Nayeon

"Im Nayeon" redirects here. For the EP, see Im Nayeon (EP).

In this Korean name, the family name is Im.

Im Na-yeon^[a] (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
Nayeon in 2022
Born	Im Na-yeon[a] (1995-09-22) September 22, 1995 (age 29) Seoul, South Korea
Occupation	Singer
Years active	2015–present
Musical career
Genres	K-pop J-pop bubblegum
Instrument	Vocals
Labels	JYP Warner Japan Republic
Member of	Twice JYP Nation
Website	twice.jype.com
Korean name
Hangul	임나연
Revised Romanization	Im Nayeon
McCune–Reischauer	Im Nayŏn
Signature

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]

Education

Nayeon graduated from Seoul Myeongwon Elementary School, Seongdeok Girls' Middle School, and Apgujeong High School.^[1] Before her debut with Twice, she was a student at Konkuk University under the department of Theater and Film Arts.^[10][11][12] In 2018, during the What Is Love? showcase, she revealed that she took a "leave of absence" due to her busy schedule.^[11][13]

Career

2015–present: Sixteen, Twice and solo debut

Main articles: Sixteen (TV program) and Twice

In 2015, Nayeon participated in the reality television show Sixteen, a competition to determine the members of a new JYP Entertainment girl group called Twice.^[14][15] As one of the nine successful participants, she made the final lineup.^[14] In October, Nayeon officially debuted as a member of Twice with the release of their first extended play (EP), The Story Begins.^[16][17]

On May 19, 2022, it was announced that Nayeon would debut as a solo artist on June 24 with her debut EP Im Nayeon.^[18] On July 10, 2022, Nayeon earned her first ever music show win on SBS Inkigayo.^[19] She won Best Female Artist at the 2022 MAMA Awards.^[20]

On May 13, 2024, JYP Entertainment announced that Nayeon would release her sophomore EP Na on June 14.^[21]

Public image

In Gallup Korea's annual music poll for 2017, she was voted the sixth most popular idol in South Korea.^[3][22][23] In the 2018 poll, she again ranked sixth, receiving 6.7% of the votes.^[3][24][25] In 2019, she placed fifth, receiving 8.2% of the votes,^[3][26][27] and ranked as the eighth most popular female K-pop idol in a survey of soldiers completing mandatory military service in South Korea.^[28] 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^[29] and TN.^[30] In May 2021, she became a model and appeared in a promotional video for Chaumet's Joséphine collection.^[31][32] In August, she became a model for Biotherm Korea, a South Korean beauty brand.^[33][34] In September 2022, she became a model for South Korean clothing brand Olive Des Olive.^[35] On January 30, 2023, Nayeon was announced as the official muse of Givenchy Beauty.^[36] In May 2023, she became the Asia ambassador for Tommy Jeans.^[37]

Nayeon has also appeared in magazines including Nylon Korea,^[38] Cosmopolitan Korea,^[39] W Korea,^[40] and Elle Korea,^[41] as well as for fashion brands such as Ralph Lauren,^[42] Jill Stuart,^[43] Fendi,^[44] and Louis Vuitton.^[45] She was featured in the April 2022 issue of Harper's Bazaar Korea for Chaumet's Joséphine collection. The same month, she was officially named by the brand as the Friend of the Maison.^[46][47] In August 2023, she was announced as the muse of Austrian jewellery brand Swarovski.^[48][49]

Philanthropy

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.^[50] 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.^[51][52]

In March 2025, Nayeon donated ₩50 million (US$43,708.2) through the Community Chest of Korea to help the wildfire victims.^[53]

Discography

For Nayeon's discography with Twice, see Twice discography.

Extended plays

List of extended plays, showing selected details, chart positions, sales figures, and certifications

Title	Details	Peak chart positions							Sales	Certifications
		KOR [54]	CAN [55]	FIN [56]	JPN [57]	JPN Hot [58]	US [59]	US World [60]
Im Nayeon	Released: June 24, 2022 Label: JYP, Republic Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming	1	54	25	6	19	7	1	KOR: 547,102[61] JPN: 16,366 (phy.)[62] US: 52,000[63]	KMCA: 2× Platinum[64]
Na	Released: June 14, 2024 Label: JYP, Republic Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming	1	—	—	4	21	7	1	KOR: 454,723[65] JPN: 12,961 (phy.)[66] US: 43,000[67]	KMCA: Platinum[64]
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory

Singles

As lead artist

List of singles as lead artist, showing year released, selected chart positions, certifications, and name of the album

Title	Year	Peak chart positions										Sales	Certifications	Album
		KOR [68]	KOR Songs [69]	JPN Cmb. [70]	JPN Hot [71]	MLY Songs [72]	NZ Hot [73]	PHL [A]	SGP [75]	US World [76]	WW [77]
"Pop!"	2022	2	2	6	5	9	17	6	7	7	30		RIAJ: Platinum (st.)[78]	Im Nayeon
"ABCD"	2024	95	—	29	25	23	17	73	12	2	54	JPN: 3,172 (dig.)[79]		Na
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory

