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Baek A-yeon
백아연
160217 백아연.jpg
Baek in 2016
Born
Baek A-yeon

(1993-03-11) March 11, 1993 (age 31)
Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
Occupation
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Spouse(s) Unknown (m. 2023)
Musical career
Genres
Instruments Vocals
Years active 2012–present
Labels
Associated acts JYP Nation
Korean name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised Romanization Baek A-yeon
McCune–Reischauer Paek Ayŏn

Baek A-yeon (Hangul: 백아연; born March 11, 1993) is a South Korean singer and songwriter signed under Eden Entertainment. She is best known as the second runner-up contestant of K-pop Star.

As a soloist, she has released a total of five extended plays and a total of ten singles, after her contract with JYP Entertainment expired in 2019, she subsequently joined EDEN Entertainment.

Early life and education

Baek was born on March 11, 1993, in Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do. During her fifth year of elementary school she underwent treatment for cancer. She is currently studying at the Department of Practical Music at Howon University.

Career

2011–2012: K-Pop Star

Baek participated in the first season of competition television show K-pop Star. She was one of the top three contestants, along with Park Ji-min and Lee Hi. After she was eliminated she was approached by a number of entertainment agencies seeking to sign her. Baek eventually signed with JYP Entertainment, the company of K-pop Star judge JYP.

2012–2014: I'm Baek, A Good Girl and original soundtrack

Baek released her debut EP, I'm Baek, on September 10, 2012, with a total of five tracks including the lead single "Sad Song". On September 16, Baek made her official debut stage on the music program Inkigayo with performances of "Stay" and "Sad Song".

On December 15, Baek released her first original soundtrack "Daddy Long Legs" for the SBS drama Cheongdam-dong Alice.

In April 2013, Baek recorded "Introduction to Love," for MBC's drama When a Man Falls in Love. Baek released her second EP, A Good Girl, on June 17, 2013, with the lead single "A Good Boy". One months later, she recorded "Tears Are Also Love", for the MBC's drama Goddess of Fire OST.

In May 2014, Baek released track, "The Three Things I Have Left", for the SBS drama Angel Eyes. Two months later, she released another track, "Morning of Canon", for MBC's drama You Are My Destiny.

2015–present: Breakthrough, Bittersweet, Dear Me, and Observe

Baek released her first single and first self-composed song, "Shouldn't Have" (featuring Day6's Young K), on May 20, 2015. The song went on to become a sleeper hit, reaching number one on several Korean music real-time charts a month after its release among fierce competition. Following the success of the song, she began promotions for it on music programs beginning with Show! Music Core on June 13. Later in the year, she contributed her vocals to the song "So We Are" for the SBS drama Yong-pal.

In May 2016, Baek released a digital single album, consisting of the lead track "So-So", composed and written by herself, as well as side track "Something to Say". "So-so" followed the success of "Shouldn't Have", securing the top spot on all major Korean music charts within a day of its release. Later that year, she released holiday single, "Just Because" (featuring Got7's JB), on November 30.

Baek's third EP, Bittersweet, was released on May 29, 2017, leading to the media coining the name "May Queen" for her consistency in releasing music during that month. The EP contained six tracks, with the lead single "Sweet Lies" featuring vocal trio The Barberettes. While Bittersweet did not have the same success chart-wise as its predecessors, the album was praised for its quality with Billboard including it among their top five critic's picks of the K-pop albums released that year.

"The album as a whole, is hypnotic in its pop glory, and lives up to Baek's reputation within Korea as one of the country's most captivating young female soloists. As a whole, Bittersweet features a wide array of sounds that blend to create an otherworldly listening experience." - T.H., Billboard

Baek A Yeon's fourth EP, Dear Me was released on November 21, 2018, with the lead single "Sorry To Myself" along with five other songs. Later that year, she was confirmed to have landed a role in Korea's first virtual reality (VR) musical film, "Anna, Mari", which won Korea Creative Content Agency's 2018 "VR Frontier Content Project".

On September 16, 2019, it was revealed that Baek A Yeon's contract with JYP Entertainment had come to an end. She chose not to renew her contract, and left the company. On December 7, she formally announced that she had joined Eden Entertainment.

On July 13, 2021, Baek A Yeon was supposed to release her fifth EP, Observe, with the lead single "0%", but it was delayed due to rising cases of COVID-19 in Korea. It was later announced that the new release date would be September 7.

On August 17, 2022, Baek released the track "Doctor", a track that was included in the Pokémon Exhibition Track.

On October 21, 2022, it was announced that Baek has renewed her contract with Eden Entertainment.

