February 10th. To some people, it’s just another regular day of the year, but to SONEs, it’s a day to celebrate and to send best wishes to our one and only “cheerful princess”, Choi Sooyoung. Turning 24 this year, or 25 in the Korean style of telling age, also means that Sooyoung is taking another step into her seventh year as a member of Girls’ Generation. However, her career started even before the debut of the group.
In 2002, Sooyoung won first place in a “Korea-Japan Ultra Female Duo Audition” and later took the first steps in her singing career as a member of Route 0. She had to leave Korea and her family to live in a new country with a whole new language in order to follow her dream. During Girls’ Generation’s promotions, we always praise Sooyoung for her flawless Japanese during interviews. However, this girl, who is now fluent in the language, was once struggling with it during her time promoting with Route 0. Sooyoung lived in Japan by herself. The only friend she had was her fellow Route 0 member, who supported and helped her whenever she made mistakes in Japanese. Even though it was hard, Sooyoung remained determined and never gave up in order to follow her dream. If you have watched “Strong Heart”, you may remember Sooyoung telling a story of her dad saying she is his “little hero”. Just as her dad said, Sooyoung is truly a hero. She wasn’t afraid of living in a foreign country, wasn’t afraid of the loneliness, but bravely faced all of the obstacles in order to achieve her dream. Even though Route 0 promoted for only a short period, it was an important part in her career that shaped the Choi Sooyoung we are seeing today.
Maybe because of the hardships she went through during her Route 0 times in Japan, Sooyoung appreciates and is more thankful for what she has now. In an interview for “Elle” magazine, she shared that she had to handle schedules and go to various auditions all by herself, so when she returned to Japan to promote as a Girls’ Generation member, she was “deeply touched thinking, ‘What I couldn’t achieve alone, I now can because I’m together with my members.’” There is a saying: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” In Sooyoung’s case, even though she wasn’t successful with Route 0, she didn’t give up, but instead continued to work harder. The success she is having now with Girls’ Generation isn’t just mere luck, but the reward for all the efforts she has made.
Determination and hard work aren’t Sooyoung’s only admirable characteristics. Off-screen, Sooyoung is just a normal girl who loves and supports her family. If you have been a fan for some time, you may know of Choi Soojin, a musical actress and Sooyoung’s sister. Despite her busy schedule, Sooyoung always finds time to go support her sister’s musicals. Not only that, but she also tries to find time to help out with her dad’s Korea Retinitis Pigmentosa Society (KRPS) charity organization. Two years ago, Sooyoung, together with Taeyeon, Tiffany, and Seohyun, became ambassadors for KRPS. Sooyoung has also volunteered to help with food distribution and presentation at another KRPS event with her dad and once managed to sneak in some free time during her schedule to celebrate Halloween with little kids. All this and more shows that Sooyoung has a loving and caring heart not only for her family but also for society, for people in need.
Despite being a popular idol, Sooyoung always feels grateful toward fans. Her sincerity touched many fans’ hearts when she posted a video message to SONEs on the SMTOWN YouTube channel to express her gratitude to the fans who sent her their blessings, hoping she would recover quickly after a car accident. It was a first for an idol to edit a video by herself to express her thankfulness toward fans. Furthermore, when her fansites sent her Christmas gifts from fans from around the world, Sooyoung also updated Girls’ Generation’s official website with pictures to thank fans for the presents. She also expressed her gratitude on “Strong Heart” to fans who sent in donations and volunteered to help with her dad’s KRPS charity. Sooyoung’s appreciation for her fans alone is enough to make someone fall in love with her more and more.
There’s one thing that can’t be left unmentioned. Last month, SM Entertainment confirmed that Sooyoung is now in a relationship with actor Jung Kyungho. Even though it may break some people’s hearts knowing this, it truly is good news for Sooyoung. A few years ago, Sooyoung always said on variety shows that she hoped to get a boyfriend soon, so having Jung Kyungho beside her now means her wish has come true. Sooyoung is a kind girl, and she deserves the chance to find someone who loves her. As SONEs, all we can do is to send our blessings and wish the best for her and Jung Kyungho.
Good looks on the outside will fade away one day, but the beauty of the heart is what will be with someone forever. Sooyoung has stolen SONEs’ hearts not just because of how she looks on the outside, but because of the things she has done for fans and for others. Sooyoung isn’t only a “little hero” to her dad, but she is also a “little hero” to SONEs. A hero who never gives up, always cares for her family, is thankful for what she has, and helps out other people whenever she can. And this day, February 10th, is a day to celebrate the birth of a little hero that we SONEs are lucky to know.
