Generation, and would like to try more roles if I meet good productions. In the past, I once thought of getting rid of a girl group’s image when I tried acting, but now, as I am working as Girls’ Generation, I would like to present an image that is what the public is seeing as ‘YoonA of Girls’ Generation’.”

Jessica: “For me, since I am ambitious now, I would like to grab good opportunities. I also hope to sing and get involved in musicals like what I am doing now. If so, I will need to practice every now and then. I think learning new things is an important process. I’m studying a lot now.”

Hyoyeon: “I still think that I have not shown all sides of me on the stage. I hope to present more images, those that I want to show to everyone.”

Sunny: “I also think that trying out something new can be fun, and for what I am currently doing, I want to do it better. Although it’s important to take up new challenges, I will only try them if I have the confidence to digest them well. I think that it’s right to not do something that does not suit me. I will just tell myself, let’s just do my current work well.”

Credit: sbs.co.kr
Translated by: imwhywhy@fanwonder.com

On December 5th 23 years ago, a baby girl was born.

Her name is Kwon Yuri, and 23 years later, she is not just a tanned-skin baby but she is also a sparkling black pearl. She grew up to be a young girl with big dreams; she was accepted into SM Entertainment through a contest in 2001 and trained for almost 6 years to finally debut in a now globally successful girl group, Girls’ Generation.

If there is one word I could pick to describe her it would be, sexyabs determination. Even though she has heavily-packed schedules as a hallyu star, she managed to find time to enroll into university. It wasn’t just enrolling though – she actually went to classes and sat for her exams just like others without any special treatment whenever she can between schedules. She brought her notes with her to revise at any spare time through her busy schedule. The word ‘excuse’ does not exist in Yuri’s dictionary.

“Always hold on to your dream and do your best. Find out what you like to do and want to do and make an effort.” – Yuri

Sexy is a four letter word: Y-U-R-I. I just couldn’t write an article without mentioning this important quality about her. Her solo performance ‘If’ during the second tour was a solid evidence of it. The way she danced to the song, filled with confidence and oozing with charisma, she created a new definition of sexy, which is Yuri.

Her drool-worthy body served as motivation for everyone (like pasting it on the wall in front of their treadmills) but it is not just a perfectly-curved body.

It is also the symbol of hard work, a lot of it.

“Sooyoung’s body looks natural, while Yuri’s body looks like she put a lot of work and effort into making it.” – Sean Lee, trainer

She diets, she does yoga, she goes to gym late at night or early in the morning and she does 600 sit-ups to earn her chiseled abs and toned legs. It takes an amazing level of discipline for one to do such thing. Discipline level: Yuri.

Whenever she strolls through airport, regardless whether it is in summer, winter or rainy days, all she has to do is to put on her shades and all the fans will die a little inside. She emits her own aura and vibe, whether it is with her handsome boyish look in leather jacket and plaid shirts, or her girl-next-door look in simple white tee, cardigan, and skirt, she always manages to look cool somehow.

But don’t let what you see fool you because beneath it all is a dorky young lady. She was not ashamed to embarrass herself if it makes other people laugh like when she did her infamous lion pose in ‘Invincible Youth’. She knew that it will make her look less pretty but she did it anyway.

If we could capture happiness and put it in a shape or form, it would be Kwon Yuri. She is indeed a happy pill. During concerts, you can see her bouncing happily around the stage as if she never runs out of energy. She does everything she could to make her fans happy, even if it means that she has to learn multiple languages to greet them. She will try to speak the language even if it means she has to bring colorful small notes on stage and pronounce them wrongly despite her best tries. So it’s no wonder that she is the most multilingual out of the group. (LOL)

Yuri referring to her notes on stage during the SMTown concert in Bangkok a few weeks ago.

One of the instances when she showed off her flawless language skills was through her drama, ‘Fashion King’.

