On December 22nd, 2013, Girls’ Generation held its Märchen Fantasy concert at the Korea International Exhibition Center. Upon finishing the opening set, the members continued their concert tradition of greeting the audience, but added a small surprise with their classic introductions. After Sunny and Tiffany introduced themselves as Girls’ Generation’s “energy pill” and “brighter than gems Fany Fany Tiffany”, Taeyeon took fans back to 2007, when she would still call herself Girls’ Generation’s “kid leader”.
Then and now, many found Taeyeon to be an unusual choice for a leader. She was timid and reserved, with even her group members saying they knew nothing about her. From the start, she felt that it was difficult to lead, as there were other members who were more outgoing and forceful, and though she was the oldest among them, there were five others in the group considered to be the same age. Still, sometimes the best leaders aren’t those who choose to lead. Taeyeon has shown time and again that her way of leading has made it so the other members can shine in their own ways, from giving the speeches to directing the visuals for an album. No one is a leader on their own, and Taeyeon has allowed us to see that her members are leaders themselves.
Because of this, sometimes people can overlook Taeyeon’s natural leadership, which the other members of Girls’ Generation continually turn to. Though Taeyeon may encourage other members to accept various awards, they sometimes (all the time (even as I write this)) still look to the kid leader to speak for the group. Taeyeon leads by example rather than by force, and at the conclusion of Girls’ Generation’s second tour through Japan, it was her who addressed the fans who attended the concert tour through a letter written in Japanese and put into words how thankful all of the members were.
Of course, Taeyeon also led Girls’ Generation’s foray into social media, creating an Instagram account that has since led to four others, two Weibo accounts, two Twitters, and even a YouTube channel. Though the members had promised each other not to use social networking sites, Taeyeon chose to break that rule when she thought of fans who were waiting for Girls’ Generation, and opened the floodgates for her group. With social media, the members of Girls’ Generation have given fans a glimpse into their lives, uploading pictures of their dogs, vacations, baby photos, dogs, family members, ski trips, and occasionally, dogs. They have had hilarious conversations, held informal question and answer sessions, and have talked with fans about nearly everything, from movies to food to music.
However, Taeyeon’s Instagram is just a little different, and through it, her leadership is seen once more. As much as she enjoys sharing photos of Ginger, Taeyeon has also used her Instagram to promote her members’ dramas and musicals, give previews for songs in upcoming Girls’ Generation albums, share her vote for the YouTube Music Awards, and inform followers of music video release dates. Photos from Girls’ Generations birthday parties, gatherings, and photoshoots are shown to more than a million fans all around the world instantly, many of which otherwise never would have been seen. She is Girls’ Generation’s most active member on social media, and has uploaded over 500 photos since she began sharing pictures on March 18th, 2013, less than one year ago.
Taeyeon’s hundreds of posts also show that it takes more to describe her than the word “leader”. Though she has been an idol for over six years, outside of Girls’ Generation, Taeyeon is a young woman, interested in drawing and cars, who plays “The Sims” and with various toys, and does her and her mother’s nails. At home, she is the middle child instead of the eldest, both a younger and an older sister, with proud and loving parents who travel to see their daughter perform in front of thousands. She is a lover of music, who shares the most amazing fifteen-second song covers you will ever hear.
As a member of Girls’ Generation, Taeyeon’s Instagram shows instead just how much she loves her members and her fans. She has posted countless photos of her eight closest friends, taught them to stitch together pictures to upload, and shares their efforts and hard work. While other idol groups who debuted after Girls’ Generation send members to release solo albums, Taeyeon instead is at home posting photos of her members’ dramas (while hoping for kiss scenes), and has only just released her first solo song not for an OST. She has thanked fans through comments on Instagram for taking photos of her when going to the airport alone, for coming up with “Taeng o’clock”, and started an Instagram account entirely for them. She has opened up her life and allowed people to see more of who she really is.
Perhaps most importantly, Taeyeon’s Instagram has proven what fans have known since first meeting Taeyeon as she was yelling off the Dongho Bridge: that she is a special kind of leader, who makes those around her shine, and an amazing idol, who always thinks of her fans. That she is an incredible singer, whose voice has soothed and awed hundreds of thousands, and a representative of Korea, who was invited to sing the national anthem overseas. And most of all, that after seven years, she is still Girls’ Generation’s kid leader, who wants nothing more than to sing with her beloved members for as long as she can. We hope she can do so for many more birthdays to come.
Sources: [email protected], Manii [email protected], [email protected], flying petals, Cotton Candy, Thank You, Taeyeon’s Instagram
Written by: bhost909@soshified
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Keep your ahjumma voice up, Kim Taeyeon! Happy birthday to the grown-up kid leader! XD
You’re still a kid to us, Taengoooo ~ ♥
I love the fact that a lot of us just know what you mean when you say ‘as she was yelling off the Dongho Bridge’. Happy birthday, kid leader. We’ll love you to the very end.
Happy Birthday to Taeyeon (also known as Taengoo) ke ke ke XDD
When I started listening to your singing, your OSTs, I was truly amazed that ~
~ how sweet & beautiful voice you have :3 Sounds like an angel x3
Because of my love towards your song, I actually did a cover of some of your songs starting this year xD
Mostly importantly, stay strong, healthy & happy as you always are, & of course keep continue doing the things that you love & take care of the other 8 members as well Kid Leader x)
Lastly, wish you have a wonderful birthday & may all your wishes come true!!! ^ 3 ^
Saranghae Taeyeon unnie <3 <3 <3
Happy birthday our dearest leader Taeyeon! Your kindness is really mean something to me and other sones for sure.
