Seohyun Biography: Profile, Net Worth 2025, Career, and Family

Profile: 

Full Name: Seo Ju-hyun (서주현)

Stage Name: Seohyun (서현)

Date of Birth: June 28, 1991

Birthplace: Seoul, South Korea

Education: Jeonju Arts High School; Dongguk University (Theatre Acting, graduated 2014)

Languages: Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese

Hobbies: Listening to music, playing piano, reading

Specialties: Singing, acting, piano, philanthropy

Seohyun's charming demeanor and youthful appeal are reflected in her nicknames, Maknae, Seobaby, Seororo, and Hyun. She is well-known for her self-control, health-conscious way of living, and passion for goguma, or sweet potatoes, and has gained a reputation as the "innocent" but resolute member of the Girls' Generation.

Early Life and Family Background:

Born in Seoul, South Korea, on June 28, 1991, Seohyun was raised in the Guro-dong and Doksan-dong neighborhoods. Her close-knit family dynamic has been formed by the fact that she is her parents' only child. Seohyun's early musical exposure was fostered by her mother, Kim Young-al, who served as chairperson of a piano school. Under her mother's tutelage, Seohyun began learning to play the piano, violin, and traditional Korean drums at the age of five. Even as a young child, she shown her adaptability by taking up ice skating and horseback riding.
Although Seohyun has not revealed who her father is, she has given both parents credit for encouraging her professional decisions without pressuring her to pursue celebrity. In interviews, she has conveyed her appreciation for their support in pursuing a variety of experiences, which aided her in discovering her love for acting. The foundation for Seohyun's diverse career was laid by her disciplined and creative childhood.
Seohyun was discovered by SM Entertainment when he was eleven years old and riding a metro train. She sung children's songs, which emphasized her distinct appeal, in contrast to the pop or dance tunes that are typically performed at auditions. After being accepted as a trainee in 2003, she trained diligently for six and a half years while juggling her studies and debut preparation.

Career: From K-Pop Star to Acclaimed Actress:

Girls’ Generation and TTS (2007–Present):

On August 5, 2007, Seohyun made her debut as the lead vocalist and maknae of Girls’ Generation, or SNSD, with the single "Into the New World." With songs like "Gee" (2009), which became a cultural phenomenon in South Korea, the group which was founded by SM Entertainment, rose to stardom quite quickly. Despite being the youngest member, Seohyun stood out due to her expressive, clear voice and composed stage presence.

She joined the Girls’ Generation-TTS (TaeTiSeo) subgroup in 2012, which also included Tiffany and Taeyeon. Seohyun demonstrated her flexibility as TTS's leader, lead vocalist, and main dancer. Twinkle, their debut EP, was a financial triumph and one of the best-selling records in South Korea in 2012. Seohyun contributed as a lyricist on songs like "Only U" and "Dear Santa" from TTS's two more EPs, Holler (2014) and Dear Santa (2015).
Seohyun, Tiffany, and Sooyoung's decision to not extend their contracts with SM Entertainment in 2017 brought about changes for Girls' Generation. Seohyun, however, underlined her dedication to the group by declaring that she would always remain a member of Girls' Generation. In 2022, to commemorate their 15th anniversary, the group triumphantly returned with their seventh album, Forever 1. Seohyun is still involved in 2025, taking part in initiatives like SMTOWN's The Culture, The Future.

Career in Solo Music (2017–present):

On January 17, 2017, Seohyun released the mini-album Don't Say No, which marked the beginning of her solo career. She demonstrated her songwriting ability by composing the words for the majority of the songs. "Don't Say No," the album's lead hit, combined pop and R&B and was praised for its sophisticated sound. Her ability to dominate the stage by herself was further shown by her solo performances around South Korea.
Seohyun released a number of OSTs and side projects prior to her official solo debut, such as "JjaLaJaJJa" (2009) with Joo Hyun-mi, which was nominated for Trot Music of the Year at the Mnet Asian Music Awards. She also worked on OSTs with artists like Lee Donghae and TVXQ, which helped her establish herself as a versatile vocalist.

