Im Yoona, also known as Lim Yoon-a or YoonA, was born on May 30, 1990, in Daerim-dong, Seoul, South Korea. She is a South Korean singer and actress and a member of the girl group Girls' Generation. Alongside her music career, she has worked extensively in television and film, with leading roles in productions including You Are My Destiny, Love Rain, The K2, The King Loves, Big Mouth, King the Land and Bon Appétit, Your Majesty.

Early Life and Education

Im Yoona grew up in Seoul with an older sister. She became interested in becoming a singer while growing up listening to South Korean girl group S.E.S.. In 2002, she participated in an audition held by SM Entertainment and was accepted. She subsequently spent about five years training in singing, dancing and acting before making her official debut.

During her trainee period, Im Yoona appeared in several music videos and commercials. One of her early appearances was in TVXQ's Magic Castle music video in 2004.

She graduated from Daeyoung High School in 2009 and entered Dongguk University the same year. She studied Theatre and Film and graduated with a bachelor's degree in February 2015. During her university years, she was also appointed a public relations ambassador for Dongguk University.

Girls' Generation

Im Yoona officially debuted as a member of Girls' Generation on August 5, 2007. The group made its debut with Into the New World and subsequently released songs including Gee, Genie, Oh!, The Boys, I Got a Boy, Mr.Mr., Lion Heart and Holiday.

She continued participating in the group's activities while developing a separate acting career. She has also taken part in Girls' Generation-Oh!GG, the group unit formed with Taeyeon, Sunny, Hyoyeon and Kwon Yuri.

Acting Career

Im Yoona began acting in television in 2007 with a supporting role as Shin Joo-young in Two Outs in the Ninth Inning. She subsequently appeared in Woman of Matchless Beauty, Park Jung-geum before receiving her first television leading role.

From 2008 to 2009, she played Jang Sae-byuk in the KBS daily drama You Are My Destiny. The series recorded nationwide ratings exceeding 40 percent during its run. Her performance brought her the Best New Actress award in the television category at the 45th Baeksang Arts Awards, as well as a popularity award.

In 2009, Im Yoona starred opposite Kwon Sang-woo in Cinderella Man, playing fashion designer Seo Yoo-jin. She returned to television in 2012 in Love Rain, where she played two characters from different generations opposite Jang Keun-suk.

Prime Minister and I and Chinese Television

In 2013, Im Yoona starred with Lee Beom-soo in the romantic comedy television series Prime Minister and I. She played reporter Nam Da-jung and received an Excellence Award for actress in a miniseries at the KBS Drama Awards. She and Lee Beom-soo also received the Best Couple Award.

She later expanded her television work to China. In God of War, Zhao Yun, also known as Chinese Hero Zhao Zi Long, she played Xiahou Qingyi and Ma Yurou opposite Lin Gengxin. The historical television production aired in 2016.

The K2 and The King Loves

In 2016, Im Yoona returned to Korean television with The K2, playing Go Anna alongside Ji Chang-wook, Song Yoon-ah and Jo Sung-ha.

The following year, she starred as Eun San in the historical romance The King Loves, with Im Si-wan and Hong Jong-hyun. The series was based on a novel by Kim Yi-ryung and was set during the Goryeo period.

Film Career

Im Yoona made her feature-film debut in Confidential Assignment in 2017. She played Park Min-young, the sister-in-law of Yoo Hae-jin's character, in a cast that also included Hyun Bin. Her performance brought her several new-actress and popularity honors, including recognition at the Baeksang Arts Awards and Seoul Awards.

She received her first major film leading role in the 2019 disaster comedy Exit, starring opposite Jo Jung-suk. She played Eui-joo, an employee at an event venue who becomes trapped in a city affected by toxic gas. The film became one of the major South Korean theatrical releases of 2019. She received the Popular Star Award at the Blue Dragon Film Awards and a popularity award at the Buil Film Awards for the role.

In 2021, she appeared as Ra-hee in Miracle: Letters to the President, alongside Park Jung-min, Lee Sung-min and Lee Soo-kyung. She returned as Park Min-young in Confidential Assignment 2: International in 2022, again working with Hyun Bin and Yoo Hae-jin, with Daniel Henney joining the sequel.

In 2025, Im Yoona starred with Ahn Bo-hyun in the romantic comedy film Pretty Crazy, playing Jeong Seon-ji.

Hush, Big Mouth and King the Land

From 2020 to 2021, Im Yoona played rookie reporter Lee Ji-soo opposite Hwang Jung-min in Hush, a workplace drama centered on newspaper journalists.

She starred with Lee Jong-suk in the 2022 television series Big Mouth. Im Yoona played nurse Ko Mi-ho, whose husband becomes involved in a criminal conspiracy after being mistaken for a notorious figure known as Big Mouse.