Personal life

On February 28, 2023, Baek’s agency confirmed that she is in a relationship with her non-celebrity boyfriend. On March 2, 2023, Baek announced in a handwritten letter that they will be holding their wedding ceremony. The couple married on August 12, 2023.

Discography

Extended plays

Title EP details Peak chart positions Sales
KOR
I'm Baek
  • Released: September 10, 2012
  • Label: JYP Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, digital download
11
  • KOR: 2,148+
A Good Girl
  • Released: June 17, 2013
  • Label: JYP Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, digital download
14
  • KOR: 1,765+
Bittersweet
  • Released: May 29, 2017
  • Label: JYP Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, digital download
N/A
Dear Me
  • Released: November 21, 2018
  • Label: JYP Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, digital download
N/A
Observe
  • Released: September 7, 2021
  • Label: Eden Entertainment, Kakao Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, digital download
N/A

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Sales (DL) Album
KOR
Gaon

KOR
Hot 100

As lead artist
"Sad Song" (느린노래) 2012 2 11
  • KOR: 995,710+
I'm Baek
"A Good Boy" (어굿보이) 2013 12 26
  • KOR: 346,987+
A Good Girl
"Shouldn't Have" (이럴거면 그러지말지)
feat. Young K of DAY6
2015 1
  • KOR: 2,500,000+
non-album single
"So-So" (쏘쏘) 2016 1
  • KOR: 1,070,347+
"Just Because" (그냥 한번)
feat. JB of GOT7
12
  • KOR: 185,203+
"Sweet Lies"
feat. The Barberettes
2017 5
  • KOR: 278,224+
Bittersweet
"The Little Match Girl" (성냥팔이 소녀)
with Wendy of Red Velvet
55
  • KOR: 59,483+
SM Station
"Sorry to Myself" (마음아 미안해) 2018 N/A Dear Me
"Looking for Love" (썸 타긴 뭘 타) 2020 47 Non-album singles
"I Need You" (춥지 않게)
"Fickle Person" (변덕쟁이) 2021 The Late Kim Hyun Sik's 30th Anniversary Memorial Album
"0%" (아무것도 하기 싫으면 어떡애) 113 Observe
As featured artist
"Pursuit of Happiness" (행복을 찾아서)
Yim Jae-beom feat. Baek A-yeon
2012 N/A TO…
"Please Come Back" (돌아와줘)
Taecyeon & Chansung of 2PM feat. Baek A-yeon
2014 Go Crazy! (Grand Edition)
"Kibuntat" (기분탓)
Sleepy feat. Baek A-yeon
2015 39
  • KOR: 51,563+
F/W
Pre-debut singles
"Atlantis Princess"
originally by BoA
2012 154 N/A K-Pop Star Top 8
"Can't Fight the Moonlight"
originally by LeAnn Rimes
100
  • KOR: 45,274+
K-Pop Star Top 7
"Saving All My Love for You"
originally by Whitney Houston
93
  • KOR: 46,548+
K-Pop Star Top 6
"Run Devil Run"
originally by Girls' Generation
55 97
  • KOR: 111,780+
K-Pop Star Top 5
"I Miss You"
originally by Kim Bum-soo
23 37
  • KOR: 325,867+
K-Pop Star Top 4
"Ma Boy 2"
with Lee Seunghoon, originally by Electroboyz
50 67
  • KOR: 116,457+
K-Pop Star Special No. 3
"I Was Wrong"
originally by 2AM
N/A K-Pop Star Top 3
"—" denotes release did not chart.

Other charted songs

Title Year Peak chart positions Sales (DL) Album
KOR
Gaon
KOR
Hot 100
"Stay" (머물러요) 2012 37 47
  • KOR: 136,772+
I'm Baek
"Love, Love, Love." 44 65
  • KOR: 81,151+
"Always"
feat. Jun.K of 2PM
55
  • KOR: 70,219+
"You're Leaving" (니가 떠나간다) 59
  • KOR: 68,973+
"The First Time I Met You" (너를 처음 만난 그때)
with Hwang Chi-yeul
2015 49
  • KOR: 51,089+
투유 프로젝트 - 슈가맨, Pt. 4
"Something to Say" (할말) 2016 29
  • KOR: 102,393+
So-So (single)
"Screw You" (넘어져라) 2017 81
  • KOR: 34,548
"Bittersweet"
"Just Friends" (연락이 없으면) 94
  • KOR: 30,231
"Jealousy" (질투가 나)
feat. Park Ji-min
27
  • KOR: 71,801
"Magic Girl" (마법소녀)
  • KOR: 21,070
"—" denotes release did not chart.

