| STAGE NAME | Taehyun |
|---|---|
| REAL NAME | Kang Tae-hyun |
| KOREAN | 강태현 |
| BIRTHDAY | February 5, 2002 |
| HEIGHT | 177 cm (5'10") |
| BLOOD TYPE | A |
| MBTI TYPE | ESTP |
| ZODIAC SIGN | ♒ Aquarius |
| CHINESE ZODIAC SIGN | Horse |
| DEBUT | March 4, 2019 |
|---|---|
| AGENCY | Big Hit Entertainment (Hybe Corporation) |
| TRAINEE PERIOD | 3 years |
| POSITION | Main Vocalist, Lead Dancer |
| NATIONALITY | 🇰🇷 South Korean |
|---|---|
| BIRTHPLACE | 🇰🇷 Gangnam, Seoul, South Korea |
| HOMETOWN | 🇰🇷 Gangnam, Seoul, South Korea |
| SIBLINGS | One older sister |
| LANGUAGES | Korean, English |
BIOGRAPHY
Taehyun (태현) is a South Korean singer, songwriter, and performer. He is a member of the boy group TXT, which debuted in March 2019 under Big Hit Entertainment. Taehyun was born on February 5, 2002, in Gangnam, Seoul, South Korea. Besides his musical talent, he’s known for his charismatic stage presence and versatile skills.
Taehyun began his journey into the spotlight as a child, appearing in a number of commercials, including for TunTunEnglish, Dettol hand soap, the Pororo toy laptop, Thirsty Hippo moisture absorbers, and many other products. Impressively, he already had his own fancafe on Daum back in 2008, at just six years old. As a huge fan of SHINee, Taehyun grew up inspired to become an idol and dreamed of standing on stage himself one day.
To pursue his goals, Taehyun enrolled as a Practical Music major at Hanlim Arts School in Seoul, a renowned school for aspiring artists with a high number of trainees and idols. At his audition for Hanlim Arts School, he performed “Sing For You” by EXO. On the day of his enrollment ceremony, Taehyun received 20 business cards from talent scouts, marking the start of his professional career.
In 2016, he was discovered by a casting manager from BigHit Entertainment. After a successful audition performing “I’ll Protect You” by Kim Jae-joong, he was accepted as a trainee at BigHit Entertainment. Taehyun trained for three years before making his debut with TXT in 2019.
In an interview with “GQ” in March 2023, Taehyun revealed that his dream of stardom began as early as age six or seven. He recalled watching a SHINee music video and getting goosebumps. “It was so cool,” he said. This formative moment cemented his desire to become an idol and paved the way for his career in K-pop.
TXT
“TOMORROW X TOGETHER”, or “TXT” for short, are considered one of the first boy groups of the 4th generation and have left an unmistakable mark on the K-pop industry with a discography spanning genres such as synth-pop, disco, hip-hop, punk, and hybrid rock. They’re known for their fantastical concepts, which pay homage to a range of films/animations/fairy tales such as Harry Potter, Peter Pan, The Little Prince, and others. They place great emphasis on the narrative element of their discography — their albums carry the words “Chapter”, “Scene”, and “Minisode” in their titles, evoking stage dramas. Among TXT’s best-known hits are “Blue Hour”, “0X1=LOVESONG (I Know I Love You)”, “Sugar Rush Ride”, and “Chasing That Feeling”. Here are some of their biggest achievements:
- 2019: Just 8 days after their debut, TXT won their first music show (The Show), setting a new record for rookie groups.
- 2019: The debut mini album “The Dream Chapter: Star” sold over 120,000 copies in its first week in South Korea, likewise setting a record for a rookie group.
- 2019: The music video for “Crown” was viewed more than 15 million times within the first 24 hours, setting a record for a rookie group.
- 2020: TXT’s “The Dream Chapter: Eternity” debuted at No. 25 on the “Billboard 200”, its highest chart position at the time.
- 2020: The title track “Blue Hour” became their first song on Spotify’s “Global Top 200”, underscoring TXT’s international popularity.
- 2021: “The Chaos Chapter: Freeze” was named one of TIME Magazine’s “Best Albums of 2021”, underscoring its cultural significance.
- 2022: TXT became the fastest 4th-generation K-pop group to reach 10 million subscribers on their official YouTube channel, in December 2022.
- 2022: TXT was the first K-pop group to headline Lollapalooza, closing out the festival with a 90-minute performance.
- 2023: The album “The Name Chapter: TEMPTATION” took first place on the “Billboard 200” charts.
- 2023: In 2023, TXT received the “Album Bonsang” (main prize) for “The Name Chapter: TEMPTATION” at the Golden Disc Awards.
- 2024: “Minisode 3: TOMORROW” placed third on the “Billboard 200”.
- 2024: TXT wrapped up a hugely successful world tour that drew more than 140,000 attendees in the US alone. They were the first K-pop group to give two sold-out concerts at Madison Square Garden, a venue that has hosted legendary artists before them.
Taehyun is the second-youngest member of the group.
Taehyun debuted in 2019 as a member of TXT (Tomorrow X Together) alongside Yeonjun, Soobin, Beomgyu, and Huening Kai. Their debut song “CROWN” showcased the group’s youthful energy and talent, earning Taehyun recognition for his exceptional vocal skills and his striking, doll-like features.
As a dancer, Yeonjun is often regarded as TXT’s main dancer and is considered one of the best dancers among 4th-generation K-pop boy groups. He has demonstrated his versatility by performing dance covers of both boy group and girl group songs, highlighting his adaptability and passion for choreography. Yeonjun loves learning new choreography and especially impresses in random dance challenges, further showcasing his agility and quick grasp of dance.
DISCOGRAPHY
| YEAR | SONG/ ALBUM |
|---|---|
| 2024 | "Can't Stop" with Huening Kai (OST) |
FILMOGRAPHY/ VIDEOGRAPHY
| YEAR | TITLE | ROLE |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Listen (radio program) | DJ |
In January 2021, Taehyun and Huening Kai hosted the EBS FM radio program Listen by TOMORROW X TOGETHER. From January 10 to May 2, 2021, the duo brought their charm and wit to the show, delighting fans and listeners with lively discussions and music.
In 2023, Taehyun launched his own web variety series titled Academy Reincarnation. The show follows Taehyun’s adventures through various “lifetimes”, in which he meets people from different walks of life and learns various skills, such as magic tricks, ice hockey, or pet care.
FUN FACTS
- Taehyun is left-handed and plays soccer with his left foot.
- Taehyun’s favorite seasons are spring and summer.
- Taehyun’s favorite Pokémon is Infernape.
- He was already a fan of SHINee before his debut. His bias was Taemin.
- His favorite movie is “Schindler’s List“.
- Taehyun once wanted to become a magician.
- Taehyun sleeps with his eyes open. Sometimes Soobin checks whether he’s really asleep.
- He has a sweet tooth; his favorite dessert is a caramel macchiato.
OUR FAVOURITE PERFORMANCE
Taehyun is often seen as TXT’s unofficial main vocalist. With his wide vocal range and his “sweet” as well as “soft” tones, he impresses audiences while also adapting his technique to punkier songs. Besides his singing, Taehyun is praised for his precise and powerful dance moves. Even though he’s the smallest member, he stands out through his dynamic skills, especially with his dance break in “Opening Sequence”.
Sources: TXT & Taehyun’s social media channels, YouTube, KMCA, Billboard, Circle Chart, BIGHIT Entertainment, Hybe Corporation
