Eight members, "Gee" and a run of records that defined K-pop girl groups, with their 20th anniversary coming up in 2027. Here is what a new SONE needs to know.
20years on 5 August 2027 · in 289 days
Quick answers
When did Girls' Generation debut?
On 5 August 2007, with the single "Into the New World".
How many members does Girls' Generation have?
Eight: Taeyeon (leader), Sunny, Tiffany, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Sooyoung, Yoona and Seohyun. The group debuted as nine; Jessica left in 2014.
What is the Girls' Generation fandom called?
SONE. It means "wish" in Korean and also reads as "Soshi and fans are one".
What does SNSD stand for?
Sonyeo Sidae, Korean for Girls' Generation. Korean fans shorten it to Soshi.
Is Girls' Generation still together?
Yes. All eight appear in the 2027 Season's Greetings, and Tiffany said in June 2026 that a 20th anniversary comeback is planned for summer 2027.
The story so far
Debut with "Into the New World", as a nine-member group.
"Gee" holds No. 1 on Music Bank for a record nine weeks.
Oh! wins Album of the Year at the Golden Disc Awards.
Their first Japanese album is certified for a million sales.
"I Got a Boy" wins Video of the Year at the first YouTube Music Awards.
Jessica leaves; the group continues as eight.
Tenth anniversary album Holiday Night tops Billboard's World Albums chart.
Fifteenth anniversary album Forever 1 and the JTBC show Soshi TamTam.
Hyoyeon, Yuri and Sooyoung debut as the unit Girls' Generation-HRS with "Skibidi".
Start with these 5 songs
Into the New WorldThe debut single, released in the summer of 2007.2007
GeeNine weeks at No. 1 on Music Bank, a record.2009
I Got a BoyVideo of the Year at the first YouTube Music Awards.2013
Lion HeartTitle track of their fifth Korean studio album and a World Albums No. 1.2015
Forever 1The fifteenth anniversary single with all eight members.2022
Videos play from YouTube, from the official channels, and load only when you press Video. YouTube may then set its own cookies (privacy).
In the Fan Chart
The Fan Chart on The Crowd adds up every fan's top 10. Here is where Girls' Generation stands.
Her solo debut "I" (2015) topped Billboard's World Albums chart.
Sunny
이순규
Name
Lee Soon-kyu
Born
15 May 1989
Works as a host in Korean radio and television alongside the group.
Tiffany
황미영
Name
Hwang Mi-young
Born
1 August 1989
Played the title role in the stage musical adaptation of Yumi's Cells.
Hyoyeon
김효연
Name
Kim Hyo-yeon
Born
22 September 1989
Releases dance music as DJ HYO, including "Dessert" (2020).
Yuri
권유리
Name
Kwon Yu-ri
Born
5 December 1989
Acted in the 2025 JTBC drama The Art of Negotiation.
Sooyoung
최수영
Name
Choi Soo-young
Born
10 February 1990
Starred in the 2023 ENA drama Not Others.
Yoona
임윤아
Name
Im Yoon-a
Born
30 May 1990
Led the 2025 tvN drama Bon Appetit, Your Majesty.
Seohyun
서주현
Name
Seo Joo-hyun
Born
28 June 1991
Role
Youngest member
Starred in the 2023 Netflix series Song of the Bandits.
2007-2008
Girls' GenerationAlbum · title track "Girls' Generation / Kissing You"
2009-2011
GeeEP · title track "Gee"
Oh!Album · title track "Oh!"
Run Devil RunRepackage · title track "Run Devil Run"
HootEP · title track "Hoot"
The BoysAlbum · title track "The Boys"
2013-2017
I Got a BoyAlbum · title track "I Got a Boy"
Mr.Mr.EP · title track "Mr.Mr."
Lion HeartAlbum · title track "Lion Heart"
Holiday NightAlbum · title track "All Night / Holiday"
15th anniversary
Forever 1Album · title track "Forever 1"
Plus three Japanese studio albums: Girls' Generation (2011), Girls & Peace (2012) and Love & Peace (2013). Units include Girls' Generation-TTS and, since 2026, Girls' Generation-HRS.
Fandom nameSONE
"Wish" in Korean, and also "Soshi and fans are one".
Lightstick
Official lightstick, released in 2018 with the logo from the Mr.Mr. era.
Official color
Pink, which glows in the light stick as the group's signature color.
Debut anniversary
5 August
The name Girls' Generation
Sonyeo Sidae in Korean, shortened to SNSD or Soshi. SM founder Lee Soo-man is credited with the name.
Watch first
Hello BabyReality seriesThe 2009 show in which the members look after a young child together.
Girls For RestReality seriesThe unit Oh!GG on holiday in France.
Soshi TamTamJTBCThe 2022 fifteenth anniversary reality show with all eight members and mission games.
Did you know
The child from Hello Baby (2009) came back as a guest on Soshi TamTam in 2022.
Girls' Generation-HRS grew out of the "Fake Kim Hyoyeon" series on Hyoyeon's YouTube channel.
"Gee" was named Melon's most popular song of the 2000s.
The 2027 Season's Greetings carry the title "Twenty in Frost", for their 20th year.
Music Bank"Gee" held No. 1 for nine straight weeks in 2009, a record.
Golden Disc AwardsAlbum of the Year for Oh!, the first female act to win it.
JapanFirst album by a non-Japanese girl group certified for a million sales (2011).
YouTube Music AwardsVideo of the Year for "I Got a Boy" at the first edition, 2013.
Billboard 200Mr.Mr. (2014), their only entry on the chart.
World Albums No. 1I Got a Boy, Lion Heart and Holiday Night.
YouTubeFirst Asian girl group with five music videos over 100 million views.
BillboardNamed Top K-pop Girl Group of the Past Decade in 2017.
Tours
First Asia tourOpened with two nights at the Olympic Park Fencing Stadium in Seoul in December 2009.
4th Tour: PhantasiaOpened at Olympic Park in Seoul on 21 and 22 November 2015.
Know your Girls' Generation?Six K-pop questions a day in the Daily, and a collectible card for every finished set.
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