Im Na-yeon (Korean: 임나연; born September 22, 1995), known mononymously as Nayeon, is a South Korean singer. She rose to prominence as a member of the South Korean girl group Twice, created by JYP Entertainment through the reality television show Sixteen (2015).
Nayeon released her eponymous debut extended play (EP), Im Nayeon, in June 2022. It peaked at number one on South Korea's Circle Album Chart and number seven on the US Billboard 200, making her the first South Korean soloist in history to enter the latter chart's top 10. The lead single, "Pop!", reached number two on the Circle Digital Chart in South Korea and the top ten in six countries. In 2024, Nayeon earned her second number-one entry on the Circle Album Chart and top-ten entry on the US Billboard 200 with her second extended play Na.
Early life
Im Na-yeon was born on September 22, 1995 in Gangdong District, Seoul, South Korea.[1] As a child, Nayeon participated in a modeling contest and was cast by JYP Entertainment. Although her mother initially prevented her from entering show business given her young age,[2][3] Nayeon secretly attended the agency's open audition on September 15, 2010, after which she became a trainee.[4][5][6] In 2014, she was set to debut in a girl group called 6mix, but the group's debut was cancelled when two members left JYP Entertainment.[3][7][8] She also made an appearance in the second episode of the 2012 television series Dream High 2.[9]
Nayeon's second EP Na was released on June 14, 2024.[22] It contains seven tracks including the lead single, "ABCD", and collaborations with Sam Kim and Julie of Kiss of Life.[23] In February 2025, Nayeon performed solo in Japan for the first time at Beat AX Vol.5, a music festival hosted by Nippon Television at Ariake Arena.[24] After her performance, her cover of Ikimonogakari's "Kimagure Romantic" became popular on social media, and the original song re-charted on various music streaming services. At the request of Ikimonogakari, Nayeon released her cover version as a digital single on May 30.[25]
On July 4, Nayeon performed at the Kaohsiung Beer Rock Festival, becoming the first Twice member to perform in Taiwan.[26]
Public image
In Gallup Korea's annual music poll for 2017, she was voted the sixth most popular idol in South Korea.[3][27][28] In the 2018 poll, she again ranked sixth, receiving 6.7% of the votes.[3][29][30] In 2019, she placed fifth, receiving 8.2% of the votes,[3][31][32] and ranked as the eighth most popular female K-pop idol in a survey of soldiers completing mandatory military service in South Korea.[33] Nayeon has been noted for being at the "center" of Twice's performances and constantly opening the group's songs.[14]
Other ventures
Nayeon at Twice's fan meeting in March 2017
Fashion and endorsements
Aside from various endorsements with her Twice bandmates, Nayeon has promoted various products and featured in numerous advertisements. During her trainee years, Nayeon was a model for brands such as Smart School Uniform[34] and TN.[35] In May 2021, she became a model and appeared in a promotional video for Chaumet's Joséphine collection.[36][37] In August, she became a model for Biotherm Korea, a South Korean beauty brand.[38][39] In September 2022, she became a model for South Korean clothing brand Olive Des Olive.[40] On January 30, 2023, Nayeon was announced as the official muse of Givenchy Beauty.[41] In May 2023, she became the Asia ambassador for Tommy Jeans.[42]
In March 2020, Nayeon donated ₩50 million (US$42,363.34) to the Community Chest of Korea to help the fight against COVID-19 outbreak.[55] In 2023, she donated ₩200 million (US$153,178.94) to Save the Children to support relief for the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquakes, and in January 2024, she became a member of the Honor Society of the Community Chest of Korea for donating over ₩100 million (US$76,589.47) to the organization.[56][57]
In March 2025, Nayeon donated ₩50 million (US$43,708.2) through the Community Chest of Korea to help the wildfire victims.[58]
^ abHwang, Hyo-jin (May 19, 2015). JYP의 취향│③ 열여섯 명의 [식스틴] 멤버들을 소개합니다. ize (in Korean). ize Magazine. Archived from the original on February 4, 2016. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
^Kim, Do-hyung (April 1, 2016). 트와이스 나연, 군대 간 대학 동기에 친필 사인 화제 [Twice Nayeon, autographed topic for college motives between the military]. Sports Seoul (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 16, 2023. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
^ abAn, Hana (April 9, 2018). 트와이스 나연 "대학교? 컴백 위해 현재 휴학 중"(V라이브) [Twice Nayeon "University? Currently taking a leave of absence for a comeback" (V Live)]. MK Sports (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 16, 2023. Retrieved March 18, 2023 – via Naver.