“I want to become a genuine and pure person who has no false images built up around her. I think that if I can become that kind of a person, I will naturally become a genuine and pure actress as well.” – Yuri

‘Fashion King’ is her first drama where she played one of the main characters – the cold and arrogant Choi Anna. Yuri successfully showcased her professionalism through the character. Even though it was a bit stiff initially, she managed to portray more emotions as the drama progressed and even wowed the audience with her real kiss scene with actor Lee Jae Hoon. The producers and the public had nothing but praises for her, “Yuri did well for her first time. She exceeded our expectations, there’s a lot of fire in her.”

“There’s nothing more to do than to work hard to fill what I lack.” – Yuri

Kwon Yuri is a singer, a talented dancer, a learning actress and a hardworking student. Seeing her makes us feel like we can achieve anything as long as we put our heart and soul into it.

“I feel like my strength is always thinking positively regardless of the situations I am in and I can always prepare my body and mind to give out positive energy.” – Yuri

Happy birthday to our dearest sexy and dorky Kwon Yuri! She turned a year older today so everyone, let’s celebrate it with a toast of Ma juice and 50 sit-ups! No cheating!

Written by: aienbest@twitter
Credit: SMTown FB, processic@twitter, foreversoshi@twitter, cosnian.tistory.com, kwonyuri125.com, Sosirang, 2007805.com, hi7093.blog.me, ilovep10subs@youtube.com

Scores of new groups debut every year, their members becoming increasingly young and often thrust into the judgmental, volatile and deeply exhausting world of the entertainment industry with as little as a year of formal training. Kim Hyoyeon – dancer, singer, mood-maker, mother and member of Girls’ Generation pushed herself through 6 years of training after being casted by SM in 2000 before debuting together with her 8 other members who first became her friends, and then the closest family she would have after her own in Incheon, South Korea. For 6 years Hyoyeon trained while juggling school work, driven by her passion for dance and the sincere hope that at the very least, she’d be able to debut.

“It doesn’t matter where I stand; whether at the front or at the back, in the middle or at the side. As long as I can get on stage and do what I love, that’s enough for me.”

Those were the words of a woman who would later become part of one of the biggest driving forces behind the Hallyu wave; who would later dazzle and mesmerize with solo performances of her own during Girls’ Generation’s solo concerts across Asia – right in the middle of her own special stage. And when she’s on it, she shines with pure joy; her excitement transmitted to the audience through eyes filled with a deep sense of belonging. Did she think she would’ve gotten this far? Perhaps not, but the present reality is too powerful to deny: she is part of a Korean icon, whose stellar success can only be called unprecedented.

Despite all her success as a member of Girls’ Generation, Hyoyeon remains humble at heart, aspiring to marry early and placing priority upon starting a family, into which she could place the same passion, devotion and love she has unceasingly dedicated to her work. And when her kids question her about her past, she would tell them with utmost pride:

“I wouldn’t feel embarrassed about being a Girls’ Generation member. For me, I think I would feel proud thinking ‘I was in Girls’ Generation’. These days too I always think, when I have kids, I’ll show them my videos proudly and say, ‘This was your mom! The person with her bangs waving around prettily, that’s your mom!’”

Girls’ Generation’s Hyoyeon: Aspiring mother

Behind Hyoyeon’s charming smile and witty jokes burns a passionate desire and love for dancing. There are many things that define Kim Hyoyeon, but her love for dancing is what truly sets her apart from the rest, and is the language she speaks when she steps on a stage to perform. Between the lines of her earth-shattering popping, fluid waving and precise locking, we catch glimpses into who Kim Hyoyeon really is – what defines her as a person and as a professional entertainer, and what gives her the strength and resolve to push harder in achieving her dreams.

