Sunye

This is a Korean name; the family name is Min.
Sunye
Background information
Birth name Min Sun-ye
Born August 12, 1989
Seoul, South Korea
Genres K-pop
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter, actress
Instruments Vocals, piano
Years active 2007 – 2013
Labels JYP Entertainment
Associated acts Wonder Girls, JYP Nation
Korean name
Hangul 민선예
Hanja 閔先藝
Revised Romanization Min Seon-ye
McCune–Reischauer Min Sŏn-ye

Min Sun-ye (Korean: 민선예, born August 12, 1989) is a South Korean singer. She is a member of the Wonder Girls.[1]

Biography

Sunye was born on August 12, 1989,[2] in Seoul, South Korea. She attended Korea Arts High School and Dongguk University. In 2001, Sunye was discovered by JYP Entertainment during Park Jin-young’s "99% Challenge" project, where she sang and danced. She then trained at JYP Entertainment until she debuted in the Wonder Girls in 2007. Sun was one of the longest serving trainees at JYP Entertainment, along with Jo Kwon of 2AM and Min of miss A.[3]

Career

Wonder Girls

Main article: Wonder Girls

In 2007, Sunye made her debut as the leader and main vocalist in the Wonder Girls, a girl group managed by JYP Entertainment, with their single "Irony."[4] On January 26, 2013, JYP Entertainment confirmed that Sunye would stop her official promotions with the Wonder Girls just before marrying James Pak, her Korean-Canadian fiance.[5]

Singing career

Sunye has contributed her vocals on the tracks of various Korean artists, including Mighty Mouth's "Energy" and Park Jin-young's "Afternoon Separation." She recorded the single "Maybe" for the soundtrack of the popular KBS Korean drama, Dream High.[6] In November 2010, Sunye recorded "This Christmas" with her JYP labelmates as the title track for the debut of JYP Nation with a subsequent music video released on December 1, 2010.[7]

In addition to recording collaborations, Sunye has also performed with other artists on stage, including "Stand Up for Love" with Davichi and Taeyeon on SBS Gayo Daejeon in 2008.[8] In December 2008, she performed "Buttons" with Taeyeon, Gyuri, and Ga-in on KBS Music Bank.[9] Sunye and her band mate Park Ye-eun collaborated with her Jo Kwon and Park Jin-young to perform "That's What Friends Are For" on the KBS program Yu Hee-Yeols' Sketchbook. On SBS Inkigayo's 500th Episode, Sunye and Jo Kwon sang the 2AM single "This Song" as a duet.[10]

In December 2014, it was reported that Sunye released an indirect statement in a report by Joongang Ilbo‘s US branch at a non-profit church concert that she has officially retired from Wonder Girls and the Entertainment industry. [11] This has been dismised by JYPE as false.[12]

Philanthropy

Along with the other Wonder Girls members, Sunye often makes charitable donations to various charities, hospitals, and orphanages around Korea.[13] In September 2010, she made a visit to an elderly man who had secluded himself in the mountains after being a victim to many cases of fraud. According to the producer that followed her, "Sunye prepared clothes, shoes, a radio, food, and various other presents for the man. He hasn’t been able to wash in a while so there was a very bad stench coming from him but Sunye paid no attention to it and held his hands tightly, asking him to live a long life. She also prayed for his good health."[14]

In May 2011, Sunye went on a week-long volunteer mission to Haiti where she cared for children in an orphanage and treated victims of cholera.[15]

On October 16, 2012, Sunye was a guest speaker at the George Washington University Jack Morton Auditorium, where she presented a lecture about K-Pop, "An Idol Star’s Illusions and Responsibility."[16][17][18] The Korean Cultural Center at the South Korean embassy organized and sponsored the event.[16][17][18]

On March 18, 2014, Sunye announced she and her husband will leave for Haiti in July where they will live for 5 years to continue doing missionary work.[19]

Personal life

Sunye was raised by her grandparents because her mother died when she was very young and her father suffered from a health condition that kept him bedridden.[20] In fall 2007, prior to the Wonder Girls' promotions for their single "Tell Me," Sunye's grandfather died. In October 2009, her father was rushed to the intensive care unit after his condition turned for the worse. She took the first flight from New York, where she resided at the time, to South Korea, skipping out on numerous promotional events to be with her father.[21] On June 23, 2010, Sunye's father died due to a chronic illness he had been suffering from for over 20 years.[22]

During an episode of SBS' "Strong Heart" that aired on November 22, 2011, Sunye announced that she was in a relationship with a Korean-Canadian boy she met in Haiti during a missionary trip. She had kept it a secret until Park Jin-young lifted their "no dating" ban in mid-November. Few details were revealed about him because Sunye admitted that he wasn't a celebrity and is currently living in Toronto, Canada.[23]

On November 26, 2012, JYP Entertainment announced that Sunye was going to marry her boyfriend of two years, James Park.[24] She got married on January 26, 2013.