^Park, Da-sol (December 29, 2020). 가수 활동만 하고 있지만 언제든 '배우 겸업'도 가능한 '연영과' 전공 아이돌 5인 [5 Idols majoring in 'Yeonyoung Department' who are only active as singers but can also 'act as actors' at any time]. Insight (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
^Lim, Ji-yeon (April 9, 2018). [V라이브] 트와이스 나연 "컴백 위해 대학 휴학 중" [[VLive] Twice Nayeon "I'm taking a leave of absence from college for a comeback"]. Xports News [ko] (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 18, 2023. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
^Ha, Su-jeong (July 10, 2022). '인기가요' 나연, 솔로 데뷔 후 첫 1위..위너·비비지·우주소녀 컴백 [종합] ['Inkigayo' Nayeon, first 1st place after solo debut.. Winner·Viviz·WJSN comeback [Comprehensive]]. OSEN [ko] (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 14, 2022. Retrieved July 10, 2022 – via Naver.
^Seon, Mi-gyeong (May 13, 2024). 트와이스 나연, 6월 14일 솔로 컴백 확정..미니 2집 'NA' 발매[공식] [TWICE Nayeon confirms solo comeback on June 14th..2nd mini album 'NA' to be released [Official]]. OSEN [ko] (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 13, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024 – via Naver.
^TWICE・NAYEON、いきものがかり「気まぐれロマンティック」カバー音源を配信リリース [Twice's Nayeon releases a cover of Ikimonogakari's "Kimagure Romantic" digitally]. The First Times (in Japanese). May 30, 2025. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
^Zhāng, Yīshēng (May 23, 2025). 主辦釋票時間曝 高雄啤酒音樂節2分鐘完售 [Tickets for Kaohsiung Beer Rock Festival sold out in 2 minutes]. NowNews (in Chinese). Archived from the original on May 25, 2025. Retrieved May 25, 2025 – via Yahoo Kimo.
^Kim Sa-ra (August 19, 2021). 트와이스 나연 "배달 음식 주문할 때도 되도록 종이 용기로" [화보] [TWICE Nayeon "When ordering food for delivery, I use paper containers as much as possible." [Picture]]. OSEN [ko] (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 19, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
^Lee, Jeong-beom (September 8, 2022). 트와이스 나연, 올리브데올리브 모델 전격 발탁 [공식] [TWICE's Nayeon, selected as a model for Olive the Olive [Official]]. Sports News (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 24, 2022. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
^Kim, Ji-woo (January 30, 2023). 트와이스 나연, 지방시 뷰티의 새 얼굴[공식] [Twice Nayeon, the new face of Givenchy Beauty [Official]] (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved January 30, 2023 – via Naver.
^트와이스 나연이 가장 좋아하는 주얼리는? [What is TWICE Nayeon's favorite jewelry?]. harpersbazaar.co.kr (in Korean). April 1, 2022. Archived from the original on May 23, 2022. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
^"Im Nayeon" (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. June 19–25, 2022. Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022 – via Gaon Chart.
"Na" (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. June 9–15, 2024. Archived from the original on June 26, 2024. Retrieved June 20, 2024 – via Circle Chart.
"Songs from Im Nayeon". June 19–25, 2022. Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 25, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
"Songs from Na". June 9–15, 2024. Archived from the original on June 20, 2024. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
^AAA 인기상 후보100 사전투표 - 가수 [AAA Popularity Award Candidate 100 Advance Voting - Singer]. Star News (in Korean). September 5, 2023. Archived from the original on September 11, 2023. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
^【APMA 2022】亚洲流行音乐大奖2022年度获奖名单 [[APMA 2022] Asian Pop Music Awards 2022 Winners List]. Weibo (in Chinese). December 28, 2022. Archived from the original on December 28, 2022. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
^Kim, Na-yeon (February 18, 2023). 임영웅·트와이스 나연, 올해의 솔로 가수상 수상 [써클차트어워즈] [Lim Young-woong and Nayeon of Twice, Solo Singer of the Year Award [Circle Chart Awards]] (in Korean). MT Star News. Archived from the original on February 18, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2023 – via Naver.
^Jeong, Won-hee (January 24, 2023). 한터뮤직어워즈 2022, 첫 오프라인 시상식 명예의 대상·본상 주인공은 누구? [Hanteo Music Awards 2022, who will be the grand prize winner and main prize winner of the first offline awards ceremony?]. Hanteo News (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 24, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
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