YoonA (윤아), whose real name is Im Yoon-a (임윤아; 林潤娥), is a South Korean singer, actress, and model born on May 30, 1990, in Seoul. A theater graduate from Dongguk University, she joined SM Entertainment in 2002 after winning a nationwide audition and spent five years as a trainee before making her debut in 2007 as a member of the group Girls’ Generation (SNSD). Thanks to global hits such as Gee, Genie and I Got a Boy, the group became one of the most influential groups in K-pop history, while YoonA quickly established herself as one of the most popular idols of her generation.
Alongside her musical career, she began acting in 2007 before achieving immense success with You Are My Destiny, for which she won several awards for Best Newcomer. She then went on to prove her talent in Love Rain, The Prime Minister and I, the Chinese drama God of War, Zhao Yun, The K2, The King Loves and Hush. In 2022, she co-stars with Big Mouth starring Lee Jong-suk, and then enjoyed another international hit in 2023 with the romantic comedy King of the Land, whose on-screen chemistry with Lee Jun-ho has won over audiences.
On the big screen, YoonA is also racking up one hit after another with Confidential Assignment, Exit, Miracle: Letters to the President, Confidential Assignment 2: International and Pretty Crazy. In 2025, she plays the lead role in a historical drama Bon Appétit, Your Majesty, before being announced as part of the cast of Unnatural, expected in 2027.
A multiple award-winning actress who remains very active in the music industry with Girls’ Generation and its sub-unit Girls’ Generation-Oh!GG, YoonA is now considered one of the most influential and respected artists in the South Korean entertainment industry.
