Who is Dahyun?
Dahyun was born on May 28, 1998, in Seongnam, South Korea. The artist, whose real name is Kim Da-hyun, has become one of the most beloved members of TWICE with her cheerful energy on stage and striking facial expressions. Her “eagle dance” performance went viral online, playing a significant role in her entry into the K-pop world. Before being discovered by JYP Entertainment, she was actively involved in a church choir, which laid the foundation for her passion for music at a young age. Although her official role in TWICE is as a vocalist, her stage energy and diverse talents have earned her the title of the group's “hidden multi-talent.”
Dahyun won her spot in TWICE through the 2015 reality show “Sixteen.” Although she appeared more delicate than some of the other contestants during the program, she managed to attract the attention of producers and viewers with her confidence on stage and her naturalness in front of the camera. Her choice to use her real name as her stage name shows that she has a natural and sincere attitude that reflects her personality on stage.
The Viral Eagle Dance
Dahyun's popularity skyrocketed overnight because of her “eagle dance” performance at her high school festival, which quickly went viral online. The performance was both comical due to its exaggerated facial expressions and body movements, and demonstrated her command of the stage. This video caught the attention of talent scouts from JYP Entertainment, leading them to invite her for auditions.
Famous for Her Skin Undertone
A frequently discussed detail in the K-pop industry: Dahyun's “milk-toned” skin tone, which is extremely fair and neutral. This skin tone, which remains unchanged even under stage lights, makes her stand out even without makeup. This feature has led to her being specifically chosen for advertising shoots where her skin tone is highlighted through lighting effects.
Strong Stomach and Love for Spicy Food
Dahyun is known as the most pain-tolerant member of TWICE. Videos of her eating “Bulldak Bokeum Myeon,” one of Korea's spiciest ramen dishes, without breaking a sweat have become quite popular among fans. The other members admire her for this trait but also feel a bit intimidated by it, as it gives her an advantage in competitions.
Playing with the Camera
She is known for her conscious and creative gaze at the camera during live broadcasts and music program performances. Especially on big stages like M Countdown or Inkigayo, she notices the camera's position and switches to funny or attractive facial expressions in seconds, showing how high her camera awareness is. This is a detail that points not only to her idol status but also to her acting potential.
TWICE's Ceremonial Address
Among the group members, Dahyun is usually the one who speaks on behalf of the group at ceremonial or official events. Despite being one of the funniest members behind the scenes, she uses serious, polite, and diplomatic language in public events. This reveals her dual personality: a fun group friend and a professional representative.
Personal Obsession: Soap Collection
Dahyun is also known for her obsession with soap. She enjoys collecting soaps of different scents from various countries, hotels, or stores. This hobby is not just a collection; it is a stress-relieving ritual for her. She once shared that she takes a shower with her favorite lavender soap to unwind after concerts.
Both Right- and Left-Handed at the Same Time
Dahyun is a natural ambidextrous individual, using her right hand for writing and her left hand for using scissors or knives. This is a rare example of someone who can use both sides of their brain equally. She also frequently benefits from this dual motor control while playing the piano.
Religious Background
Dahyun's interest in music actually took shape in her childhood in a church environment. Her family actively attended church, and she sang in the children's choir. It is said that the peaceful energy she exudes on stage and her calm stage presence are nourished by these early spiritual experiences. There are few idols in the Korean entertainment industry who mention their religious background, so this detail makes her stand out even more.
White Rice Obsession
It is known that she even takes vacuum-packed white rice packets with her when she travels abroad. Although Dahyun tries other cultural foods, she prefers to eat only plain boiled Korean rice, especially on busy days before performances. This habit reflects her attention to her digestive system and her attachment to Korean food culture.
Emotional and Practical at the Same Time
Although she writes emotional messages at fan meetings, TWICE members say she makes extremely practical decisions in her daily life. For example, she is the one who packs her suitcase faster than anyone else while traveling and always carries band-aids and a needle and thread in case of emergencies. This balance shows that she is a dreamer on stage but a solution-oriented person in real life.
Security Camera Memory
While secretly entering a cosmetics store in a shopping mall, she tried to test a lipstick, thinking she wasn’t being watched, and was caught on security camera. The incident wasn’t theft; it was just a fun “I got caught” moment, which she shared with her fans. Dahyun’s ability to honestly share her mistakes makes her even more relatable to her fans.
Her Korean Handwriting Is Highly Praised
A detail noticed by fans and highlighted repeatedly in various content: Dahyun's handwriting is both aesthetically pleasing and legible. As one of the few idols in the K-pop industry who maintains a unique handwriting style, every handwritten letter she writes attracts attention on social media. Some fans have even offered to convert her handwriting into a digital font.
