Kim Na-young (singer)

In this Korean name, the family name is Kim.

This article is about South Korean singer. For actress with the same name, see Kim Na-young (actress, born 1995).

Kim Na-young (Korean: 김나영; born December 31, 1991)^[2] is a South Korean singer and actress who gained immense popularity through social media exposure on New Year's Eve 2015, when her single "What If It Was Going" topped Melon's (South Korea's biggest music streaming site) music charts, holding the top place for five days, and high spots on other streaming sites.^[3][4][5] She has recorded several soundtracks, including "Once Again" for Descendants of the Sun.^[4][6][7]

Kim Na-young
김나영
Kim in 2023
Born	(1991-12-31) December 31, 1991 (age 33)
Occupations	Singer actress
Agent	Flex M[1]
Musical career
Genres	R&B, ballad
Years active	2012 (2012)–present
Labels	Neverland
Korean name
Hangul	김나영
Revised Romanization	Gim Na-yeoung
McCune–Reischauer	Kim Nayŏng

As a solo artist, she released three studio albums, 26 singles and 22 soundtrack appearances.

Music career

She debuted as a singer in 2012, after which she took the unusual route of busking in the Hongdae area, where a video clip of her singing on a cold winter night went viral and attracted over 1 million views.^[3]

She has had a few TV appearances and was a contestant on Mnet's Superstar K in 2013, but did not reach the finals.^[5] From her appearance on Superstar K, her singing skills were noticed in the K-pop industry and she did a 2014 original soundtrack for a Korean drama.^[3]

New Year's Eve 2015 viral success

Her sudden rise in popularity, without being known much by mainstream media, occurred with the release of the viral video clip "What If It Was Going" and was called remarkable. Social media experts said the video's reception, which "spread like wildfire among young trendsetters," was because "mobile oriented social networks are changing the traditional routes to success for singers."^[3] She called the success, which coincided on her birthday, December 31, an unforgettable birthday gift.^[5]

Descendants of the Sun OST

She has recorded a number of soundtracks, including those for A Girl Who Sees Smells, Orange Marmalade and Bubble Gum.^[4] In March 2016, she and Mad Clown collaborated for a well received OST "Once Again" for Descendants of the Sun, and used as background music when the drama's leading roles flashed back to old memories.^[7]

2019: First music show win

On June 23, 2019, she received her first music show win on SBS' Inkigayo with her single "To Be Honest".^[8]

2020: Do You Like Brahms?

On September 21, 2020, the original soundtrack Kim sang titled "Dream" was released for the South Korean television series Do You Like Brahms? as the sixth part.

Discography

Studio albums

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
		KOR [9]
From the Heart	Released: October 18, 2016 Label: Neverland Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download Track listing I See (그래 그래) Sometimes (가끔 내가) Watch Memories (꺼내본다) Before We Met (너를 만나기 전) Losing Myself (시들어가) Heart (마음) Never (그럴 리가) What If It Was Going (어땠을까) As You Told Me (니 말대로) Road (길)	61
Inner	Released: November 15, 2018 Label: Neverland Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download Track listing A Sad Night (널 떠올리는 밤) I Can't Say That (그 한마디) I Want You Being An Adult (어른이 된다는 게) Forget (이제 그만) Like That (그렇게) But I Must (헤어질 수 밖에) May Be (그럴지도 몰라) No Blame (널 미워하지 않길) End of Love (우리 서로) Miss U I Can't Say That (그 한마디) (Inst.)	59
Me	Released: October 31, 2021 Label: Neverland Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download Track listing The Youngest Day We Were in Love (정말 좋았었는데) Killing Me Softly The Face of Love (상관해줘) For A Long Time (오랜날 오랜시간) Free! My Faded Day (내 빛바랜 날들) Moment (그 때) Friend, Where Are You (친구야 넌 어디에)	—

