Im Yoon-ah

Biography

Lim Yoona (Korean: 임윤아; born May 30, 1990), also known mononymously as Yoona, is a South Korean singer and actress. After training for five years, she debuted as a member of girl group Girls' Generation (and later its subgroup Girls' Generation-Oh!GG) in August 2007, which went on to become one of the best-selling artists in South Korea and one of South Korea's most widely known girl groups worldwide. Apart from her group's activities, Lim has participated in various television dramas, notably You Are My Destiny (2008), which marked her career breakthrough and earned her the Best New Actress award at the 45th Baeksang Arts Awards. Lim has since achieved further public attention and acting acclaim with a variety of role-types in The K2 (2016), Big Mouth (2022), and King the Land (2023). Her film work includes Confidential Assignment (2017), Exit (2019), her first leading role, and Confidential Assignment 2: International (2022), all of which are among the highest-grossing films in South Korea. On May 30, 2019, Lim released her debut extended play A Walk to Remember, charting at number three on South Korea's Gaon Album Chart. In 2025, Lim starred in the wildly popular Bon Appétit, Your Majesty, where she was cast as a three star Michelin chef who was transported back in time to become the chief royal cook for a Joseon king. The success of Lim's music and acting careers have led her to various CF deals, notably long-term collaborator Innisfree, and have established her as a top idol-actress of Hallyu.

== Early life and education == Lim was born on May 30, 1990, in Daerim-dong, Yeongdeungpo District, Seoul, South Korea. Her family consists of her father and an older sister by five years. Lim graduated from Daeyoung High School in 2009. She went on to major in theater studies and graduated from Dongguk University in February 2015, receiving a lifetime achievement award at the graduation ceremony. Her fellow Girls' Generation member, Seohyun, attended the same university. She was also chosen as an ambassador for the university in 2014, alongside Apink's Naeun and actress Park Ha-sun.

== Career ==

=== 2002–2004: Pre-debut activities === In 2002, she was cast in the SM Saturday Open Casting Audition and spent five years "doing nothing but constant training" in singing, dancing and acting. Prior to debuting, Lim was introduced to the public through various appearances in music videos and commercials; she first appeared in TVXQ's "Magic Castle" music video in December 2004.

=== 2007–2015: Debut with Girls' Generation and acting career ===

She made her official debut as a member of Girls' Generation in August 2007, becoming the "center" of the group. Apart from Girls' Generation's activities, Lim has acted in several television dramas. Her acting career began in 2007 with a minor role in MBC's drama Two Outs in the Ninth Inning. She then appeared in MBC's Woman of Matchless Beauty (2008), and was complimented by veteran actress Bae Jong-ok for her cameo performance.

In May 2008, Lim was cast her first leading role in KBS's drama You Are My Destiny, playing the character Jang Sae-byuk. The drama achieved viewer ratings of up to 41.5%, and Lim received wider public recognition. She considered the role a turning point in her career, and won two "Best New Actress" awards at the 2008 KBS Drama Awards and 45th Baeksang Arts Awards. In 2009, Lim was cast in MBC's drama Cinderella Man along with Kwon Sang-woo. In March 2012, Lim was cast in a lead role alongside Jang Geun Suk in KBS2's drama Love Rain, a fantasy drama about fate where the offspring of an ill-fated couple who met in the 1970s, meet and fall in love with each other in the modern era. Lim played two characters: Yun-hee of the 70s and Ha-na of modern times. Although the drama scored low domestic viewership and was criticized for its failure to relate to the viewers, Lim's acting received positive reviews. Yoon Ga-ee of OSEN wrote: "The speed at which her acting is improving is blinding. She has matured to the point where you want to ask, 'When did her acting get so good?' The criticism that trailed behind her during Cinderella Man is now nowhere to be found". Choi In-kyung of Hankook Ilbo said her acting was continuously improving and "Yoona is completely immersed in her character and has now become 'Hana' herself". The drama garnered much positive overseas interest and was sold to Japan for $10 million, the second highest price for a KBS drama at the time, partly due to Lim's popularity. In December 2013, Lim starred alongside Lee Beom-soo in KBS2's romantic comedy drama Prime Minister & I. Loosely based on the musical film The Sound of Music, Lim played Nam Da-jung, a young and stubborn reporter who falls in love with the prime minister. The drama received low ratings but Lim's performance was praised and she won an Excellence Award at the 2013 KBS Drama Awards for the role.

In March 2016, Lim released her first solo single "Deoksugung Stonewall Walkway", a collaboration with the South Korean indie group 10cm, as part of SM Station. The urban-pop song peaked at number 24 on Gaon Digital Chart. Fuse described it as "breezy and easy-listening" and complimented how "lovely" Lim delivered the song.