In 2023, she played hotel employee Cheon Sa-rang opposite Lee Jun-ho in the romantic comedy King the Land. The 16-episode series was broadcast by JTBC and distributed internationally through Netflix.

Bon Appétit, Your Majesty

In 2025, Im Yoona starred as Yeon Ji-young in Bon Appétit, Your Majesty, opposite Lee Chae-min, Kang Han-na and Choi Gwi-hwa. Her character is a French-trained chef who travels approximately 500 years into the past and encounters King Lee Heon.

The tvN fantasy romance aired from August 23 to September 28, 2025. Its fourth episode recorded an 11.1 percent nationwide rating, and the finale reached 17.1 percent according to Nielsen Korea.

Advertising and Brand Work

Im Yoona has appeared in advertising campaigns for numerous consumer brands and has frequently been described in South Korean media as a "CF Queen" because of the number of commercials she filmed. In 2012 alone, she appeared in at least 20 commercial campaigns.

One of her longest advertising relationships was with Korean cosmetics brand Innisfree. Im Yoona began representing the brand in 2009 and remained its model for 11 years. Innisfree announced the end of the partnership in 2020.

In 2016, she was included in Forbes Asia's inaugural 30 Under 30 selection.

UNICEF Activities

In December 2014, Im Yoona and Choi Min-ho of SHINee were appointed honorary ambassadors for the Korean Committee for UNICEF's Uni Heroes campaign. The campaign encouraged public participation in programs supporting children.

Personal Life

Im Yoona began dating singer and actor Lee Seung-gi in October 2013. Their relationship became publicly known in January 2014. Their management agencies confirmed on August 13, 2015, that they had ended the relationship and would remain colleagues.

Awards

2019 - 40th Blue Dragon Film Awards: Popular Star Award

2019 - 28th Buil Film Awards: Popular Star Award (Exit)

2018 - Asia Artist Awards: Asia Trend Award

2018 - 12th Asian Film Awards: Next Generation Award

2017 - Asia Artist Awards: Best Artist Award

2017 - Asia Artist Awards: Popularity Award

2017 - 1st Seoul Awards: Popularity Award (Confidential Assignment)

2017 - Korea Film Shining Star Awards: Newcomer Award (Confidential Assignment)

2017 - 53rd Baeksang Arts Awards: Most Popular Actress, Film (Confidential Assignment)

2016 - Asia Artist Awards: Popularity Award

2016 - Asia Artist Awards: Asia Star Award

2013 - KBS Drama Awards: Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries (Prime Minister and I)

2013 - KBS Drama Awards: Best Couple Award with Lee Beom-soo (Prime Minister and I)

2012 - KBS Drama Awards: Netizen Award (Love Rain)

2010 - 46th Baeksang Arts Awards: Popularity Award (Cinderella Man)

2009 - 45th Baeksang Arts Awards: Popularity Award (You Are My Destiny)

2009 - 45th Baeksang Arts Awards: Best New Actress, Television (You Are My Destiny)

2008 - Korea Drama Festival: Netizen Award (You Are My Destiny)

2008 - KBS Drama Awards: Netizen Award (You Are My Destiny)

2008 - KBS Drama Awards: Best New Actress (You Are My Destiny)

Films and Television Series

2025 - Bon Appétit, Your Majesty (Yeon Ji-young) (TV Series)
2025 - Pretty Crazy (Jeong Seon-ji) (Feature Film)
2023 - King the Land (Cheon Sa-rang) (TV Series)
2022 - Confidential Assignment 2: International (Park Min-young) (Feature Film)
2022 - Big Mouth (Ko Mi-ho) (TV Series)
2021 - Miracle: Letters to the President (Ra-hee) (Feature Film)
2020-2021 - Hush (Lee Ji-soo) (TV Series)
2019 - Exit (Eui-joo) (Feature Film)
2017 - Confidential Assignment (Park Min-young) (Feature Film)
2017 - The King Loves (Eun San) (TV Series)
2016 - The K2 (Go Anna) (TV Series)
2016 - God of War, Zhao Yun (Xiahou Qingyi / Ma Yurou) (TV Series)
2015 - Because It's the First Time (Im Yoo-jin) (TV Series)
2015 - Summer Love (Yoon-ah) (TV Series)
2013-2014 - Prime Minister and I (Nam Da-jung) (TV Series)
2012 - Love Rain (Kim Yoon-hee / Jung Ha-na) (TV Series)
2009 - Cinderella Man (Seo Yoo-jin) (TV Series)
2008-2009 - You Are My Destiny (Jang Sae-byuk) (TV Series)
2008 - Woman of Matchless Beauty, Park Jung-geum (Mi-ae) (TV Series)
2007 - Two Outs in the Ninth Inning (Shin Joo-young) (TV Series)

