Around 2001, the year he turned 13, he had a brief child role in the film Besame Mucho and was later cast by YG Entertainment after appearing in a Jinusean music video.
The breakthrough yearThe year he turned 18, on Aug. 19, 2006, he debuted in the five-member group BigBang at YG Family’s 10th anniversary concert. That December about 12,000 people came to BigBang’s first solo concert, where Taeyang performed his solo song “Ma Girl.”
In 2008 his first solo mini album Hot produced “Only Look at Me,” one of that year’s first-half hits according to Asia Economy. At the end of the year BigBang won four awards at the MKMF, including Artist of the Year.
In 2009 he released the digital single “Wedding Dress,” which also reached a Dutch radio chart. In 2010 he released his first full-length album Solar, with the title track “I Need a Girl,” and its 30,000-copy deluxe edition sold out.
In 2014 “Eyes, Nose, Lips” from the second full-length album Rise won him three awards at the MAMA. In 2016 he took the stage at BigBang’s 10th anniversary concert. In 2017 he released the third full-length album White Night.
In 2018 he married the actress Min Hyo-rin and, about a month later, enlisted for active-duty service. In 2019 he was discharged. In 2020 BigBang renewed its contract with YG Entertainment for the third time. In 2021 a son was born.
In 2022 he left YG Entertainment for The Black Label. In 2023 “Vibe,” with BTS’s Jimin, entered the Billboard Hot 100, and he followed it with the mini album Down to Earth.
In 2024 he released “Home Sweet Home” with G-Dragon and Daesung and joined them on stage at the MAMA. In 2026 he played Coachella, released the fourth full-length album Quintessence on his birthday, and BigBang released its 20th anniversary single “BiiiG” and began a world tour.
Taeyang (born Dong Young-bae on May 18, 1988) debuted in the group BigBang on Aug 19, 2006, the year he turned 18, and became known with that debut. In 2008, the year he turned 20, his first solo album Hot produced “Only Look at Me,” and in 2023, the year he turned 35, “Vibe” entered the Billboard Hot 100.
Ages are by calendar year (the year minus the birth year), birthdays aside.
Had a brief part as an elementary-school friend of the son of the couple played by Jun Gwang-ryul and Lee Mi-sook. He was later cast by YG Entertainment after appearing in a Jinusean music video.
Source 01 · Nocut News (Korean) · BigBang’s G-Dragon and Taeyang turn out to be former child actors · opens in a new tabDebuted in a group of five with T.O.P, G-Dragon, Daesung and Seungri. The group officially debuted through YG’s 10th anniversary concert.
About 12,000 people came to BigBang’s first solo concert since debut at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena in Seoul. There Taeyang performed his solo song “Ma Girl.”
Source 03 · Joynews24 (Korean) · 12,000 fans at BigBang’s first solo concert · opens in a new tabSource 04 · Star News (Korean) · BigBang’s first concert draws 12,000 · opens in a new tabReleased the double title tracks “Only Look at Me” and “Prayer.” The album hit No. 1 on the Hanteo real-time chart as soon as it came out, and Asia Economy listed “Only Look at Me,” along with the Wonder Girls’ “So Hot,” among that year’s first-half hits.
Source 05 · Hankyung (Korean) · Taeyang starts his first solo Hot promotions · opens in a new tabSource 06 · Joynews24 (Korean) · Taeyang and Wonder Girls face off on their first broadcast on the 31st · opens in a new tabSource 07 · Asia Economy (Korean) · BigBang branching into six stars · opens in a new tabAt the ceremony at Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Seoul, the group won four awards, including Artist of the Year.
Source 08 · Edaily (Korean) · BigBang wins four awards at MKMF, including Artist of the Year · opens in a new tabIt was his second single, after “Where U At,” released Oct. 15. In December it reached No. 3 on a Dutch radio station chart.
Source 09 · MyDaily (Korean) · Taeyang returns with “Wedding Dress” after about a year · opens in a new tabSource 10 · Star News (Korean) · Taeyang is No. 3 on a Dutch radio station chart · opens in a new tabWith the title track “I Need a Girl,” the 30,000-copy deluxe edition sold out on release, and the song hit No. 1 on online real-time charts.
Source 11 · Newsis (Korean) · Taeyang’s first full-length album Solar on July 1 · opens in a new tabSource 12 · MyDaily (Korean) · A hot summer of comebacks · opens in a new tabHis first full-length album in about four years included a single title track, “Eyes, Nose, Lips.”
Source 13 · Sisa Focus (Korean) · Countdown to Taeyang’s Rise release · opens in a new tabAt AsiaWorld-Expo Arena in Hong Kong he won Song of the Year, Best Vocal Performance and Best Male Artist for “Eyes, Nose, Lips.”
Source 14 · Star News (Korean) · 2014 MAMA: four grand prizes, and Taeyang takes three awards · opens in a new tabSource 15 · Herald Muse (Korean) · Taeyang’s “Eyes, Nose, Lips” breaks through at MAMA too · opens in a new tabPerformed at “BIGBANG10 THE CONCERT : 0.TO.10” at Seoul World Cup Stadium. Taeyang said it was a pity that the concert ran for only one day.
