World Artist: Choi Soo-young

Choi Soo-young (Hangul: 최수영; born February 10, 1990), commonly known as Sooyoung (수영), is a Korean singer, actress, dancer, spokesmodel, TV presenter, and radio DJ. She is a member of the Korean girl group Girls' Generation. Choi Soo-young was born in Gwangju City, South Korea on February 10, 1990. She has one older sister, Choi Soo Jin. She was discovered on SM Casting System via the 2000 SM Open Audition. She then auditioned for the 2002 Korea-Japan Ultra Idol Duo Audition and won first place, marking her debut into the Japanese music scene with the band Route 0. Sooyoung graduated from JeongShin Women High School (Korean: 정신 여자 고등학교) in 2009 and is currently majoring in performing arts and theater at Chung-Ang University. After winning first place in the 2002 Korea-Japan Ultra Idol Duo, Sooyoung was sent to Japan and debuted as a member of the duo Route 0, alongside Malina Takahashi. The band released three singles: "Waku! Waku! It's Love", "Start", and "Painting", and 3 B-Sides : Go Go Happy!!, Kimi Ni Ae Ta Kara (君に会えたから) and Onna No Ko Magic (女の子マジック). In 2008, Sooyoung and Yuri (a fellow member of Girls' Generation) sang the trot song "Kkok" (Hangul: "꼭") for the opening theme of the SBS TV miniseries Working Mom (Hangul: 워킹 맘). She was also featured in "Oh! My Love to You" (Korean: "너만을 느끼며"; or alternatively titled "Feeling Only You") by The Blue (Kim Min-jong and Son Ji-chang), alongside bandmate Tiffany. She also sang the opening soundtrack for Inuyasha in Korean language.Sooyoung played a part in the 2007 KBS 2TV sitcom Unstoppable Marriage (Korean: 못말리는 결혼), alongside Yuri. She co-starred with Lee Yeon-hee and Kangin on the romantic comedy film Hello, Schoolgirl (Korean: 순정만화; SuSBS TV miniseries Oh My Lady! starring Choi Siwon and Chae Rim with two bandmates, Jessica and Hyoyeon. She also made a cameo on SBS miniseries Paradise Ranch starring her labelmates Changmin and Lee Yeon-hee.

Prior to her debut as a member of Girls' Generation, she was a VJ of the 2005 M.net Hello Chat, alongside Super Junior's Kangin. Also she worked as a radio DJ with Super Junior's Sungmin on DMB ChunBangJiChuk Radio (Hangul: 천방지축 라디오; lit. Reckless Radio) from July 2007 to January 2008. From May to November 2009, she was a presenter for MBC TV children's game show Fantastic Duo (Korean: 환상의 짝꿍) along with Oh Sang-jin (Hangul: 오상진), and Kim Je-dong (Hangul: 김제동). On August 20, 2011 she was a MC for K-Pop All Star Live in Niigata together with Yuri & Tiffany. Prior to her debut as a member of Girls' Generation, Sooyoung modeled with Route 0 bandmate Takahashi for Chubbygang Clothing Line on 2003. Sooyoung is the tallest and probably the skinniest member of the group. She was also an endorser for a school uniform model in 2004 along with Jang Geun-suk. Shortly after her return from Japan, she appeared in a TV ad for Samsung AnyCall with Park Jeong-Ah (Hangul: 박정아) in 2004. Sooyoung with bandmate Yoona, modeled for the 2008-09 F/W SFAA Seoul Collection: Lee Joo-Young Fashion Show at Seoul Hakyohul Exhibition Hall on March 20, 2008. She had a photoshoot, with Seohyun and Yuri, for QTV's photographer audition survival-themed show Photographer. The photoshoot, entitled "Dreaming Water", is a joint campaign by Cosmopolitan magazine and UNICEF to promote the preservation of water for a clean environment. On March 29, 2010, Sooyoung, along with Taeyeon, Yuri, Yoona, and Seohyun, was hired by Nintendo Korea as campaign models for the portable game console, Nintendo DSi.Sooyoung appeared in "S.E.O.U.L.", South Korea's 2009 tourism advertising music video, and was a consistent guest on the TV pilot for the SBS variety game show Oh! Brothers.