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Lim YoonA (임윤아) is a South Korean singer, dancer, actress, and member of GIRLS' GENERATION (소녀시대 also known as SNSD). She graduated from Daeyoung High School and later obtained a bachelor's degree in Theater from Dongguk University.
Before debuting, she had already been through many auditions to appear in music videos and dramas. She joined SM Entertainment (SM엔터테인먼트) in 2002 when she was cast in the SM Saturday Open Casting Audition and spent five years as a trainee. She was introduced to the public through various appearances in music videos and commercials, first appearing in TVXQ's "Magic Castle" music video in 2004.
She made her debut in August 2007 as the group's lead dancer, lead rapper, sub-vocalist, visual and center with the single "Into The New World", part of their self-titled album "Girls' Generation", released in November of that year. They quickly became one of the most known South Korean figures and successful K-pop groups worldwide and have earned numerous accolades and been labeled as "The Nation's Girl Group". They rose to fame in 2009 with the single "Gee", which claimed the top spot on KBS's "Music Bank" for a record-breaking nine consecutive weeks and was Melon's most popular song of the 2000s decade.
Individually, she began her acting career in 2007 with a minor role in MBC's drama "Two Outs in the Ninth Inning" and a cameo in the 2008 drama "Woman of Matchless Beauty, Park Jung Kum", which drew rave reviews from the media and fellow senior actors. She had her breakthrough in her acting career when, in May 2008, she landed her first leading role in the KBS drama "You Are My Destiny". The drama had viewership ratings of 41.5% and she was immediately recognized around the country. She won two "Best New Actress" awards at the 2008 KBS Drama Awards and at the 45th Baeksang Arts Awards. She has since achieved further public attention and acting acclaim with a variety of role-types in Love Rain (2012), Prime Minister & I (2013), The K2 (2016), and The King in Love (2017). Her film work includes Confidential Assignment (2017) and Exit (2019), both of which are among the highest-grossing films in South Korea, the latter being her first leading role.
In March 2016, she released her first solo single, "Deoksugung Stonewall Walkway", a collaboration with 10CM and, a few months later, also began her acting career in China.
In September 2018, she became part of the group's second sub-unit, GIRLS' GENERATION-OH!GG (소녀시대-Oh!GG), alongside the other 4 members, who renewed their contracts with SM. They released the single "Lil' Touch". 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.
She remains with SM Entertainment and is active as an actress, as all the group members are busy with their individual activities. 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. ×