Source 16 · Star News (Korean) · Taeyang says one day of BigBang’s 10th anniversary concert is a pity · opens in a new tabIt came three years and two months after Rise.
Source 17 · Channel A (Korean) · Taeyang’s solo comeback after three years, full-length No. 3 White Night · opens in a new tabMarried the actress Min Hyo-rin, whom he had dated since 2014.
Source 18 · Digital Times (Korean) · G-Dragon enters the army today; Taeyang to enlist March 12 · opens in a new tabSource 22 · Nocut News (Korean) · The changes Taeyang faces as a father · opens in a new tabEntered the recruit training center of the Cheongseong Unit, 6th Infantry Division, in Cheorwon, Gangwon.
Source 19 · Newsis (Korean) · Taeyang enlists on the 12th, seen off by his wife Min Hyo-rin · opens in a new tabDischarged at the Army Ground Operations Command in Yongin, Gyeonggi. He was discharged together with Daesung, who had enlisted a day apart.
Source 20 · JoongAng Ilbo (Korean) · Taeyang of the Cheongseong Unit and Daesung of the Lee Gi-ja Unit are discharged · opens in a new tabRe-signed with G-Dragon, T.O.P and Daesung. It was the third renewal, after 2011 and 2015.
Source 21 · Nocut News (Korean) · YG re-signs BigBang’s G-Dragon, Taeyang, T.O.P and Daesung · opens in a new tabA son was born.
Source 22 · Nocut News (Korean) · The changes Taeyang faces as a father · opens in a new tabLeft YG Entertainment for its affiliate The Black Label, a label led by the producer Teddy whose roster includes Zion.T and Jeon Somi.
Source 23 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Taeyang leaves YG for The Black Label · opens in a new tabReleased the digital single “Vibe (Feat. Jimin of BTS).” It entered the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 for the first time at No. 76 on the chart dated Jan. 25.
Source 24 · TenAsia (Korean) · Taeyang and BTS’s Jimin’s “Vibe” enters the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 76 · opens in a new tabHis first solo album in six years, with the title track “Seed.”
Source 25 · Sports Kyunghyang (Korean) · Today is the day Taeyang’s Down to Earth comes out · opens in a new tabSource 26 · Chosun Ilbo (Korean) · BigBang’s model student Taeyang releases a solo album after six years · opens in a new tabFeatured with Daesung on G-Dragon’s digital single.
Source 27 · TenAsia (Korean) · G-Dragon, even the tattoo is cute · opens in a new tabPerformed with G-Dragon and Daesung at Kyocera Dome Osaka in Japan, singing “Home Sweet Home” among other songs.
Source 28 · Newsis (Korean) · MAMA Awards: Seventeen with five awards and aespa with six; BigBang’s full-group stage · opens in a new tabPerformed for about 60 minutes with G-Dragon and Daesung on the Coachella Outdoor Theatre stage in Indio, California. It was BigBang’s first full show in about nine years, since the 2017 tour, and Taeyang sang his own solo song “Ringa Linga.”
Source 29 · The Kyunghyang Shinmun (Korean) · BigBang is back: BigBang at 20 performs at Coachella in the U.S. · opens in a new tabSource 30 · OSEN (Korean) · G-Dragon and Daesung meet Kim Hye-seong, watch the LA Dodgers after Coachella · opens in a new tabSource 31 · Sports Kyunghyang (Korean) · Daesung throws K-trot into Coachella · opens in a new tabHis first full-length album in nine years, since the third, was released on his birthday.
Source 32 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Taeyang at 20 years, first full-length album in nine years; will return with BigBang · opens in a new tabSource 33 · IZE (Korean) · Taeyang on his birthday sets off a BigBang in the music scene · opens in a new tabG-Dragon wrote and composed the song, which combines Taeyang’s vocals with Daesung’s tone.
Source 34 · Hankyoreh (Korean) · Twenty years already: BigBang’s “BiiiG” goes straight to No. 1 on the music charts · opens in a new tabPerformed at the opening of the XX : COSMOS tour, three shows at the main stadium of Goyang Sports Complex in Gyeonggi.
Source 35 · Sports Kyunghyang (Korean) · BigBang’s world tour starts today (the 21st) · opens in a new tabEND OF SELECTED RECORDSSelected records, 2001–2026 · not a complete list of work. “Key moment” is an editorial label, not a measure of success.
What did they do, and at what age?
AgeTrail lines up the key moments of a life by age.
Debut and breakthrough are marked separately, and every record has a source.
Music · South Korea
May 18, 1988 —
Ages are counted from the birth year 1988: the year of the event minus 1988, birthdays aside. “Key moment” labels and the connecting story are AgeTrail's editorial reading.
Fact-checked: 2026.09.29 · An independent archive, not affiliated with the person or their agency.