Soundtrack appearances

Title Year Peak chart positions Sales (DL) Album
KOR
Gaon
"Daddy Long Legs" 2012 6
  • KOR: 469,000+
Cheongdam-dong Alice OST
"Introduction to Love" (사랑학개론) 2013 37
  • KOR: 170,436+
When a Man Falls in Love OST
"Tears Are Also Love" (눈물도 사랑인 걸) N/A Goddess of Fire OST
"The Three Things I Have Left" (내게 남은 세가지) 2014 11
  • KOR: 232,433+
Angel Eyes OST
"Morning of Canon" (캐논의 아침) 70
  • KOR: 79,425+
You Are My Destiny OST
"So We Are" (이렇게 우리) 2015 14
  • KOR: 265,169+
Yong-pal OST
"A Lot Like Love" (사랑인 듯 아닌 듯) 2016 25
  • KOR: 131,894+
Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo OST
"Was it You" (너였었니) 2018 N/A Wok of Love OST
"Why" Webtoon Yeonnom (웹툰 연놈) OST
"Always Be with You" (그대여야만 해요) 2019 164 Encounter OST
"Story of Us" (둘만의 이야기) Anna, Mari OST
"Just Go" Doctor John OST
"Hello My Lover" Vagabond OST
"나는 니가 되고 싶어" 2020 Anna, Mari OST
"Wherever" (어디라도) The Spies Who Loved Me OST
"Sweet Home" (집에만 있었지) 2021 Webtoon Bunny and Guys (바니와 오빠들) OST
"Stay with Me" (그대를 조금 더) Monthly Magazine Home OST
"Stained" (물들이다) 2022 Elsword OST
"There, There" (당신의 밤이 그만 불안하기를) Love All Play OST
"—" denotes releases did not chart.

Concerts and tours

Headlining

  • Baek A Yeon 1st Concert "Whispering the First Story" (2015)
  • Baek A Yeon 2nd Concert "Whisper, Whisper - The 2nd Story" (2016)

Concert participation

  • 2014 JYP Nation ONE MIC (Seoul, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Bangkok)
  • 2016 JYP Nation Mix & Match (Seoul and Tokyo)

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2019 Princess Aya Princess Aya animated, Korean dubbed, Officially released in 2022
Anna, Marie

Variety programs

Year Title Role Notes
2011 K-pop Star Season 1 Contestant
2015 100 People, 100 Songs Episode 34
2015 Idol Star Athletics Ssireum Basketball Futsal Archery Championships Participant
Sugar Man Show Man with Hwang Chi-yeol Remake a song 너를 처음 만난 그때 (The First Time I Met You) by Park Jun-ha
2016 Show Man with Sandeul B1A4 Remake a song 선물 (Gift) by UN
Duet Song Festival Duet with Park Soon-ho Song choice 제발 (Please) by Lee So-ra
King of Mask Singer Contestant as "I Will Back Music Box" Episodes 83–84

Music video appearance

Year Song title Artist Role
2013 "Somebody" 15& Herself

Theatre

Year Title Role Ref.
2015 Cinderella Cinderella
2021–2022 Theatrical Boy Radio ONAIR DJ

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result
2013
22nd Seoul Music Awards
Best New Artists N/A Nominated
2015 7th MelOn Music Awards Top 10 Artists N/A Nominated
Best Ballad Song Shouldn't Have (feat. Young K of DAY6) Won
Song Of the Year Nominated
17th Mnet Asian Music Awards
Best Vocal Performance – Female Nominated
Sina Weibo Global Fan's Choice – Female N/A Nominated
2016 25th Seoul Music Awards Bonsang Award Shouldn't Have (feat. Young K of DAY6) Nominated
Popularity Award N/A Nominated
Hallyu Special Award N/A Nominated
30th Golden Disk Awards Digital Bonsang Shouldn't Have (feat. Young K of DAY6) Nominated
Popularity Award (Korea) N/A Nominated
Global Popularity Award N/A Nominated
5th Gaon Chart Music Awards
Discovery of the Year – Hot Trend Shouldn't Have (feat. Young K of DAY6) Won
18th Mnet Asian Music Awards
Best Female Artist N/A Nominated
Best Vocal Performance – Female So-So Nominated
2017 31st Golden Disk Awards Digital Bonsang Nominated
Asian Choice Popularity Award N/A Nominated
26th Seoul Music Awards Bonsang Award So-So Nominated
Best Ballad Award Won
Popularity Award N/A Nominated
Hallyu Special Award N/A Nominated
6th Gaon Chart Music Awards
Song of the Year – May So-So Nominated

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Baek A-yeon para niños

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