Dong Young Bae (동영배), better known by his stage name TAEYANG (태양), or SOL in Japan, is a South Korean singer, songwriter, and dancer. Renowned for his soulful vocals and emotive performance style, he is regarded as one of the most accomplished R&B artists in the Korean music industry.

TAEYANG began his career as a trainee under YG Entertainment. He first appeared in Jinusean’s music video for “A-YO” before officially debuting in 2006 as a vocalist and dancer of the K-pop group BIGBANG.

In 2008, TAEYANG became the first BIGBANG member to debut as a solo artist with the EP HOT. He followed it with his first full-length album, SOLAR, in July 2010. An international edition of the album was also released, featuring English versions of several tracks.

TAEYANG returned in 2013 with the single “링가 링가 (RINGA LINGA)” followed by his second studio album, RISE in 2014. The album included his signature ballad “눈, 코, 입 (EYES, NOSE, LIPS)” which won Song of the Year and Best Vocal Performance – Male at the 2014 Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA). He later embarked on his first solo world tour in support of the album.

His third studio album, WHITE NIGHT, arrived in 2017 and expanded his established R&B sound through elements of electronic music and atmospheric pop. After completing his mandatory military service and moving to THEBLACKLABEL, TAEYANG returned in 2023 with the EP Down to Earth. The project featured collaborations such as “VIBE” with Jimin of BTS and “슝! (Shoong!)” with LISA of BLACKPINK. He continued his solo discography with the studio album QUINTESSENCE in 2026.

Across his solo career and work with BIGBANG, TAEYANG has become known for pairing deeply expressive vocals with music rooted in R&B, soul, hip-hop, and pop. His artistry and enduring influence have helped establish him as one of K-pop’s most recognizable vocalists and performers.