Im Yoon-ah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Im Yoon-ah
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Im in April 2025
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| Born | May 30, 1990 Seoul, South Korea
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| Education | Dongguk University (Theatre studies) |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 2007–present |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | K-pop |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Labels | SM |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul |
임윤아
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| RR | Im Yuna |
| MR | Im Yuna |
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Im Yoon-ah (Hangul: 임윤아), known to many as Yoona, is a famous South Korean singer and actress. She was born on May 30, 1990. After training for five years, she joined the popular girl group Girls' Generation in August 2007. This group became one of the most successful K-pop groups in South Korea and around the world.
Besides her music with Girls' Generation, Yoona has also starred in many TV shows and movies. Her role in the 2008 drama You Are My Destiny made her very well-known and helped her win an award for Best New Actress. She has continued to impress audiences with her acting in dramas like The K2 (2016), Big Mouth (2022), and King the Land (2023).
Yoona has also had great success in movies, including Confidential Assignment (2017), Exit (2019), and Confidential Assignment 2: International (2022). These films are among the highest-earning movies in South Korea. In May 2019, she released her first solo music album, A Walk to Remember, which was very popular. Her success in both music and acting has made her a top idol-actress in the Hallyu (Korean culture wave).
Contents
About Yoona's Early Life and School
Yoona was born on May 30, 1990, in Seoul, South Korea. She grew up with her father and an older sister.
She finished high school in 2009. Later, she studied theater at Dongguk University and graduated in February 2015. She even received a special award at her graduation ceremony for her achievements. Another member of Girls' Generation, Seohyun, also went to the same university. In 2014, Yoona was chosen as an ambassador for her university.
Yoona's Career Journey
Starting Out: 2002–2004
In 2002, Yoona was chosen at an audition by SM Entertainment, a big entertainment company. She spent five years training very hard in singing, dancing, and acting. Before she officially debuted, she appeared in music videos and commercials. Her first appearance was in TVXQ's "Magic Castle" music video in December 2004.
Becoming a Star: 2007–2015
Yoona officially debuted as a member of Girls' Generation in August 2007. She quickly became a central figure in the group. Besides her group activities, Yoona also started her acting career. She had a small role in the drama Two Outs in the Ninth Inning in 2007. She also appeared in Woman of Matchless Beauty (2008) and received praise for her acting.
In May 2008, Yoona got her first main role in the drama You Are My Destiny. She played the character Jang Sae-byuk. This drama was very popular, with high viewer ratings. This role made Yoona much more famous. She said this role was a big turning point for her. She won two "Best New Actress" awards for it.
In 2009, Yoona starred in the drama Cinderella Man.
In March 2012, Yoona took on a main role in the drama Love Rain with Jang Geun Suk. She played two different characters: Yun-hee from the 1970s and Ha-na in modern times. Even though the drama did not get very high ratings in Korea, Yoona's acting received good reviews. Critics noted how much her acting had improved. The drama was also very popular overseas, especially in Japan.
In December 2013, Yoona starred in the romantic comedy drama Prime Minister & I with Lee Beom-soo. She played Nam Da-jung, a young reporter who falls in love with the prime minister. Her performance was praised, and she won an Excellence Award for her role.
In March 2016, Yoona released her first solo song called "Deoksugung Stonewall Walkway". She worked with the indie group 10cm on this song. It was a relaxed, easy-listening song that was well-received.
New Roles and Solo Music: 2016–Present
In April 2016, Yoona starred in her first Chinese drama, God of War, Zhao Yun. She played two characters in this historical drama. The show was a big success in China, with many online views. Because of this success, Yoona released a Chinese digital album called Blossom in August 2016. It included her versions of famous Mandarin songs.
In September 2016, Yoona appeared in the action thriller drama The K2. She wanted to try different kinds of roles and challenge herself. Her hard work was noticed, and she received praise for her acting in this drama.
In January 2017, Yoona made her movie debut in the action film Confidential Assignment. Her performance was well-liked, and she won several awards for it. She then starred in the historical drama The King in Love. In September 2017, Yoona released her second solo song, "When The Wind Blows."
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In 2018, Yoona joined the TV show Hyori's Homestay as a helper. She released her third solo song, "To You," when the show ended. In August 2018, a new Girls' Generation group called Oh!GG was formed. Yoona was part of this group, and they released the song "Lil' Touch."
To celebrate her 29th birthday, Yoona released her first solo album, A Walk to Remember, on May 30, 2019. This album sold very quickly. In July 2019, Yoona starred in the disaster action movie Exit with Jo Jung-suk. This movie became one of the most popular films of the summer and one of the highest-earning movies in South Korea. Her first main role in a movie earned her many awards and nominations.
