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Im Yoona (born May 30, 1990) is a South Korean singer and actress. She is a member of South Korean girl group Girls' Generation and has participated in various television dramas such as You Are My Destiny (2008), Cinderella Man (2009),Love Rain (2012) and Prime Minister and I (2013).

Life and career[]

1990–2007: Early life and career beginnings[]

Im Yoona was born on May 30, 1990 in Seoul, South Korea. Her family consists of her father and an older sister. While growing up, she listened to girl group S.E.S and dreamed of becoming a singer. 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. During her trainee days, she had low self-esteem about her low voice, and once thought of giving up singing in order to pursue an acting career. A SM choreographer persuaded her to continue, saying it would be "a waste to give up becoming a singer" with her "outstanding dancing skills". He also considered her as the best female dancer within the agency. Prior to debuting, Yoona was introduced to the public through various appearances in music videos and commercials; she first appeared in TVXQ's "Magic Castle" music video in 2005. She made her official debut as a member of Girls' Generation in August 2007, becoming the "center" of the group. The group gained significant popularity with the release of their hit single "Gee" in 2009. That same year, Yoona graduated from Daeyoung High School.

2008–present: Television roles[]

Aside from Girls' Generation's activities, Yoona 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, Yoona landed 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 Yoona became known for her character. She considered the role a turning point in her career, and won two "Best New Actress" awards at the 2008KBS Drama Awards and 45th Baeksang Arts Awards.

In 2009, Yoona was cast in MBC's drama Cinderella Man along with Kwon Sang-woo.The following year, she became a permanent cast member of Family Outing 2, which ran from February to July.

In March 2012, Yoona was announced to play the 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, met and fell in love with each other in the modern era.Yoona played two characters in the drama: Yun-hee of the 70s and Ha-na of modern times.Although the drama lacked in domestic viewership and was criticized for its failure to relate to the viewers, Yoona'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 Yoona's popularity.

In December 2013, Yoona starred alongside Lee Beom-soo in KBS2's romantic comedy drama Prime Minister and I. Loosely based on the musical film The Sound of Music, Yoona played Nam Da-jung, a young and stubborn reporter who falls in love with the prime minister. The drama received low ratings, but Yoona was still noted for her acting ability. Lee Beom-soo praised her, saying "Acting has to go by logic, only when one understands can the audience understand too, Yoona is smart and did very well. I am anticipating her path down as an actress; at the same time, I want to give her applause". She won an Excellence Award at the2013 KBS Drama Awards for the role.

In December 2014, Yoona was announced to be in the Chinese period drama God Of War Zhao Yun, playing the lead female role of Xiahou Qing Yi, she started filming the drama in the following year. The drama is set to be released in January 2016.In November 2015, Yoona was announced to join Hyun Bin in action film, Cooperation, playing the role of Park Min-young. On December, Yoona appeared as the female lead in Li YiFeng's music video "Please Contact Me".

Public image[]

Yoona in the music video for "Chocolate Love" (2009), which was used as a promotional song for LG Chocolate phone

Yoona has been called a "CF queen" due to her many television commercial films, and has been a spokesperson for various brands. CNN credited her as "one of the household names in the Asia-Pacific region" which has helped Korean beauty brands become popular in China. In 2010, she became the first idol to endorse S-Oil, a large South Korean petroleum and refinery company. In 2012, she appeared in at least 20 commercials and was ranked fifth among celebrities with the most commercial appearances by TVCF, South Korea's largest advertisement information site. In 2013, she became the first overseas endorser for Alcon Taiwan. Yoona has been endorsing Amor Pacific's comestic brand Innisfree for seven years, since 2009. An Innisfree representative expressed: “Among the Asian countries that Innisfree advanced in, YoonA is the model that overseas customers wanted to see most.”

Personal life[]

In September 2013, Yoona began dating South Korean singer-actor Lee Seung-gi. On August 13, 2015, the two agencies confirmed that they ended their relationship because of their busy schedules.

In February 2015, Yoona graduated from the College of Arts, Dongguk University, with a bachelor's degree in theater studies, after starting the degree in 2009. She also received a lifetime achievement award at the graduation ceremony. Her fellow Girls' Generation member, Seohyun, attended the same university.

Discography[]

Song Year Album Other artist(s) "Haptic Motion" 2008 Haptic Motion
  • Jessica
  • Tiffany
  • TVXQ
"Innisfree Day" 2010 Innisfree None

Filmography[]

Film[]

Title Year Role Notes I AM. 2012 Herself Biographical film of SM Town
SMTown The Stage 2015 Herself Documentary film of SM Town
Cooperation 2016 Park Min Young Supporting Role

Television drama[]

Title Year Network Role Notes Two Outs in the Ninth Inning 2007 MBC Shin Joo-young Supporting role
Unstoppable Marriage 2008 KBS2 Bulgwang-dong's Seven Princesses Gang Cameo
Woman of Matchless Beauty, Park Jung-geum MBC Mi-ae Cameo
You Are My Destiny KBS1 Jang Sae-byuk Lead role
Cinderella Man 2009 MBC Seo Yoo-jin Lead role
Love Rain 2012 KBS2 Kim Yoon-hee/Jung Ha-na Lead role
Prime Minister and I 2013 KBS2 Nam Da-jung Lead role
Because It's The First Time 2015 OnStyle Im Yoona Cameo[46]
God of War, Zhao Yun 2016 Hunan TV Xiahou Qing Yi / Ma Yu Rou Lead role

Variety show[]

Year Title Network Role Notes
2010 Family Outing 2 SBS Regular Cast
2011 Running Man Guest Episode 39
Episode 63 & 64
2015 Episode 254

Awards and nominations[]

Year Organization Category Nominated work Result Ref
2008 2nd Korea Drama Awards Netizen Popularity Award You Are My Destiny Won
KBS Drama Awards Best New Actress Won
Netizen Award Won
2009 45th Baeksang Arts Awards Best New Actress (TV) Won
Most Popular Actress (TV) Won
2010 46th Baeksang Arts Awards Cinderella Man Won
2012 6th Mnet 20's Choice Awards 20's Female Drama Star Love Rain Nominated
KBS Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Nominated
Netizen Award Won
2013 49th Baeksang Arts Awards Most Popular Actress (TV) Nominated
KBS Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Prime Minister and I Won
Best Couple Award with Lee Beom-soo Won
Netizen Award Nominated
2014 50th Baeksang Arts Awards Most Popular Actress (TV) Nominated
16th Seoul International Youth Film Festival Best Young Actress Nominated
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