IM YOON AH — GO AN NA FROM THE K2

IM YOON AH — GO AN NA FROM THE K2

1. Im Yoon-ah was born on May 30, 1990, known mononymously as Yoona.
2. She is a South Korean singer and actress.
3. Yoona was born on May 30, 1990, in Yeongdeungpo-gu of Seoul, South Korea.
4. Her family consists of her father and an older sister by five years.
5. Yoona graduated from Daeyoung High School in 2009.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. She made her official debut as a member of Girls’ Generation in August 2007, becoming the “center” of the group.
10. After training for five years, she debuted as a member of the girl group Girls’ Generation in August 2007, which went on to become one of the best-selling artists in South Korea and one of South Korea’s most popular girl groups worldwide.
11. Apart from her group’s activities, Yoona has participated in various television dramas, notably You Are My Destiny (2008), which marked her career breakthrough and earned her the Best New Actress awards at the 23rd KBS Drama Awards and the 45th Baeksang Arts Awards.
12. On May 30, 2019, Yoona celebrated her 29th birthday (30th in Korean age) with the release of her debut extended play A Walk to Remember, charting at number three on South Korea’s Gaon Album Chart.
13. The success of Yoona’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.
14. Apart 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.
15. She then appeared in MBC’s Woman of Matchless Beauty (2008) and was complemented by veteran actress Bae Jong-ok for her cameo performance.
16. 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 received wider public recognition.
17. She considered the role a turning point in her career and won two “Best New Actress” awards at the 2008 KBS Drama Award and 45th Baeksang Arts Awards.
18. In 2009, Yoona was cast in MBC’s drama Cinderella Man along with Kwon Sang-woo.
19. In March 2012, Yoona 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.
20. Yoona played two characters: Yun-hee of the 70s and Ha-na of modern times.
21. 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.
22. In September 2016, Yoona starred in tvN’s action thriller The K2.
23. Tired of being typecast with a candy-like image and having always been burdened by the idol-actress prejudice, Yoona cast away the public perception and focused on the role as her “personal challenge.” Her effort gained positive viewers’ recognition and earned her acting acclaim from critics.
24. In January 2017, Yoona made her film debut in the action film, Confidential Assignment. Yoona’s performance was well-received, and she won several awards such as the AFA Next Generation Award at the Asian Film Awards and the Newcomer Award at the Korean Film Shining Star Awards.
25. She then starred in MBC’s historical drama The King in Love, an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Kim Yi-Kyung. In September 2017, Yoona released her second solo single “When The Wind Blows” as part of SM Station.
26. In 2018, Yoona joined the second season of Hyori’s Homestay as a new helper.
27. She released her third solo single “To You” at the conclusion of the variety show.
28. CNN credited her as “one of the household names in the Asia-Pacific region” which has helped Korean beauty brands become popular in China.
29. In 2010, she became the first idol to endorse S-Oil, a large South Korean petroleum and refinery company.
30. Other major endorsements included Michael Kors, in which she became the brand’s first ambassador in Korea, Danish jewelry brand Pandora, Tous Les Jours, Crocs, and Lee Jeans.
31. In 2016, Yoona was listed by Forbes magazine as one of Asia’s “30 under 30” most influential celebrities in entertainment and sports.
32. In 2014, Yoona was appointed as the ambassador for UNICEF’s campaign, “UNIHERO”, which aims to invite people to become heroes for the less fortunate children all around the globe.