Career in Acting (2010–Present):

Seohyun started her acting career as a voice actor, co-voicing Edith with Taeyeon in the Korean dubs of Despicable Me (2010) and Despicable Me 2 (2013). In 2010, she made her TV debut on MBC's We Got Married 2, when she was matched with Yonghwa from CNBLUE. At the 2010 MBC Entertainment Awards, their chemistry earned them the title of Most Popular Couple.
She played veterinary student Han Yu-rim in SBS's Passionate Love (2013), which was her first scripted role. Her potential as an actress was highlighted by critics who praised her natural fit for the part. Playing Woo-hee in Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016), Seohyun made her debut and won a Special Acting Award at the 2016 SBS Drama Awards.
In order to concentrate on acting, Seohyun joined Namoo Actors in 2019 after departing SM Entertainment. Bad Thief, Good Thief (2017) as Kang So-joo; Time (2018) as Seol Ji-hyun; Private Lives (2020) as Cha Joo-eun; Jinxed at First (2022) as Lee Seul-bi, for which she won the 2022 KBS Drama Awards for Best New Actress; Song of the Bandits (2023) as Nam Hee-shin; Seeking the King (2024) as Jung-ae; and Holy Night: Demon Hunters (2025) as Sharon. Seohyun also excelled in musical theater, making her stage debut in Moon Embracing the Sun (2014) and starring in Gone with the Wind and Mamma Mia (2016). Her portrayal of Sophie in Mamma Mia received accolades for both its vocal power and emotional depth.

Other Ventures and Philanthropy:

In addition to her work in acting and singing, Seohyun has posed for companies like Clinique, Pantene, and The Face Shop. Her reputation as a reliable public person is reflected in the substantial portion of her income that comes from endorsements.
Seohyun is a committed philanthropist as well. She gave Dongguk University ₩100 million in 2013 to help impoverished students. She received praise for her social influence in 2020 and 2022 after donating feminine hygiene items to multicultural and low-income households.

2025 Net Worth:

Based on estimates from her many sources of income, Seohyun's anticipated net worth in 2025 is between $5 and $6 million USD. Her wealth has probably increased due to her ongoing success in acting, sponsorships, and music, even if previous estimates placed her net worth at $4 million in 2022.
Her sources of income include TTS and Girls' Generation: album sales, live performances, and group activities; the group's total estimated net worth is $100 million.
Solo Music: Don't Say No and OST sales revenue.
Acting: Key parts in well-known dramas and motion pictures, such as Song of the Bandits and Love and Leashes (2022) on Netflix.
Endorsements: Profitable partnerships with fashion and cosmetics companies.
Real estate: Considering Seoul's growing property values, she made a wise investment in 2013 by paying $1.2 million for a villa in Cheongdam.
However, her altruism shows that she is not just interested in making money.

Personal Life and Public Image:

Seohyun is renowned for leading a healthy and disciplined lifestyle. She prefers sweet potatoes and herbal medicine, which she keeps in her backpack, to junk food. Anecdotes that highlight her eccentric side include her effort to use 1,000 Keroro stickers to adorn the Girls' Generation dorm, which was thwarted by her fellow members.
Seohyun has maintained a romantic distance from her personal life. Dispatch published rumors in 2018 that she was seeing a non-celebrity, but there was no follow-up. She made references to previous relationships in On Knowing Bros (2017), but she hasn't shared any specifics publicly. Her ideal personality is characterized as thoughtful, witty, and upbeat, and she frequently mentions Johnny Depp as a celebrity crush.
Seohyun presents an elegant and genuine public persona. Her dedication to social problems, professionalism, and fluency in Korean, Chinese, Japanese, and English have won her admiration from her fans. Her career longevity is a result of the perseverance she was motivated to appreciate by her former mentor, Ban Ki-moon.