Girls' Generation Sunny Biography: Profile, Net Worth 2025, Career, and Family

Profile:

Full Name: Susan Soonkyu Lee

Stage Name: Sunny

Birth Date: May 15, 1989

Birth Place: Orange County, California, United States

Nationality: Korean-American

Occupations: Actress, singer, songwriter, radio DJ, TV personality, and musical theater performer

Well-known for: Belonging to the Girls' Generation subgroup, Girls' Generation-Oh!GG
Nicknames: Dandyu (short duo with Taeyeon), Soonkyu, DJ Soon, Ssun, Sunny Bunny, and Choi Danshin (the shortest).
Sunny stands out in the entertainment sector thanks to her dynamic personality and diverse skill set. Her lively and youthful nature is reflected in her stage name, which she picked since she thought her given name sounded "like an old woman's."

Early Life and Family:

Sunny was born in Orange County, California, on May 15, 1989, into a Korean family with strong connections to the entertainment sector. Sunny's love of music was sparked by her father, Lee Soo-young, who was a musician and member of a collegiate band. Her career path was greatly influenced by her paternal uncle, Lee Soo-man, who founded SM Entertainment, one of the biggest entertainment companies in South Korea. Although they were born in different years, Sunny's two elder sisters, Lee Eun-kyu and Lee Jin-kyu, share her birthday on May 15th, making it a special family coincidence.
Sunny's family briefly moved to Kuwait when she was a newborn, but they were compelled to return to South Korea when the Gulf War broke out. According to interviews, Sunny has a dread of loud noises, especially fireworks, as a result of her early incident. Her father's musical background and her own gregarious personality fueled her passion in performing arts while she was growing up in South Korea.
Although Sunny's success is mostly due to her own perseverance and hard work, her family connections especially with her uncle Lee Soo-man, provided her with possibilities in the entertainment world. Sunny's accomplishments are mostly the result of her professional pursuits, even though her family's money may have played a minor role in her net worth.

Career

Pre-Debut and Training:

At the age of nine, Sunny started her career in entertainment in 1998 when she joined Starlight Entertainment, a division of SM Academy. After five years of training, she planned to make her stage debut with a duo called Sugar, but the group broke up when Starworld, the agency in charge of the project, filed for bankruptcy. Following a fruitful audition conducted by singer Ayumi, Sunny joined her uncle's agency, SM Entertainment, in 2007. She became the final member to join Girls' Generation and made her debut after only a few months of training.
Oh!GG and the Girls' Generation
On August 5, 2007, Girls' Generation, or SNSD, made their debut with the song "Into the New World." Taeyeon, Sunny, Tiffany, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Sooyoung, Yoona, Seohyun, and Jessica (who departed in 2014) were the group's original nine members. They gained rapid notoriety with their 2009 hit song "Gee," which topped the charts for nine weeks and became the most downloaded idol group song in South Korea. With over 100 million digital and physical records sold globally by 2020, Girls' Generation dubbed "The Nation's Girl Group" became a second-generation K-pop phenomenon, joining the ranks of global icons such as The Supremes.
Sunny helped create the group's characteristic harmonies and upbeat performances as the main vocalist. When combined with Taeyeon, her diminutive size earned her the nickname "Choi Danshin" (the smallest), which resulted to their loving nickname "Dandyu" (short duo). Hits like "Genie," "The Boys," "I Got a Boy," and "Lion Heart" cemented the group's place as K-pop pioneers. Sunny released the single "Lil' Touch" in 2018 after joining the subunit Girls' Generation-Oh!GG with Taeyeon, Hyoyeon, Yuri, and Yoona.

Solo Projects and Variety Shows:

Sunny has established a prosperous solo career in addition to her group endeavors. "Your Doll" for the SBS drama Oh! My Lady, "Finally Now" for Story of Wine, and "You Don't Know About Love" for Working Mom are just a few of the soundtracks she has contributed to. She also sang "SarangInGulYo," a duet with Taeyeon, for Heading to the Ground, and "I Love You, I Love You," a collaboration with Miryo of Brown Eyed Girls. She and her SM labelmate Henry released the track "U&I" in 2017.
Sunny's broad experience in theater and television demonstrates her versatility. She is known as the "variety show queen" since she has hosted so many variety shows. Among the notable hosting engagements are Spicy Girls (2021), Beauty and Luxury 6 (2021), Love Catcher in Seoul (2021), Legendary Trainee (2021), and Idea Panda (2021). Additionally, she has made cameo appearances on programs including Jessica and Krystal and Invincible Youth. Sunny received praise from critics for her performance as the lead in the Korean version of Catch Me If You Can, which was performed in musical theater from 2012 to 2013.
Sunny appeared as a member of the fictional ensemble Bool Gwang Dong, Seven Princesses in the 2007 movie Unstoppable Marriage. Her focus remains on music, variety shows, and musicals, exhibiting her varied talents, even though she hasn't pursued prominent roles in K-dramas.
Current Events
Sunny joined A2O Entertainment, a brand-new company founded by her uncle Lee Soo-man, in April 2025 to work as a special trainer for its trainees. By using her knowledge to guide the upcoming generation of K-pop singers, her decision ushers in a new chapter in her career.

2025 Net Worth:

Sunny's tremendous career in music, television, and endorsements has contributed to her estimated net worth of $9 million USD in 2025. The main sources of her riches are:
Music: With more than 10 million records sold globally, Girls' Generation's success has generated a sizable revenue stream from album sales, live performances, and digital downloads.
Television & Hosting: Sunny's earnings are significantly influenced by her vast work as a variety show presenter and guest, as well as her DJing and voiceover work.
Endorsements: Sunny has landed deals that increase her income, despite not doing as many endorsements as others of her bandmates, like Yoona.
Real estate: Sunny's $2.4 million condo in Seoul is proof of her sound financial judgment.

Personal Life and Instagram Presence:

Sunny is well-known for being active and involved on social media, especially Instagram, where as of 2024 she had over 9.3 million followers. She started using the platform in 2012 and regularly posts behind-the-scenes photos from her musical performances, variety show appearances, and private events. Her articles showcase her strong relationship with her Girls' Generation bandmates and her passion for cuisine, fashion, and travel. Sunny is adored by admirers all over the world because she frequently celebrates her birthday on May 15 with touching words and pictures. She can interact directly with her global fan base through her Instagram account, which also provides a glimpse into her vibrant personality.
Sunny has kept romantic relationships private in her personal life, and as of 2025, there is no publicly available material indicating a boyfriend or lover. She maintains her professional focus while engaging in pastimes like comic book reading, swimming, and video gaming. Fans love her eccentric qualities, such as her love of the number 12 and dread of pyrotechnics.

Awards and Achievements:

Sunny has received numerous honors for her work with Girls' Generation and on her own, including the Asia Model Awards: Asia Star Award (2011) and the BBF Popular Singer Award (2008).
Best Asian Artist at the Asia Song Festival (2008)
Girl Group of the Year at the Bugs Music Awards (2005, 2010)
Her influence on the industry is further highlighted by her reputation as a dynamic performer and her critical praise in musical theater.