On April 4, 2013, Sunye announced through her personal Twitter account that she was expecting her first child with husband, James Park.[25] She gave birth to her first daughter Hailey (Park Eun Yoo) on October 16, 2013.[26]

Discography

Digital singles

Year Album Song
2007 Han Sung Byul Gok OST 일월지가
2011 Dream High OST Part 2 (드림하이) Maybe
2012 Feast of the Gods OST The Sound of Love
2012 Ohlala Couple OST Come To Me

Collaborations

Year Artist Song
2007 8eight The First
8eight & Ye Eun & Pdogg Sai
Park Jin Young Back To Stage
2008 Mighty Mouth Energy
Various Artists Cry With Us
Various Artists I Love Asia
2010 JYP Nation This Christmas

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2007–2008 MBC Show! Music Core Co-Hosted along with Sohee & Big Bang T.O.P
2008 Solomon's Choice guest appearance
2010 MBC Show! Music Core Co-Hosted along with Yubin & CN Blue Jung Yong-hwa Guest-hosted for only one day
2011 KBS Music Bank Co-Hosted along with Sohee & Tim & Super Junior Shindong

Music video appearances

Year Song title Artist Role
2008 Forever Lee Byul Herself
Cry With Us Various Artists Herself
I Love Asia Various Artists Herself
2010 This Christmas JYP Nation Herself

Film

Year Title Role
2010 The Last Godfather Cameo
2012 The Wonder Girls Herself

Tours

Concert participation

Awards and nominations

Wonder Girls' Awards and Nominations

Sunye's Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result
2010
2nd Philippine K-Pop Awards
 Hottest Female K-pop Star[27][28] Sunye Nominated
2011
Mnet Media Awards
 Most Charming Lady[29] Nominated
2013
5th Shorty Awards
 Best Singer in Social Media Nominated

References

  1. ↑ "JYP "선예, 원더걸스 탈퇴 아냐..여전히 소속 멤버"". Korea Daily (in Korean). 10 December 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
  2. ↑ Mark Russell (29 April 2014). K-Pop Now!: The Korean Music Revolution. Tuttle Publishing. p. 80. ISBN 978-1-4629-1411-1.
  3. ↑ "'Sunye longest serving trainee of JYP'". Wonder Girls Wordpress. 16 October 2008. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  4. ↑ 원더걸스, 첫 쇼케이스서 '열정의 신고식' (in Korean). My Daily. 13 February 2009. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
  5. ↑ "Sun to halt promotions with Wonder Girls after wedding press conference". AllKPop. 19 January 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  6. ↑ "Listen to Sun Ye’s "Maybe" for Dream High OST Part 2'". AllKPop. 8 January 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
  7. ↑ "JYP Nation releases ‘This Christmas’'". AllKPop. 30 November 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  8. ↑ "SBS Gayo Daejeon – Taeyeon, Sun Ye and Davichi'". AllKPop. 29 December 2008. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  9. ↑ "'The Korean PussyCats are coming'". AllKPop. 24 December 2008. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  10. ↑ "'Sun Ye and Jo Kwon To Duet on Inkigayo's 500th Episode'". Wonder Girls Wonderland. 5 September 2008. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  11. ↑ "'Sun Ye releases official statement of retiring". KoreaBoo. 11 December 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  12. ↑ "'JYPE Confirms Sun Ye is not retiring". Soompi. 11 December 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  13. ↑ "'The Wonder Girls secretly volunteered and donated for two years'". Chika World. 18 January 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  14. ↑ "'Sunye visits a man in the mountains with presents'". AllKPop. 1 September 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  15. ↑ "'Wonder Girls’ Sunye visits Haiti'". One Asiaa. 28 May 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Wonder Girls Sun Expresses her Thoughts on K-Pop at ‘Riding the Korean Wave’ Forum". ohkpop.com. October 17, 2012. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Wonder Girls Sun Speaks about K-Pop at George Washington University at 'Riding the Korean Wave' Forum". K-Popstarz.com. October 17, 2012. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Global Hallyu Forum: Riding the Korean Wave - Special Events". KoreanCulture.org. 16 October 2012. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  19. ↑ "원더걸스 선예 "5년간 아이티 선교 떠난다" (입장 전문)". Nate (in Korean). 2014-03-18. Retrieved 2015-03-08.
  20. ↑ "'Sunye with the person she loves most'". AllKPop. 10 October 2010. Retrieved 8 June 2011.
  21. ↑ "'Wonder Girls' Sunye’s father passes away'". AllKPop. 23 June 2010. Retrieved 8 June 2011.
  22. ↑ "'Sunye’s father passes away'". AllKPop. 23 June 2010. Retrieved 8 June 2011.
  23. ↑ http://www.allkpop.com/2011/11/wonder-girls-sunye-confesses-shes-in-a-relationship
  24. ↑ http://www.allkpop.com/2012/11/wonder-girls-sun-to-marry-in-january
  25. ↑ http://enewsworld.interest.me/enews/contents.asp?idx=33193
  26. ↑ https://twitter.com/WGsun/status/390555135690043392
  27. ↑ 101201 Local K-pop fans gear up for 2nd Philippine K-pop Convention. sharingyoochun. December 4, 2010.
  28. ↑ A K-Pop convention like no other. philstar. January 1, 2011.
  29. ↑ Media Awards 2011 nominees has just been released. Korean Entspy. September 28, 2011.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Min Sunye.