Taeyang (태양) Real Name: Dong Young-bae (동영배) — 본명

Quick answer

Taeyang's real name is Dong Young-bae (Korean: 동영배). Born May 18, 1988, he is a singer-songwriter and member of BigBang who also uses the name SOL.

Real name and stage name

Taeyang (태양) means "sun" in Korean, and he also uses its English equivalent, SOL, in some releases. Behind both names is Dong Young-bae (동영배), born on May 18, 1988.

He debuted in 2006 as a member of BigBang, one of the groups that defined second-generation K-pop. After several albums and EPs with the group, Taeyang started a solo career in 2008 with his first EP, Hot. Critics praised it, and it won Best R&B & Soul Album at the 6th Korean Music Awards.

His first full-length album, Solar, came out in July 2010 and topped the Gaon Album Chart. His second, Rise (2014), reached number 112 on the US Billboard 200, then the highest position for a Korean soloist on that chart. Its lead single, "Eyes, Nose, Lips," hit number one on the Billboard K-pop Hot 100 and was one of the most popular songs in South Korea in 2014. It won Song of the Year at the MAMA Awards, the Melon Music Awards and the Golden Disc Awards.

Taeyang later released a third studio album, White Night, and in late 2022 signed with The Black Label, as reported by Korea JoongAng Daily. He also recorded with fellow BigBang member G-Dragon on the duo single "Good Boy."

Taeyang is known for R&B vocals and choreography, and he is often cited as an influence by younger idols. For anyone searching for his real name, it is Dong Young-bae.