Your voice is really soothing my day.
Wish you a happy birthday. Grown up happily ever after. Love you!
Happy 26th birthday taeyeon noona!!please continue to shine in SNSD girls generation and bring more fun and laughter to sones and to everyone ^_^ Saranghaeyo and have a good Sunday birthday and hope you have good Health and wealth :):) SNSD Hwaiting!!
Happy Birthday Taeyeon!
I’ve been a really hardcore sone for five years and I’m so proud of you guys.
You have always been in my hearts.
I am more thankful of you girls for being a very bright inspiration, a group that makes music that when I’m sad I listen to your music to make me feel better.
I wish you never change as you grow old, I wish you can be the Taeyeon I know since ITNW.
I hope you have good health, your friends, family & your 8 sisters. Also have good luck as you promote MrMr.
I wish you guys win every award & have more happiness everyday.
We, as sones, we will always protect and support you girls until our last breath
WE LOVE YOU! I wish you have a very happy birthday today, eat all the cake & post the pics in your instagram. ^^
생일 축하합니다 ~
생일 축하합니다 ~
사랑하는 태연 언니 ~
생일 축하합니다 ~
Happy Happy Birthday to you Dorky Leader Taeyeon unnie! I am grateful that you exist in this world because you have been a very, very great leader, friend and sister to 8 girls. Thank you for taking great care of yourself and the girls. I pray that you continue being the good and dorky leader you already are. Thank you for making us SONES happy. :) I wish you live longer and continue being with us SONES till the very end. I LOVE YOU TAEYEON UNNIE!!!! <3 SARANGHAEYO!!!!
Happy Birthday Taeyeon Unnie !!
Happy birthday Taeyeon eonnie!! Love you forever!!
I will never stop to support and loving you with all of my heart, please stay healthy and keep being happy!!
oh my God, I’m crying read this. She’s really something. God creature that I can describe anymore how great she are. sound like cheesy but that she is.
Happy Belated Day My Ultimate bias ever. My moodbooster, my spirit, and part of my life. I’m really proud of u. The Best Leader ever!! There’s no the 2nd Taeyeon. God Bless U always, Daedae. :*
Happy birthday Kid leader <3 and thank you guys at ssf for such an awesome writing. Once a soshi, forever a soshi
Happy Birthday Taeyeon unnie!!! I love you and wish the best for you! Keep healthy and keep going! Girls’ Generation forever!
happy happy happy birthday uri kid leader~ <3
Taeyeon unnie.
Gosh even after years of being your fan you never fail to amaze me.
You are a wonderful person, a great friend, a special kind of a leader, an outstanding leader and well words aren’t enough to describe you.
I love everything about you, so don’t ever change that.
I wish to have a chance to meet you in person to say thank you, simple because you exist.
And because of that a part of me changed when I get to know you and your 8 other sisters.
For as long as I can, I will be here to support you and Girls’ Generation, and by that I mean forever.
Taeyeon unnie, Happy Birthday.
I love you <3
These are truly my favorite parts of the members birthdays. A chance to feel all the feels and remember all the memories and really know (again) why Soshi is so special to us SONEs not just as a group but as individual people with likes, loves, hardships and faults. And I love even more that even though these comes year after year, they do not get weak, repeat or fall short in grasping the energy that makes our ladies so special.
Happy Birthday Kim Taeyeon. Happy Birthday Kid Leader ^_^
Happy Birthday Taeyeon ~♥
#26thTaeyeonDay
#Happy26thTaeyeonDay
#태연아생일축하해
Happy birthday Taeyeon unnie♥~^^~fighting♥
Happy birthday Taengoo <3 We hope you enjoy your day. Your fans are always here, we'll keep on supporting you and other SNSD members. Keep on shining, unnie.. SONES LOVE YOU ! *heart heart*
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TAEYEON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The kind of leader that we can’t find nowhere else. She is the strength of pillar in our lives as well as the 8 girls.
Please remain to be kid-like because that kid-like can’t be replicate by others and may you have a healthy life ahead of you. Please take care of your health unnie, it hurts us when you overworked yourself.
Happy 26th Birthday Kim Taeyeon unnie! Don’t think less of yourself as you are the best of us. Sones will always be behind of you supporting you and the girls. <3
She is, and always will be, the best leader of SNSD!! Hehehe, or to be more precise, our dorky, yet beautiful leader not only to SNSD, but to all of us Sones!!! :)
Love you Taeyeon!!! You’re my #1!!!! <3
Happy Birthday 26th Leader nim
I love you
stay young,healthy and be happy forever!
YOU who came from the Ponso O_o?ㅋㅋㅋ..este I mean from the Heaven sent to us to spread byuntae virus O_o?ㅋㅋㅋ..este I mean happiness to all the SONE,to your family,friends,members and most especially to Tiffany unni!,aiyieeeh!..ㅋㅋㅋhaha..
Let me sing for you first..
“~saenggil chuka hamnida..saenggil chuka hamnida..saranghae TaengLeadernim..saenggil chuka hamnida..~”
Yes!yes!yes! Happy Happy Birthday to our one and only Soshi kid leader,our beloved pretty and handsome danshin!,our dorky byuntaeyeon! #KimTaeyeon ^-^V♥ wish you all the best!,stay handsome..ㅋㅋㅋTaengoo oppa saenggil chukahae!!!^-^V♥
#Happy26thTaeyeonDay ♥
#HappyBirthdayTaeyeon ♥
Happy birthday taeyeon-unnie!!! I LOVE YOU!! ^^ ~ Hwaiting unnie!!
Happy birthdat Taenggo…
Always love you^^ <3