Im Soo-hyang (임수향)

Biography

Im Soo-hyang was born in Busan and initially planned to study in the United States. However, after being cast on the street during her first year of middle school, she developed a strong passion for acting and returned to Korea within a year. Despite her parents’ opposition, she pursued acting, traveling from Busan to Seoul every weekend for lessons, eventually enrolling at Anyang Arts High School and later Chung-Ang University.

Career

Early Career & Breakthrough (2009–2011)

Im Soo-hyang began her acting journey with a small role in the 2009 film 4th Period Mystery. At that time, she was relatively unknown, with only minimal film experience. Her official breakthrough came in 2011 when she was cast as the lead in SBS’s New Tales of Gisaeng.

Playing Dan Sa-ran, a graceful and refined modern gisaeng, Im stood out for her acting poise, elegant diction, and stage presence. She was chosen out of over 2,000 auditionees, impressing the producers with her natural vocal control and ability to carry a 52-episode series despite being a rookie. Her successful portrayal earned her industry recognition and the New Star Award at the SBS Drama Awards.

Establishing Herself (2012–2016)

Following her breakout, Im continued to refine her acting with roles in a variety of dramas. She played supporting and second-lead roles in I Do, I Do (2012), and gained attention in the action drama IRIS 2 (2013) for her strong performance and commanding screen presence, especially noted in her action scenes.

In Five Enough (2016), she portrayed the cheerful and outspoken Jang Jin-joo, bringing a refreshing charm to a more grounded family drama. Viewers praised her realistic emotional delivery, especially in scenes involving family conflict and heartbreak. That same year, she took on a bolder role as the antagonist in Blow Breeze, playing Park Shin-ae, a North Korean defector who manipulates those around her. Despite being a replacement actress due to an on-set injury, Im nailed the role, earning praise for her natural dialect and layered performance.

Versatility & Growth (2017–2019)

Im Soo-hyang demonstrated her range in 2017 by portraying two completely contrasting roles simultaneously: a bright, upright police officer in the long-form daily drama Lovers in Bloom, and a chilling serial killer in a special appearance for Criminal Minds. She shared in interviews that switching between such extreme roles caused a sort of “ego split,” showing how seriously she immerses herself in her characters.

In 2018, she took on what many consider her turning point role in My ID is Gangnam Beauty. As Kang Mi-rae, a college freshman struggling with low self-esteem after undergoing plastic surgery, Im delivered a sensitive and grounded performance that resonated with younger viewers. Her chemistry with co-star Cha Eun-woo was widely praised, and the drama’s success helped her secure a place among leading K-drama actresses. It was also her first miniseries lead role outside of daily or weekend dramas, marking a major career step.

The momentum continued in 2019 with Graceful Family, where she portrayed Mo Seok-hee, a chaebol heiress with sharp wit and deep emotional scars. This role showcased a completely different side of Im — confident, sharp-tongued, and commanding. The drama broke rating records for MBN and proved that Im could lead a drama on cable and captivate audiences across age groups.

Dramatic Range & Dual Roles (2020–2022)

In 2020, Im starred in When I Was the Most Beautiful, an emotionally complex melodrama. As Oh Ye-ji, she captured the nuance of a woman torn between two brothers and haunted by painful family dynamics. Critics praised her layered performance and emotional depth, and director Oh Kyung-hoon remarked that she had the potential to become a truly great actress in the years to come.

In 2022, she took on two vastly different roles in Woori the Virgin (SBS) and Doctor Lawyer (MBC), which unfortunately aired around the same time due to scheduling conflicts. In Woori the Virgin, a romantic comedy adaptation of Jane the Virgin, she played Oh Woo-ri, a scriptwriter who becomes pregnant via accidental artificial insemination. Her portrayal balanced humor with emotional sincerity. Meanwhile, in Doctor Lawyer, she transformed into Geum Seok-young, a fierce prosecutor seeking justice. Despite the challenging overlap, Im received praise for clearly distinguishing between the two characters through acting tone, styling, and emotional range.

Recent Work & Continued Success (2023–Present)

Im Soo-hyang continues to evolve as an actress. In 2023, she starred in Kokdu: Season of Deity, blending fantasy and romance while exploring themes of destiny and second chances. Her ability to handle genre-crossing narratives further proves her adaptability.

In 2024, she returned to weekend dramas with Beauty and Mr. Romantic, bringing charm and warmth to her role in a family-centered narrative. The series not only expanded her audience to include more general viewers but also reaffirmed her position as a top lead actress in Korean television.

Filmography

Films:

• 4th Period Mystery (2009) – Minor Role
• Eun-ha (2016) – Eun-ha
  

Dramas:

• New Tales of Gisaeng (2011) – Dan Sa-ran
• Paradise Ranch (2011) – Lee Da-eun
• Salamander Guru and the Shadows (2012) – Im Soo-min (Cameo)
• I Do, I Do (2012) – Yeom Na-ri
• IRIS 2 (2013) – Kim Yeon-hwa
• Inspiring Generation (2014) – Teguchi Gaya
• Five Enough (2015–2016) – Jang Jin-joo
• Blow Breeze (2016–2017) – Park Shin-ae
• Lovers in Bloom (2017) – Moo Goong-hwa
• Criminal Minds (2017) – Song Yoo-kyung (Guest Role)
• My ID is Gangnam Beauty (2018) – Kang Mi-rae
• Graceful Family (2019) – Mo Seok-hee
• When I Was the Most Beautiful (2020) – Oh Ye-ji
• Woori the Virgin (2022) – Oh Woo-ri
• Doctor Lawyer (2022) – Geum Seok-young
• Kokdu: Season of Deity (2023) – Han Gye-jeol
• Beauty and Mr. Romantic (2024) – Park Do-ra