Music Videos and Short-Form Appearances

2018 - Girls' Generation-Oh!GG (YoonA) (Short Video)
2017 - Girls' Generation: All Night - Documentary Version (YoonA) (Short Video)
2017 - Girls' Generation: Holiday (YoonA) (Short Video)
2016 - Girls' Generation: Sailing (0805) (YoonA) (Short Video)
2015 - Girls' Generation: You Think (YoonA) (Short Video)
2015 - Girls' Generation: Lion Heart (YoonA) (Short Video)
2015 - Girls' Generation: Party (YoonA) (Short Video)
2015 - Girls' Generation: Catch Me If You Can (YoonA) (Short Video)
2014 - Girls' Generation: Divine (YoonA) (Short Video)
2014 - Girls' Generation: Divine - Story Version (YoonA) (Short Video)
2014 - Girls' Generation: Indestructible - Lyric Video (YoonA) (Short Video)
2014 - Girls' Generation: Mr. Taxi - Split Screen Version (YoonA) (Short Video)
2014 - Girls' Generation: Mr.Mr. (YoonA) (Short Video)
2013 - Girls' Generation: Beep Beep (YoonA) (Short Video)
2013 - Girls' Generation: My Oh My (YoonA) (Short Video)
2013 - Girls' Generation: Galaxy Supernova (YoonA) (Short Video)
2013 - Girls' Generation: Love & Girls (YoonA) (Short Video)
2012 - Girls' Generation: I Got a Boy (YoonA) (Short Video)
2012 - Girls' Generation: Dancing Queen (YoonA) (Short Video)
2012 - Girls' Generation: Flower Power (YoonA) (Short Video)
2012 - Girls' Generation: Oh! - Japanese Version (YoonA) (Short Video)
2012 - Girls' Generation: All My Love Is for You (YoonA) (Short Video)
2012 - Girls' Generation: Paparazzi (YoonA) (Short Video)
2012 - Girls' Generation: Mr. Taxi (YoonA) (Short Video)
2012 - Girls' Generation: Gee - Japanese Version (YoonA) (Short Video)
2012 - Girls' Generation: Mr. Taxi - Practice Room Version (YoonA) (Short Video)
2011 - Girls' Generation: Echo (YoonA) (Short Video)
2011 - Girls' Generation: The Boys (YoonA) (Short Video)
2011 - Girls' Generation: Bad Girl (YoonA) (Short Video)
2011 - Girls' Generation: Way to Go! (YoonA) (Short Video)
2011 - Girls' Generation: Run Devil Run - 3D Version (YoonA) (Short Video)
2011 - Girls' Generation: Visual Dreams - Pop! Pop! (YoonA) (Short Video)
2011 - Girls' Generation: Run Devil Run - Japanese Version (YoonA) (Short Video)
2011 - Girls' Generation feat. Yoo Young-jin: Beautiful Girls (YoonA) (Short Video)
2010 - Girls' Generation: Snowy Wish (YoonA) (Short Video)
2010 - Girls' Generation: Hoot - Dance Version (YoonA) (Short Video)
2010 - Girls' Generation: Hoot (YoonA) (Short Video)
2010 - Girls' Generation: Tell Me Your Wish (Genie) - 3D Version (YoonA) (Short Video)
2010 - Girls' Generation & 2PM: Cabi Song (YoonA) (Short Video)
2010 - Girls' Generation: La La La (YoonA) (Short Video)
2010 - Girls' Generation: Hey, Cooky! (YoonA) (Short Video)
2010 - Girls' Generation: Run Devil Run - Story Version (YoonA) (Short Video)
2010 - Girls' Generation: Run Devil Run (YoonA) (Short Video)
2010 - Girls' Generation: Oh! - Korean Version (YoonA) (Short Video)
2009 - Super Junior & Girls' Generation: Seoul (YoonA) (Short Video)
2009 - Girls' Generation: Chocolate Love (YoonA) (Short Video)
2009 - Girls' Generation: Tell Me Your Wish (Genie) (YoonA) (Short Video)
2009 - Girls' Generation: HaHaHa Song (YoonA) (Short Video)
2009 - Girls' Generation: Gee (YoonA) (Short Video)
2008 - Girls' Generation: Oppa Nappa (YoonA) (Short Video)
2008 - Samsung Anycall Haptic: Haptic Game (YoonA) (Short Video)
2008 - Samsung Anycall Haptic: Haptic Scandal (YoonA) (Short Video)
2008 - Samsung Anycall Haptic: Let's Haptic (YoonA) (Short Video)
2008 - Girls' Generation: Baby Baby (YoonA) (Short Video)
2008 - Girls' Generation: Kissing You (YoonA) (Short Video)
2007 - Girls' Generation: Girls' Generation (YoonA) (Short Video)
2007 - Girls' Generation: Into the New World (YoonA) (Short Video)

Source: Biyografiler.com