Im Yoon-ah is one of the most popular and richest Singer who was born on May 30, 1990 in Seoul, South Korea. Yoona graduated from Daeyoung High School in 2009. 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. Her fellow Girls’ Generation member, Seohyun, attended the same university. She was also chosen as an ambassador for the university in 2014 along with Apink’s Naeun and actress Park Ha-sun.
In 2012, Yoona was appointed as the Honorary Ambassador of Jung-gu, Seoul.
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. Yoona played two characters: Yun-hee of the 70s and Ha-na of modern times. Although the drama scored low domestic viewership and was criticized for its failure to relate to the viewers, Yoona’s acting received positive reviews. Yoon Ga-ee of OSEN wrote: “The speed at which her acting is improving is blinding. She has matured to the point where you want to ask, ‘When did her acting get so good?’ The criticism that trailed behind her during Cinderella Man is now nowhere to be found.” Choi In-kyung of Hankook Ilbo said her acting was continuously improving and “Yoona is completely immersed in her character and has now become ‘Hana’ herself.” 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.
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. She considered the role a turning point in her career, and won two “Best New Actress” awards at the 2008 KBS Drama Awards and 45th Baeksang Arts Awards. In 2009, Yoona was cast in MBC’s drama Cinderella Man along with Kwon Sang-woo.
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. She then appeared in MBC’s Woman of Matchless Beauty (2008), and was complimented by veteran actress Bae Jong-ok for her cameo performance.
Yoona has been called a “CF Queen” due to her several television commercial films, and has been a spokesperson for various brands. CNN credited her as “one of the household names in the Asia-Pacific region” which has helped Korean beauty brands become popular in China. In 2010, she became the first idol to endorse S-Oil, a large South Korean petroleum and refinery company. In 2012, she appeared in at least 20 commercials and was ranked fifth among celebrities with the most commercial appearances by TVCF, South Korea’s largest advertisement information site. In 2013, she became the first overseas endorser for Alcon Taiwan. Since 2009, Yoona has been a long-term spokesperson for Amore Pacific’s comestic brand Innisfree. Other major endorsements included Michael Kors, in which she became the brand’s first ambassador in Korea, Danish jewellery brand Pandora, Tous Les Jours, Crocs and Lee Jeans. In 2016, Yoona was listed by Forbes magazine as one of Asia’s “30 under 30” most influential celebrities in the entertainment and sports.