Collaborations

List of collaboration singles, showing year released and name of the album

Title	Year	Album
"Encore"[80] (with Yubin, Yeeun, Hyerim, Min, Nichkhun, Junho, Mark, Jackson, Yugyeom, Jeongyeon, Momo and Mina as JYP Nation)	2016	Non-album single

Soundtrack appearances

List of soundtrack appearances, showing year released and name of the album

Title	Year	Album
"Beyond" (저 너머로) (End Credit Version)[81] (featuring Te Vaka)	2024	Moana 2 (Korean Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Other charted songs

List of other charted songs, showing year released, selected chart positions and name of the album

Title	Year	Peak chart positions					Album
		KOR Down. [82]	HUN [83]	NZ Hot [73]	SGP Reg. [84]	US World [76]
"I'll Show You" (with Jihyo, Sana, Chaeyoung, Bekuh Boom and Annika Wells as K/DA)	2020	—	—	38	—	10	All Out
"No Problem" (featuring Felix of Stray Kids)	2022	31	30	—	25	10	Im Nayeon
"Love Countdown" (featuring Wonstein)		32	—	—	23	—
"Candyfloss"		46	—	—	—	—
"All or Nothing"		53	—	—	—	—
"Happy Birthday to You"		55	—	—	—	—
"Sunset" (노을만 예쁘다)		52	—	—	—	—
"Butterflies"	2024	37	—	—	—	—	Na
"Heaven" (featuring Sam Kim)		38	—	—	—	—
"Magic" (featuring Julie of Kiss of Life)		32	—	—	—	—
"HalliGalli"		33	—	—	—	—
"Something"		39	—	—	—	—
"Count It"		47	—	—	—	—
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory

Guest appearances

List of non-single guest appearances, showing year released and name of the album

Title	Year	Album
"Daring Woman" (당돌한 여자) (with Jihyo, Tzuyu and Chaeyoung)	2015	Two Yoo Project – Sugar Man Pt. 11

Songwriting credits

All song credits are adapted from the Korea Music Copyright Association's database unless stated otherwise.^[85]

List of songs, showing year released, artist name, and name of the album

Title	Year	Artist	Album	Notes
"24/7"	2017	Twice	Twicetagram	As lyricist
"Rainbow"	2019		Feel Special
"21:29"
"Make Me Go"	2020		More & More
"Depend on You"			Eyes Wide Open
"Baby Blue Love"	2021		Taste of Love
"F.I.L.A. (Fall in Love Again)"			Formula of Love: O+T=<3
"Love Countdown"	2022	Herself	Im Nayeon
"All or Nothing"
"Celebrate"		Twice	Celebrate

Videography

For Nayeon's videography with Twice, see Twice videography.

Music videos

Title	Year	Director(s)	Ref.
"Pop! "	2022	Rima Yoon, Dongju Jang (Rigend Film)	[86]
"ABCD"	2024	Guzza (Kudo)	[87]

Filmography

For Nayeon's filmography with Twice, see Twice videography.

Television series

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2012	Dream High 2	Jung Ui-bong's dance partner	Cameo	[9]

Television show

Year	Title	Role	Ref.
2018	Idol Star Athletics Championships	Presenter	[88]

Web show

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2024–present	Trick Kode	Host	YouTube game show	[89]

Bibliography

Photobooks

Title	Release date	Publisher	Ref.
Yes, I am Nayeon.	February 20, 2025	JYP Entertainment	[90]

Awards and nominations

For Nayeon's accolades with Twice, see List of awards and nominations received by Twice.

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

Award ceremony	Year	Category	Nominee(s)	Result	Ref.
Asia Artist Awards	2023	Popularity Award – Singer (Female)	Nayeon	Nominated	[91]
Asian Pop Music Awards	2022	Best Female Artist (Overseas)		Won	[92]
Circle Chart Music Awards	2023	Solo Artist of the Year – Female		Won	[93]
		Artist of the Year – Global Digital Music (June)	"Pop!"	Nominated	[94]
		Mubeat Global Choice Award – Female	Nayeon	Nominated	[95]
Genie Music Awards	2022	Best Female Solo Artist		Nominated	[96]
Golden Disc Awards	2023	Best Digital Song (Bonsang)	"Pop!"	Nominated	[97]
Hanteo Music Awards	2023	Artist of the Year (Bonsang)	Nayeon	Nominated	[98]
MAMA Awards	2022	Best Female Artist		Won	[20]
		Song of the Year	"Pop!"	Nominated	[99]
		Best Dance Performance Solo		Nominated
	2024	Artist of the Year	Nayeon	Nominated	[100]
		Best Female Artist		Nominated
		Best Dance Performance Female Solo	"ABCD"	Nominated
		Song of the Year		Nominated
Seoul Music Awards	2023	Bonsang Award	Im Nayeon	Nominated	[101]
		K-wave Award	Nayeon	Nominated
		Popularity Award		Nominated

Notes

1. According to the initial law of the Korean language, the family name Im (Korean: 임) may also be romanized as "Lim".

1. Includes Billboard Philippines Songs (discontinued since June 29, 2024), and the subsequent Billboard Philippines Hot 100 chart (relaunched in July 6, 2024).^[74]