Singles

Title	Year	Peak chart positions	Sales	Certifications	Album
		KOR [10]
"Street Life" with Jang Won-ki	2013	32	KOR: 96,582[11]	—	Superstar K5 – Kim Na-young vs Jang Won-ki
"If Winter Ends" (겨울이 지나고 봄이 오듯이) with MJ	2014	—	—		Non-album single
"I'm Sorry" (미안해) with Tricky and Shin Jong-wook		—	—		I'm Sorry
"Sometimes" (가끔 내가)		32	KOR: 71,513[12]		From the Heart
"As You Told Me" (니 말대로)		42	KOR: 64,254[13]
"Never" (그럴 리가)	2015	67	KOR: 41,965[14]
"Believe Me"		—	—		Non-album single
"What If It Was Going" (어땠을까)		2	KOR: 804,640[15]		From the Heart
"I See" (그래 그래)	2016	99	KOR: 22,025[16]
"Watch Memories" (꺼내본다)		25	KOR: 93,546[17]
"No Blame" (널 미워하지 않길)		59	KOR: 59,974[18]		Inner
"Tears" (눈물) with Monday Kiz	2017	35	KOR: 42,548+[19]		Non-album single
"Being an Adult" (어른이 된다는 게)		40	KOR: 58,811[20]		Inner
"Love Sick" (사랑앓이) with F.T. Island		18	KOR: 68,049+[21]		Over 10 Years
"But I Must" (헤어질 수 밖에)		24	KOR: 278,883[22]		Inner
"Miss You"		84	—
"Each of Us" (우리 서로)	2018	38
"I Can't Say That" (그 한마디)		—
"Incorrect Answer" (오답) feat. Lee Min-hyuk of BtoB		80			Non-album singles
"To Be Honest" (솔직하게 말해서 나)	2019	1		KMCA: Platinum[23]
"Goodbye List" (헤어진 우리가 지켜야 할 것들) with Yang Da-il		4		—
"Not Anyone Else" (다른 누구 말고 너야)	2020	53
"Farewell Poem" (니가 없다면)		116
"A Letter for You" (봄 내음보다 너를)	2021	118
"The Day I Loved You" (사랑했던 날)		106
"The Youngest Day"		123			Me
"Press" (누른다)	2022	—			Non-album singles
"Dial Your Number" (너의 번호를 누르고)		44
"I Can't Help It" (어쩔 수가 없나 봐)		177
"I Can't" (못해)		57			Re:Wind 4Men Vol.02
"Not Lonely" (외롭지 않아)	2023	139			Non-album singles
"The Day" (내일 이별) (with Shin Yong-jae)	2024	142
"Love Illusion" (이별 자서전)		—
"Only You Know" (너만이 알아볼 마음)	2025	TBA
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Soundtrack appearances

Title	Year	Peak chart positions	Sales	Album
		KOR [10]
"You Let Me Go With a Smile" with Lee Eun-ha	2014	—	—	Trot Lovers OST
"Hope and Hope" (바라고 바라고)		—		Marriage, Not Dating OST
"Ordinary Farewell" (흔한 이별) with Song Yu-bin	2015	—		A Girl Who Sees Smells OST
"If I Did" (그랬다면)		—		Orange Marmalade OST
"To Me, You" (내겐 그대)		—		Bubble Gum OST
"Once Again" (다시 너를) with Mad Clown	2016	2	KOR: 813,800[24]	Descendants of the Sun OST
"Say Goodbye (My Heart Speaks)" (가슴이 말해)		28	KOR: 150,245	Uncontrollably Fond OST
"I'm OK" (괜찮다고)	2017	—	—	The Emperor: Owner of the Mask OST
"If Only" (그럴걸)		—		Love Playlist 2 OST
"Maze" (미로)		49	KOR: 58,717[25]	While You Were Sleeping OST
"The Package" with DinDin		—	—	The Package OST
"Because I Only See You" (그대만 보여서)	2018	80		What's Wrong with Secretary Kim OST
"Tell Me" (말해줘요)		—		Are You Human? OST
"Close I'll Be" (너의 모든 기억속에)	2019	106		Romance Is a Bonus Book OST
"I Get a Little Bit Lonely" (조금 더 외로워지겠지)		43		Search: WWW OST
"At That Time" (그 무렵)		111		When the Camellia Blooms OST
"Heart Break" with Gaeko of Dynamic Duo	2020	—		The King: Eternal Monarch OST
"Like the Winter That Loved Spring" (봄날을 사랑한 겨울처럼)		—		Men Are Men OST
"Dream" (그리워하면 그댈 만날까봐)		110		Do You Like Brahms? OST
"Where Are You" (그대는 어디에)	2021	141		Run On OST
"My All" (우연이 아닌것만 같아서)		—		My Roommate Is a Gumiho OST
"There for You" (이별후회)		30		Our Beloved Summer OST
"Love Hurts a Little More" (조금 더 아파도)	2022	—		Forecasting Love and Weather OST
"Breath" (숨결) [26]		—		Alchemy of Souls OST
"You Are the Sea" (너는 바다)		—		Curtain Call OST
"Good Person" (좋은 사람)	2024	138		Welcome to Samdal-ri OST
"From Bottom of My Heart" (일기)		102		Queen of Tears OST
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Filmography

Television shows

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2021	The Listen: Wind Blows	Cast Member		[27][28]

Variety shows

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2016-2021	King of Mask Singer	Contestant	As "Weightlifter Girl Kim Mask" (Ep. 87 -83) and as "Brother's Wife" (Ep. 293-294)	TBA

Theater

Year	English title	Korean title	Role	Ref.
2022	Gwangju	광주	Jeong Hwa-in	[29]

Awards and nominations

Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination

Award ceremony	Year	Category	Nominee / Work	Result	Ref.
Golden Disc Awards	2020	Digital Song Bonsang	"Goodbye List" (duet with Yang Da-il)	Nominated
Seoul Music Awards		Bonsang Award		Nominated