Ability to Memorize Fan Names
She is famous for remembering the names and faces of fans she constantly encounters at fan meetings. Once, when a fan told her that she had given her a small handmade card years ago, Dahyun remembered her name and the color of the card in detail. This shows how sincere she is and how strong her memory is.
Habit of Talking to Herself in the Mirror
She is known to give herself short speeches in front of the mirror to keep her spirits up before busy schedules. This “mental preparation” ritual involves saying a few positive phrases, especially right before going on stage. Self-motivating statements like “You're doing your best” offer a glimpse into Dahyun's inner discipline.
TWICE's “Secret” Beatbox Master
Although she is generally known as a vocalist, there are many moments in behind-the-scenes content where she makes the other members laugh by beatboxing. She is particularly known for supporting rappers by producing low-tempo beats. In JYP content, it has been mentioned several times that this started as a joke but eventually helped her improve her rhythm sense.
Healthy Sleep Obsession
She describes herself as a “sleep schedule warrior.” She may be the earliest to go to bed and the only member who wakes up without an alarm among all TWICE members. Even during tour periods, Dahyun makes sure to get 7 hours of sleep and has openly stated that she prefers “sleep” over interviews after concerts.
Hidden Camera Fear
Dahyun is one of the most nervous TWICE members when it comes to practical jokes and camera pranks. After a “hidden camera prank” was played on her at the JYP building, she broke down in tears and gave such an honest reaction that it broke the team's heart. This incident gave fans a closer look at her vulnerable side in real life.
Color Preferences Reflect Her Personality
Her favorite color, white, aligns perfectly with her personality. Due to her clean, organized, and meticulous nature, she often incorporates this color into her outfits, room decor, and accessory choices. The members are so accustomed to her room organization that they joke about it being “surgical sterilization.”
Impression Skills and Vocal Humor
Dahyun is not only known for her facial expressions but also for her vocal impressions, making her a source of entertainment for the group. She is particularly famous for imitating animal sounds or cartoon characters during fan meetings. A video of her imitating the Pokémon character Psyduck received hundreds of thousands of likes on social media.
Habit of Praying Before Going on Stage
She is often seen bowing her head slightly and reciting a short prayer before going on stage. This habit has become one of her rituals, serving both as a spiritual preparation and a means of mental focus. This moment is usually not captured by cameras, as she prefers to do it quietly.
Weakness for Ice Cream
As she has mentioned many times in the Korean media, she admits that she cannot resist ice cream, even when on a strict diet. Vanilla ice cream is her weakness. Once, her fans sent her a giant vanilla ice cream cake for her birthday.
She Knows Camera Angles by Heart
Thanks to her extensive broadcasting experience, she has developed the ability to predict which camera is active. Even during group dances, she instantly notices which angle the camera is shooting from and adjusts her position or facial expression accordingly, demonstrating her professionalism. Some music program producers have praised her reflexes.
A Glasses Collector Who Doesn't Wear Glasses
Despite having a near-zero prescription, she collects dozens of different eyeglass frames. When she’s bored at home, she experiments with different frames in front of the mirror, using her own words to describe how she “uses eyeglasses as a character accessory.” Some fans say that her character changes even when she’s just wearing eyeglasses.
TWICE’s Timekeeper
Dahyun is the one who strictly manages time during training or rehearsals. If a rehearsal time is set, she starts the stopwatch on her phone and ensures everyone sticks to the schedule. Such punctual idols are rare in the Korean entertainment industry, and this trait is also appreciated by JYP staff.
Applying Makeup with Shaking Hands
In case of an emergency before a performance, she may have to do her own makeup. Dahyun's hands tremble slightly when she gets excited, but she is still able to apply eyeliner and lipstick with extraordinary precision. She humorously explained this at a fan meeting, saying, “My heart trembles, but my hand draws a straight line.”
She Truly Transforms into a Different Person on Stage
She is known as the member of TWICE with the biggest difference between her stage persona and her everyday personality. Dahyun, who is quiet, attentive, and observant behind the scenes, instantly bursts with energy when the stage lights come on. This transformation is proof of her instinctive connection to the stage.
Responding to Fan Letters in Her Own Handwriting
Despite her busy schedule, she is known to occasionally write handwritten responses to specially selected fan letters. She decorates these responses with her own unique, ornate handwriting and personal expressions, often adding drawings as well. These handwritten replies have become collector's items among her fans.
The Curtain-Closing Obsession at Hotels
When staying at hotels during tours, Dahyun is usually the first to enter the room because she never settles in without checking the curtains. Even during the day, she completely closes the blackout curtains and adjusts the lights before unpacking her suitcase. This habit shows the connection she has established between controlling her environment and mental relaxation.
Never Wipes Sweat Off Stage
Even if she sweats profusely during concerts, she never wipes her face with her hand or a towel while on stage. She has stated that this is to “protect her facial expressions” and “maintain the integrity of her performance.” This small but noticeable stage discipline gives the audience the impression that she is in control of every second.
