Edited by Hwang Hong Sun
Translated by Kim Hoyeun
Yoona reminds people of Girls’ Generation first, but surprisingly, she debuted in the entertainment industry as an actor. Starting with the 2007 drama 9 End 2 Outs, she has built up her solid acting career by starring in various works, including You Are My Destiny, Love Rain, Prime Minister and I, and The King in Love.
Yoona, who has been active in both singing and acting since her debut, said she felt burdened by the title of an idol-turned-actor that follows her. While seriously contemplating about her acting career, she met the movie Confidential Assignment and took a step into the big screen 10 years after her debut as an actor.
Starring Hyun Bin and Yoo Hae Jin, Confidential Assignment is a film that captures the story of detectives from North and South Korea conducting a secret joint investigation to find counterfeit bills with pleasant laughter and action. Yoona appeared as Min Young, an immature sister-in-law who lives in Jin Tae’s house. She perfectly portrayed a character who falls in love with Chul Ryung, a North Korean detective, and turns into a lady only in front of him.
Although Min Young was merely a small role for Yoona, who has been active in the small screen, but she flawlessly performed her comic acting that she had never shown before. Yoona said in several interviews that Confidential Assignment became the turning point in her acting career and that she was very impressed by how the director and the actors worked together in the field.
Confidential Assignment, which showed Yoona’s new charm, was much loved after its release. It started second at the box office in the first week of its release, but rose to first place at the box office in the second week thanks to word of mouth, eventually attracting 7.8 million viewers. Yoona was also nominated for the Best New Actress of the Year Awards at various film awards and was recognized for her acting prowess. After gathering strength through Confidential Assignment, she successfully led EXIT, the film that she played the leading role for the first time, and presented realistic acting and intense actions.
Yoona, who made back-to-back hits in the film industry, will return to TV after a long time with the drama Hush, scheduled to air in the second half of 2020. In Hush, Yoona will play the role of intern reporter Lee Ji Soo filled with passion. I hope that the drama will become a new turning point in her life, following Confidential Assignment.