Recently, Hyoyeon was given the opportunity to participate in the second season of ‘Dancing With The Stars’, where she and her partner Hyungseok dazzled the judges and audience week after week with their stunningly precise and breathtaking synchronized routines to the tunes of the rhythmic Cha-cha and the flamboyant Paso Doble. Hyoyeon has a reputation for being underappreciated and underrated, with the rest of the members usually being preferred for opportunities such as DJing, emceeing and acting. DTWS2 was her chance to shine; to show that she truly had what it took to accomplish something extraordinary on her own, without the fans’ and critics’ biases toward other members to carry her through.

But this opportunity was also her biggest challenge yet. Despite her inexperience with ballroom dancing, which was in great contrast to her Hip-Hop background, Hyoyeon worked extra hard with the help of her partner, practicing through the night to prepare for the show despite having endured tiring, day-long schedules just before. That Hyoyeon was able to beam with such energy and smile so brightly for the cameras despite having survived upon little to no sleep was really nothing new – it was just another day as a member of Girls’ Generation; proof of their professionalism and sheer determination.

A day before the finals, Hyoyeon proceeded straight to practice after returning from an overseas concert at 2am, pushing through to 5am before allowing herself to rest. That the duo was able to produce such rich and impressive routines and be on par with professional dancers who have had extensive experience in ballroom dancing is testament to Hyoyeon’s unwavering passion, fighting spirit and dedication to her work, and humility in accepting that she was striving to master something new to her, and the only way she could do that was to work hard and depend on the help of her partner, Hyungseok. Through it all, through the few hours of sleep and punishing practice schedules on top of those she’d had to attend with Girls’ Generation, Kim Hyoyeon had truly made a name for herself in the industry as not only a talented dancer, but as someone with impeccable work ethic and who repeatedly pushed herself beyond her physical limits in pursuit of the greater dream. She hadn’t participated in DWTS2 as an idol – but as a dancer.

In an interview with Osen, the producer of ‘Dancing with the Stars 2′ revealed, “Hyoyeon is a person who changed my perception of idols. She’s working hard despite her ridiculous schedule. It made me think, ‘They are Girls’ Generation because they work so hard.’ (Translator’s note: the producer is saying that Hyoyeon lives up to Girls’ Generation’s reputation for always working hard.) Not only is she good at dancing, but she really is respectful to her seniors and livens up the atmosphere on the set.”

Ballroom dancer Hyoyeon: a new dimension to her phenomenal Hip-Hop background

Aside from DWTS2, Hyoyeon is also a permanent member of the ‘Invincible Youth 2′ cast, where idols experience the simple, back-breaking life of farming and living away from the city. Despite the tiring work and sometimes less-than-appealing activities, it is clear that Hyoyeon puts her best into everything, right down to smiling for the camera and having fun while her hair soaks up the same mud that the rest of her body is caked in, as she reaches down into the ground to catch octopi.

But beyond the stage and the powerful dance moves, beyond the practiced smiles and careful words as the world watches on, when everything is said and done and the girls retire to their homes or the dorm and remove the glitzy clothes and heavy makeup, Kim Hyoyeon becomes the group’s mother. She cooks and cleans, trying to live what passes for a normal life in relative solitude, before they are once again thrust out into the real world to do what they do best: to win over the hearts and minds of people across the planet with sincere words, pure hard work and love for the very people who claim to hate them – and they’re getting better at it every day.

Despite her success and how far she has come all these years, Hyoyeon remains true to her dream, clutching it close to her heart to remind herself of what is, what was, and what is to come, just like how she did during her trainee days as she wondered if she would ever follow in her seniors’ footsteps and earn the right to debut. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

The next time we fall down in the pursuit of the things we love and wonder if getting back up again is worth all the pain and hardship; the time and uncertainty, we need only remember Kim Hyoyeon’s deep-seated passion to fulfill her dreams and her sprightly zest for life, and realize that if we can find it in ourselves to put in the same dedication and determination, we will one day be standing in her position: at the halfway point of the mountain of life, looking down at all the things we once thought were impossible, but have now achieved.

The nickname ‘Hyoraengi’ suits her well – beneath the disarming smiles is a tiger with intense fighting spirit.

