Kim Na-young (; born December 31, 1991) is a South Korean singer and actress who gained immense popularity through social media exposure on New Year's Eve 2015, when her single "What If It Was Going" topped Melon's (South Korea's biggest music streaming site) music charts, holding the top place for five days, and high spots on other streaming sites. She has recorded several soundtracks, including "Once Again" for Descendants of the Sun.
As a solo artist, she released three studio albums, 26 singles and 22 soundtrack appearances.
Music career She debuted as a singer in 2012, after which she took the unusual route of busking in the Hongdae area, where a video clip of her singing on a cold winter night went viral and attracted over 1 million views.
She has had a few TV appearances and was a contestant on Mnet's Superstar K in 2013, but did not reach the finals. From her appearance on Superstar K, her singing skills were noticed in the K-pop industry and she did a 2014 original soundtrack for a Korean drama.
New Year's Eve 2015 viral success
Her sudden rise in popularity, without being known much by mainstream media, occurred with the release of the viral video clip "What If It Was Going" and was called remarkable. Social media experts said the video's reception, which "spread like wildfire among young trendsetters," was because "mobile oriented social networks are changing the traditional routes to success for singers." She called the success, which coincided on her birthday, December 31, an unforgettable birthday gift.
Descendants of the Sun OST
She has recorded a number of soundtracks, including those for A Girl Who Sees Smells, Orange Marmalade and Bubble Gum. In March 2016, she and Mad Clown collaborated for a well received OST "Once Again" for Descendants of the Sun, and used as background music when the drama's leading roles flashed back to old memories.
2019: First music show win On June 23, 2019, she received her first music show win on SBS' Inkigayo with her single "To Be Honest".
2020: Do You Like Brahms? On September 21, 2020, the original soundtrack Kim sang titled "Dream" was released for the South Korean television series Do You Like Brahms? as the sixth part.
Discography Studio albums Title Album details Peak chart positions From the Heart Released: October 18, 2016 Label: Neverland Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download 61 Inner Released: November 15, 2018 Label: Neverland Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download 59 Me Released: October 31, 2021 Label: Neverland Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download —
Singles Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Certifications Album
"Street Life" 2013 32 KOR: 96,582 rowspan="19" Superstar K5 – Kim Na-young vs Jang Won-ki "If Winter Ends" (겨울이 지나고 봄이 오듯이) 2014 — "I'm Sorry" (미안해) — I'm Sorry "Sometimes" (가끔 내가) 32 KOR: 71,513Cumulative sales of "Sometimes":
From the Heart "As You Told Me" (니 말대로) 42 KOR: 64,254 "Never" (그럴 리가) 2015 67 KOR: 41,965Cumulative sales of "Never":
"Believe Me" — "What If It Was Going" (어땠을까) 2 KOR: 804,640Cumulative sales of "What If It Was Going":
From the Heart "I See" (그래 그래) 2016 99 KOR: 22,025 "Watch Memories" (꺼내본다) 25 KOR: 93,546 "No Blame" (널 미워하지 않길) 59 KOR: 59,974Cumulative sales of "No Blame":
Inner "Tears" (눈물) 2017 35 KOR: 42,548+ "Being an Adult" (어른이 된다는 게) 40 KOR: 58,811Cumulative sales of "Being an Adult":
Inner "Love Sick" (사랑앓이) 18 KOR: 68,049+ Over 10 Years "But I Must" (헤어질 수 밖에) 24 KOR: 278,883Cumulative sales of "But I Must":
Inner "Miss You" 84 rowspan="19" "Each of Us" (우리 서로) 2018 38 "I Can't Say That" (그 한마디) — "Incorrect Answer" (오답) 80 rowspan="7" "To Be Honest" (솔직하게 말해서 나) 2019 1 KMCA: Platinum "Goodbye List" (헤어진 우리가 지켜야 할 것들) 4 rowspan="14" "Not Anyone Else" (다른 누구 말고 너야) 2020 53 "Farewell Poem" (니가 없다면) 116 "A Letter for You" (봄 내음보다 너를) 2021 118 "The Day I Loved You" (사랑했던 날) 106 "The Youngest Day" 123 Me "Press" (누른다) 2022 — rowspan="3" "Dial Your Number" (너의 번호를 누르고) 44 "I Can't Help It" (어쩔 수가 없나 봐) 177 "I Can't" (못해) 57 Re:Wind 4Men Vol.02 "Not Lonely" (외롭지 않아) 2023 139 rowspan="4" "The Day" (내일 이별) 2024 142 "Love Illusion" (이별 자서전) — "Only You Know" (너만이 알아볼 마음) 2025 —
Soundtrack appearances Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Album "You Let Me Go With a Smile" 2014 — rowspan="5" Trot Lovers OST "Hope and Hope" (바라고 바라고) — Marriage, Not Dating OST "Ordinary Farewell" (흔한 이별) 2015 — A Girl Who Sees Smells OST "If I Did" (그랬다면) — Orange Marmalade OST "To Me, You" (내겐 그대) — Bubble Gum OST "Once Again" (다시 너를) 2016 2 KOR: 813,800Cumulative sales for "Once Again":
Descendants of the Sun OST "Say Goodbye (My Heart Speaks)" (가슴이 말해) 28 KOR: 150,245 Uncontrollably Fond OST "I'm OK" (괜찮다고) 2017 — rowspan="2" The Emperor: Owner of the Mask OST "If Only" (그럴걸) — Love Playlist 2 OST "Maze" (미로) 49 KOR: 58,717Cumulative sales for "Maze":
While You Were Sleeping OST "The Package" — rowspan="17" The Package OST "Because I Only See You" (그대만 보여서) 2018 80 What's Wrong with Secretary Kim OST "Tell Me" (말해줘요) — Are You Human? OST "Close I'll Be" (너의 모든 기억속에) 2019 106 Romance Is a Bonus Book OST "I Get a Little Bit Lonely" (조금 더 외로워지겠지) 43 Search: WWW OST "At That Time" (그 무렵) 111 When the Camellia Blooms OST "Heart Break" 2020 — The King: Eternal Monarch OST "Like the Winter That Loved Spring" (봄날을 사랑한 겨울처럼) — Men Are Men OST "Dream" (그리워하면 그댈 만날까봐) 110 Do You Like Brahms? OST "Where Are You" (그대는 어디에) 2021 141 Run On OST "My All" (우연이 아닌것만 같아서) — My Roommate Is a Gumiho OST "There for You" (이별후회) 30 Our Beloved Summer OST "Love Hurts a Little More" (조금 더 아파도) 2022 — Forecasting Love and Weather OST "Breath" (숨결) — Alchemy of Souls OST "You Are the Sea" (너는 바다) — Curtain Call OST "Good Person" (좋은 사람) 2024 138 Welcome to Samdal-ri OST "From Bottom of My Heart" (일기) 102 Queen of Tears OST
Filmography Television shows Year Title Role Notes 2021 The Listen: Wind Blows Cast Member
Variety shows Year Title Role Notes 2016-2021 King of Mask Singer Contestant As "Weightlifter Girl Kim Mask" (Ep. 87 -83) and as "Brother's Wife" (Ep. 293-294) TBA
Awards and nominations + Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination Award ceremony Year Category Nominee / Work Result Golden Disc Awards 2020 Digital Song Bonsang "Goodbye List" (duet with Yang Da-il) Seoul Music Awards Bonsang Award
References
External links (in Korean)