In the summer of 2025, both Korean cinema and television audiences are squarely focused on one actress. Lim YoonA, known for her dual appearances in the comedy film “The Devil Has Moved In” alongside Ahn Bo-hyun and the drama series “Chef to the Tyrant” where she stars as a mysterious chef, is commanding attention with her distinctly different roles. Now in her 18th year since debut, Lim YoonA has transcended her reputation as the “center of Girls’ Generation” to become an “actor you can trust and watch,” regardless of genre. This truly is Lim YoonA’s moment.

A Masterstroke Against Prejudice: “Confidential Assignment” and “Exit”  

The label “idol-turned-actor” is a fate that has been attached to almost every singer who led the golden age of K-pop. For Lim YoonA, as the face of iconic group Girls’ Generation, this tag was particularly pronounced and persistent. Although she began her acting career in lead roles in dramas, the public continued to view her primarily as the singer YoonA, offering minimal praise for her acting. The frequently heard phrase, “She’s just pretty,” became more of a stumbling block to her growth as an actor than a compliment. Yet, Lim YoonA faced this head-on, eschewing impatience and making astute choices that gradually broke through the wall of prejudice.

The turning point was marked by two films: “Confidential Assignment” (2017) and “Exit.” In “Confidential Assignment,” she forwent a glamorous lead role and opted for Park Min-young, a lovable layabout who is Hyun Bin’s sister-in-law and Hae-jin Yoo’s freeloading housemate. Rather than showcase her looks, she wasn’t afraid to take on a comedic, even “unpolished” character, endearing herself with her comedic timing and authentic delivery. While her screen time was limited, audiences began to see not the idol YoonA, but a genuinely funny and charming actor. It was a smart detour around entrenched biases.

Then came “Exit,” which dominated the summer box office in 2019 with 9.42 million viewers and became a true masterstroke for her acting career. Taking on the role of Eui-joo, an active and resourceful woman screaming, crying, running, and climbing through disaster, Lim YoonA proved she had the star power and depth to carry a major box office hit. Without these two shrewd choices, there could be no “actor Lim YoonA” as we know her today.

Soaring on the Wings of Comedy and Drama  

The credibility Lim YoonA built through “Confidential Assignment” and “Exit” is blossoming fully in two projects this summer. In the film “The Devil Has Moved In,” she reunites with the “Exit” production team and pushes her comic acting to another level. She plays a challenging “dual role” as an ordinary bakery owner by day and a demon by night, using fearless slapstick and refreshing chemistry with co-star Ahn Bo-hyun to cement herself as a rising queen of K-comedy.

At the same time, in the drama “Chef to the Tyrant,” Lim YoonA presents the other side of her talent. As Seo Yu-gyeong, a chef with extraordinary palate and a hidden secret, she delivers finely nuanced and emotional performance. A drama critic commented, “Lim YoonA’s greatest strengths are her deep understanding of genre and her versatility. She isn’t afraid to play the fool in comedy, giving the audience laughter, and she captivates viewers with understated emotion in drama. This is only possible thanks to her experience across numerous projects and her smart approach to analyzing characters.” Beyond her popularity as a romantic comedy goddess in “King the Land,” Lim YoonA proves she has evolved into an actress boasting a much broader and deeper spectrum.

Eighteen Years of Experience: Turning Labels into Badges of Honor  

Today, “Girls’ Generation YoonA” is no longer a label she needs to overcome. Instead, it has become a proud “badge of honor”—a history she built through numerous performances and public love, nurturing confidence and expressive skills that define “actress Lim YoonA” today. Her success is far from coincidental. She never rested on the laurels of her idol status, but steadily built her filmography from minor roles upward through dedication and effort. She had the courage to shed any “pretty image” and risk unglamorous roles, striving to push her limits with each new project through strategic challenges.

For 18 years, Lim YoonA has shattered preconceptions through her talent and broadened her value through wise choices. With the solid “wings” of both comedy and drama, her real flight as an actress may only be beginning. Lim YoonA’s time is passing through its hottest moment yet.

Note “This article was translated from the original Korean version using AI assistance, and subsequently edited by a native-speaking journalist.”

Photo=MHN DB, CJ ENM, tvN