Happy birthday, Kim Hyoyeon. You continue to inspire us every day as a fighter and a dreamer who not just sits down and envisions the future you’d love to have, but who never stops chasing after it, reaching out with outstretched arms toward the dreams that with each passing day become part of your reality. Never stop dreaming. Never stop fighting. And most importantly, never stop loving.

Written by: Hurricane_boi@twitter
Photos credit: dd_universe.tistory.com, charmingg.tistory.com, hyoyeon0922.com

Seems like the viral ‘Gangnam Style’ fever has hit Girls’ Generation as well!

On September 1st, the girls participated in the Yakult Diet Look concert and fansigning event held at the Woori Art Hall, Olympic Part in Seoul. When Psy’s recent worldwide hit was played during the event, the girls, namely Hyoyeon, Yuri, Sooyoung, Sunny and surprisingly, Seohyun, stood up and danced to ‘Gangnam Style’, much to the amusement of fans and the other members alike!

Check out the fancams of the short ‘Gangnam Style’ dance from the event!

Besides that, the three MCs of MBC’s ‘Music Core’, TaeTiSeo, also danced briefly to the song behind the scene during the September 1st broadcast of the weekly music show!

‘Gangnam Style’ is the title song of PSY’s album ’6甲’, which spread like wildfire worldwide, gaining international interest and mentions from the likes of major broadcasting networks such as CNN, Reuters and Bloomberg, as well as big name celebrities such as Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Nelly Furtado, Robbie Williams and Britney Spears just to name a few.

It is hardly surprising that the satire-like song with ironic scenes in the music video and comedic dance is also a big hit in its home country. It was a lovely surprise to see the girls of Girls’ Generation dancing along so hopefully we will see more of it in the future, maybe?

Credit: seungki7@youtube.com, lch800911@youtube.com, jamielim36@youtube.com, hazaee54@youtube.com, senayjyh@twitter.com

Lee Minho and Yoona’s couple photos for outdoor brand Eider has been revealed.

Autumn and winter-themed photos of Yoona and Lee Minho for Eider, were revealed on August 29th. In the photos, they look natural and close as a couple. Besides that, the clothes they wore consists of functionality and designs that made it look like fashionable everyday clothes instead of the typical outdoor wear.

Kim YeonHee, a representative of the brand, stated, “Recently, the outdoor products emphasize on naturality because the products are not only used during hiking but also for many other leisure activities. Eider is expecting to receive a good result through our reasonable cost, trendy design, and luxurious colors.”

The netizens who came upon the photos exclaimed “Is there any other couples like Lee Minho and Yoona?”, “Lee Minho and Yoona. They are really handsome and  pretty”, “Lee Minho and Yoona looks good together.”

Credit: tvreport.co.kr
Translated by: Taengfan@fanwonder.com

The family-like close relationship of SM Entertainment’s artists were shown once again!

SM’s choreographer and performance director, Shim Jaewon uploaded a photo on his Twitter account on August 22nd with a message that read, “I hope the people I love will be happy forever. SMTOWN concert rehearsal.”

The photo was taken during the rehearsal of the ‘SMTOWN Live World Tour III’ concert, which was held last Saturday on August 18th and the photo was taken with SHINee’s Taemin and Key, Girls’ Generation’s Hyoyeon and Yoona, and also TVXQ’s U-Know Yunho.

The photo also showed the close relationship of SM Entertainment’s artists as they posed with smiles, clearly showing their affections to one another by standing close without any hesitation. In the center, Hyoyeon was seen with Key and Yunho hunched closely while Yoona was seen leaning near Yunho.

Meanwhile, the ‘SMTOWN Live World Tour’ concert was concluded successfully with performances by actor Kim Minjong, singer BoA, f(x), Girls’ Generation, SHINee, TVXQ, Super Junior and more.

Credit: tvdaily.co.kr, Famous_Jae@twitter.com
Translated by: csa91597@fanwonder.com