At the end of 2020, Yoona returned to TV in the drama Hush, where she played an intern reporter. In 2021, she starred in the romantic drama film Miracle: Letters to the President and also appeared in the romantic comedy A Year-End Medley. For Miracle: Letters to the President, she received nominations for Best Actress awards.
In 2022, she played Lee Jong Suk's wife in the TV series Big Mouth. She also returned for the movie sequel, Confidential Assignment 2: International, which also became a top-earning film in South Korea. She received praise for both roles, winning a Best Supporting Actress award for the movie.
In 2023, Yoona starred in the romantic-comedy drama King the Land with Lee Jun-ho. This series was very popular and ranked number one on Netflix's global list for non-English TV shows for three weeks.
Other Activities
Brand Endorsements
Yoona is known as a "CF Queen" (Commercial Film Queen) because she has appeared in many TV commercials. She has been a spokesperson for various brands. CNN has said that she is a "household name" in Asia, helping Korean beauty brands become popular in China.
Before her debut in 2007, she modeled for the skincare brand Clean & Clear. In 2010, she became the first idol to endorse S-Oil, a large Korean oil company. By 2012, she had appeared in at least 20 commercials. From 2009 to 2020, Yoona was a long-term spokesperson for the cosmetics brand Innisfree. She has also worked with Michael Kors, Estée Lauder, Pandora, Crocs, and Lee Jeans.
In October 2021, she became the first global ambassador for the Italian luxury fashion brand Miu Miu. In January 2023, Yoona became a global face for Miu Miu's 2023 Spring Summer campaign. In July 2023, the luxury jewelry brand Qeelin announced her as its brand spokesperson. As of August 2024, Yoona was promoted to global brand spokesperson for Qeelin. In October 2024, she was chosen as the brand ambassador for the Italian luxury house Valentino. In February 2025, the beauty brand Sulwhasoo named Yoona as its global brand ambassador.
Being an Ambassador
Yoona has also served as an ambassador for various important causes. In 2012, she was named an Honorary Ambassador for Jung District, Seoul. In 2014, she became an ambassador for UNICEF's "UNIHERO" campaign, which helps children in need around the world. In 2015, she was named a promotional ambassador for the National Tax Service and was praised for paying her taxes correctly. In 2016, she was a global ambassador for Crocs' "Come As You Are" campaign. In 2018, Yoona was appointed as a safety ambassador for a campaign promoting safety measures.
In 2019, Yoona became the first female celebrity to be appointed as an ambassador by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization. She helped launch an advertisement campaign called "Imagine Your Korea" to encourage more tourists to visit Korea. These ads were shown in many countries and even in Times Square until January 2021.
Helping Others
Yoona has given money to many charities over the years. She has supported causes like social welfare and medical aid, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. She is a member of the 'Honor Society' of the Community Chest of Korea, which means she has made large donations. In March 2025, Yoona donated ₩100 million (about $75,000 USD) to help victims of the March 2025 South Korea wildfires.
Yoona's Impact
As a member of Girls' Generation and a successful actress, Yoona is seen as a top idol-actress and an important figure in South Korea. She has endorsed almost 40 international brands, including Innisfree for a long time. In 2016, Forbes magazine listed Yoona as one of Asia's "30 under 30" most influential celebrities in entertainment and sports. Yoona has also hosted many big year-end events, including the Gayo Daejejeon for nine years in a row.
Music Releases
Yoona has released her own music, including extended plays (EPs) and singles. Her EP Blossom was released in 2016 in China. Her debut EP, A Walk to Remember, came out in 2019 and was very popular in Korea. She has also released singles like "Deoksugung Stonewall Walkway" (2016), "When The Wind Blows" (2017), and "Summer Night" (2019). She has also collaborated on songs like "To You" (2018) and "Knock Knock" (2023).
Film and TV Roles
Yoona has appeared in many TV dramas and movies since her debut. Some of her notable roles include:
- You Are My Destiny (2008)
- Love Rain (2012)
- Prime Minister & I (2013)
- God of War, Zhao Yun (2016)
- The K2 (2016)
- Confidential Assignment (2017)
- The King in Love (2017)
- Exit (2019)
- Hush (2020)
- Miracle: Letters to the President (2021)
- Big Mouth (2022)
- Confidential Assignment 2: International (2022)
- King the Land (2023)
Awards and Recognitions
Yoona has won many awards for her acting and music. These include "Best New Actress" awards for her early roles and "Excellence Awards" for her performances in dramas. She has also received nominations for top acting awards for her movie roles.
See also
In Spanish: Im Yoon-ah para niños