She Archives Fan Illustrations
She has said that she takes screenshots of fan drawings sent to her or tagged on social media and saves them in a special folder. She pays special attention to hand-drawn ones and has mentioned that she revisits this folder in her free time to look at them repeatedly. This is a sign of her genuine respect for her fans' efforts.
The Member Who Takes the Fewest Selfies in TWICE
Although she frequently appears on social media, Dahyun is the TWICE member who takes the fewest selfies on her own. Instead, she prefers candid photos taken with other members of the group or natural photos taken by others. The phrase, “It's more fun to live than to pose,” sums up her approach.
The Type Who Can't Silence Her Inner Voice
In her own words, she has repeatedly described herself as an “overthinker.” Even in simple interactions, she tends to revisit and reevaluate the details afterward. While this can be exhausting at times, it also helps her prepare for the stage with a perfectionist attention to detail.
Extremely Energetic in Winter
While most people slow down during the winter months, Dahyun’s energy nearly doubles. Wearing thick clothes, going outside, playing in the snow, and drinking hot beverages are the things that boost her mood the most. TWICE members describe her tendency to rush outside when it snows and call others to join her as a “childlike energy burst.”
She Loves to Express Her Feelings in Writing
Although Dahyun doesn’t make long statements in interviews or social media posts, she has mentioned that she regularly writes down her feelings in a notebook. This habit shows that she is someone who relies more on words than visuals to express her inner world. Her fans find this “secret diary” habit quite romantic.
Ability to Count Rhythm with Finger Movements
During dance rehearsals or live performances, she has been noticed counting the rhythm of the song with her fingers. This habit is her way of controlling the stage tempo with a physical reference. Attentive viewers may notice these small gestures, especially in performances where dance synchronization is critical.
Childhood Dream: To Be a News Anchor
Before becoming an idol, her childhood dream was to be a news anchor. Her family has confirmed that she was interested in this profession for a long time because she was attracted to serious occupations. This background may explain the natural seriousness she displays at ceremonial or formal events today.
TWICE's Headphone Addict
It is known that Dahyun arrives at every rehearsal with her own custom-tuned headphone set. She adjusts the volume, bass-treble balance, and isolation entirely to her own comfort. While other members use shared equipment, her obsession with personalization shows how individually she prepares for the stage.
Consciously Uses Minimal Jewelry
It is noticeable that she rarely wears jewelry in her off-stage outfits. She deliberately avoids accessories such as earrings, necklaces, or rings because she believes they distract attention. She only accepts wearing accessories on stage when required by the concept.
Extremely Sensitive Toward Animals
Although it was not reported in the media, when she saw a stray dog shivering in the rain, she stopped her stylist, got out of the car, took off her jacket, and covered the dog with it. She has an intuitive sensitivity towards animals and is known to make secret donations to shelters in Korea.
She Pays Attention to the Number of Candles on the Cake
She insists that the number of candles on her birthday cake matches her age. Once, when she noticed that some candles were missing, she joked, “I feel like I've lost a year,” but her attention to such small details has been noticed by her fans.
One of the Quietest People in School
In an interview with her high school teachers, it was mentioned that Dahyun was a student who usually sat quietly in the back row during class and paid close attention to everything. It was emphasized that even in club activities, she was more supportive of others than showing off herself.
Her Body Temperature Drops Easily
She is known for her sensitivity to the cold. Even during winter concerts, she has been seen wearing thermal underwear under her stage outfits. Her hands are always cold, so she carries a hot water bottle during stage breaks. This aspect of her personality has earned her the nickname “warm-hearted, cold-handed idol” among her fans.
Natural Acting in TWICE Music Videos
She possesses acting skills that allow her to use facial expressions dramatically even in scenes with minimal dialogue in music videos. Her ability to convey emotional transitions through facial expressions in clips like “Feel Special” and “What is Love?” has led many viewers to believe she is the member with the strongest camera presence in the group.
Listens to the Same Song for Days
When she falls in love with a new song, she can listen to it hundreds of times throughout the day. This obsessive listening habit helps her adapt to the details of the song more easily. She has also mentioned that she rewinds the same part of a song while listening to music to try to figure out its melody.
Advanced Journaling Discipline
She uses a digital journaling app to chronologically document every day of her life. Concert dates, special days, and her mood are all recorded. Dahyun says she looks back to understand her changes and that this habit has helped her manage her emotional fluctuations more effectively.
Always Waits for the Final Bow
Instead of being the first to leave the stage at the end of a performance, she prefers to stay until she waves to the audience and makes eye contact. Some fans have noted that after all members have gone backstage, Dahyun stays on stage for an extra 2–3 seconds to scan the crowd, emphasizing that she is someone who “doesn't leave without saying goodbye.”