Happy 25th birthday to Choi Sooyoung!
Sources: Spring Blossom, Girls’ Generation’s Official Website
Written by: hangthienbao@soshified
Happy Birthday CHOI SOOYOUNG..!!
SNSD is not complete without their shikshin..!!
Happy birthday my love, Sooyoungie :)
I hope you have a wonderful day and year.
I love you!
Happy birthday, Sooyoung!
Happy Birthday Sooyoungie <3 You're the best.
Happy Birthday, our Sooyoung!
Wishing you all the best in your career and life
Loving & Supporting you always~
Happy Birthday sooyoung:)you are awesome…i feel honored to have you show such kindness to us through all your hard work…i hope your birthday is a special just like you.it saddens me and breaks my heart to hear you have a bf but im more happy for you than sad and hope your relationship works out for the best..i wish you happiness and will always support you:) i love you very much happy birthday once again!!! right now its girls generation
quick side note thank you soshified for explaining the whole korean telling of age i was always confused on why they said their bday a year older than they actually were
Happy B’day my lovely Sooyoung…. I wish you all the best!
You do have a really pretty face, but even more pretty is what’s inside you. You caring heart, your passionate will, your strong determination, and your cheerful personality, all of those has captured many people around you and showered them with happiness, this includes myself…
All My Love is For You, Choi Sooyoung… And thank you for all the love you have been given to us all thhese times :)
Happy Birthday Sooyoung <3
Happy birthday, dear Sooyoung, the “cheerful or ‘sunshine’ princess”!
Bible verses as the birthday gift to you:
Ecclesiastes 4:9~12.
Since now you have Mr. Jung Kyungho as your boyfriend, and potentially as your future husband, this Bible verse gift is also for him. The third strand of rope/cord, if you remember, is God Himself. I wish that you two will always remember this on your journey together.
God bless you with many beautiful things together with your 8 SNSD sisters and your boyfriend in the upcoming year!
Happy birthday our beloved Sooyoung!
Stay healthy and keep shining with the girls.
Enjoy your amazing day :)
Happy bday Soo’~~!! I wish you all happiness in
the future and hope to see a daebak comeback:)
Eonni, a really happy 25th birthday :)
You were my first bias, at first sight I looked at you, I know you would be my 1st bias.
Thank you for always being my happy vitamin, my inspiration, my sunshine.
Have fun, eat all the cake, and I wish you luck in your dating life.
You’re getting old, eonni. You are one of the most respected ‘seniors’ of others now but you have never changed, despite of how famous you are now. Since debut until now, you were always “Dorky Generation’. We’re always here to support you! We love you girls. Jigeumeun, SNSD!
-Happy Birthday <3
-make an instagram ^^
Beautiful and classy article as befits its subject. Thanks SSF for this very gracious treatment of my favorite from the beginning =)
Happy 24th(25th) Birthday Sooyoung !
Happy Birthday Sooyoung unnie!!! Hope you’ll stay healthy and best wishes for you too^^
I hope that you’re happy with your relationship right, I hope god is blessing the two of you too^^
SNSD jjang!!
Thank you for the article^^
Happy B”Day Sooyung
GOD Always Bless You~
:)
Happy Birthday my baby <3
Inspiring words for an awesome woman like SooYoung. :) Happy birthday, you precious, you. :)
Happy Birthday Sooyoung! Hope you have a wonderful day, may all your hopes and dreams come true. Stay well We Love Love Love you.:)
Happy Birthday to her! But the whole Korean Age versus Regular age still confuses me isn’t she supposed to turn 23?
Happy birthday cheerful princess! Stay beautiful, inside and out, forever!
Choi Sooyoung my baby.. I love you so much. You always make me proud.
Happy 25th birthday. Stay healthy and loveable as always. Long last with Jung Kyungho :)
Thank u so much for this wonderful article!
Happy birthday my dear Sooyoung! I wish you more bliss and blessings! I love you my baby soo <3
I’m not lying..I;m crying now,after read this,thanks soshified..:’)
This makes me cry a little bit…
Choi Sooyoung, you’re such an amazing person.
And I love you so much <3
Happy Birthday to you :)