Biography of Jeongyeon

Jeongyeon, also known by her full name Yoo Jeong-yeon, is a South Korean singer who is a member of the girl group ‘TWICE’, formed by ‘JYP Entertainment’. Jeongyeon officially debuted as a member of Twice in October 2015, with the release of their first extended play (EP), ‘The Story Begins’. The lead single ‘Like Ooh-Ahh’ from this EP was a significant achievement as it was the first K-pop debut song to reach 100 million views on YouTube.

Early Life and Education

Jeongyeon, whose birth name is Yoo Kyung-wan, was born on November 1, 1996, in the city of Suwon, located in the Gyeonggi Province of South Korea. She comes from a family of three sisters, with one of her sisters being the actress Gong Seung-yeon, who has also made a name for herself in the entertainment industry. Her father had a background as a chef and had worked for former President of South Korea, Kim Dae-jung.

Growing up, Jeongyeon had an early interest in physical fitness and took aerobic classes, which helped her develop a strong foundation in dance. As she grew older, her interest in performing arts grew stronger and she began to develop a passion for singing and dancing.

Career & Achievements

Jeongyeon’s journey to become a professional performer began when she decided to audition for ‘JYP Entertainment’ at a young age. Unfortunately, her first attempt was not successful, but she didn’t give up on her dream. In March 2010, she decided to try again and participated in JYP Entertainment’s Open Audition. This time, her hard work and dedication paid off as she was accepted into the company and began her training.

Before debuting as a member of ‘TWICE’, Jeongyeon trained for five years. Between 2013 and early 2015, she was supposed to be part of a new girl group from JYP Entertainment along with fellow trainees Nayeon, Sana, and Jihyo. However, the project was eventually cancelled. Later in 2015, Jeongyeon was given a chance to participate in a reality television program called ‘Sixteen’, which was a competition to determine the members of ‘TWICE’. In the final episode, she was selected as one of the nine members of the group.

Jeongyeon officially debuted as a member of Twice in October 2015, with the release of their first extended play (EP), ‘The Story Begins’. The lead single ‘Like Ooh-Ahh’ from this EP was a significant achievement as it was the first K-pop debut song to reach 100 million views on YouTube. The success of the song helped ‘TWICE’ to establish itself as a prominent force in the K-pop industry.

From July 2016 to January 2017 Jeongyeon and her sister Gong Seung-yeon collaborated as co-hosts on the South Korean music program ‘Inkigayo’. Their hosting skills were recognized by the industry and they both received the ‘Newcomer Award’ at the 2016 ‘SBS Entertainment Awards’. This opportunity also gave Jeongyeon a chance to showcase her talents beyond singing and dancing and to connect with her fans in a different way.

Jeongyeon has not only been a performer but also a songwriter for ‘TWICE’ since her debut. She contributed to the creation of some of the group’s tracks. Furthermore, her popularity among the public is evident as she has been voted as one of the top 20 most popular idols in South Korea for four consecutive years from 2016 to 2019 according to ‘Gallup Korea’s Annual Music Poll’ with her bandmate Nayeon.

In October 2020, Jeongyeon’s agency, ‘JYP Entertainment’, announced that she would be taking a break from her activities due to struggles with anxiety. After receiving treatment and taking time to focus on her mental health, she returned to her activities with the group in January 2021. However, in August 2021, Jeongyeon announced that she would be taking a break again due to issues with panic and anxiety disorder. As of 2022, Jeongyeon has resumed all of her activities as a member of ‘TWICE’ and has also renewed her contract with her agency.

Discography

• Soundtrack
  

  ENCORE – JYP Nation concert theme song (2016)

• Music Video Appearances
  

  GOT7 – Girls Girls Girls (2014)
  Jun. K – No Love (2014)
  miss A – Only You (2015)
  Park Jin Young – Fire (feat. Conan O’Brien, Steven Yeun, & Jimin) (2016)

Filmography

• Television Shows
  

  Sixteen (Mnet) – 2015

Personal Life

Interesting Facts about Jeongyeon

1. She took aerobic classes when she was young.
2. She failed her first attempt at auditioning for ‘JYP Entertainment’.
3. Jeongyeon trained to become a K-pop idol for five years.
4. Jeongyeon officially changed her name from ‘Yoo Kyung-wan’ to ‘Yoo Jeong-yeon’ during her third grade of school due to her birth name being considered too masculine and being bullied for it.
5. Her older sister Gong Seung-yeon is an actress. She once collaborated with her sister as co-hosts on the South Korean music program ‘Inkigayo’. Their hosting skills were recognized by the industry and they both received the ‘Newcomer Award’ at the 2016 ‘SBS Entertainment Awards’.
6. Her ideal type is someone who makes her feel comfortable, is funny and can amuse her.

FAQs

1. When is Jeongyeon’s Birthday?
   She was born on November 1, 1996.
2. How old is Jeongyeon?
   She is currently 26 years old.
3. How tall is Jeongyeon?
   She is about 1.67 m tall.
4. Is Jeongyeon single?
   Yes. She is now single. In an interview, she revealed that the last time she dated someone was in middle school.
5. What is Jeongyeon’s official Instagram ID?
   jy_piece is her official Instagram ID.