Yoona starts to come into her own as actress

Singer and actress Im Yoon-ah, better known by Yoona from Girls' Generation, is one of the rising number of successful idol-turned-actors in the country.

Recently, she finished MBC TV's period series "The King in Love," set in the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392), where she played the heroine Eunsan, who was involved in a love triangle with crown prince Won (Im Si-wan) and his childhood friend Rin (Hong Jong-hyun).

Her desire for acting looked obvious from the early stage of her career.

Shorty after her debut in 2007 as a member of the girl group, she started appearing in TV series, notably "You Are My Destiny" in 2008, "Prime Minister and I" in 2013-2014 and "The K2" in 2016.

This year, she starred in the action-thriller film "Confidential Assignment." Though she played a supporting role, she proved she has potential to rise as a force to be reckoned with on the big screen.

In a recent interview with Yonhap News Agency, Yoona said there is still much to learn in acting and that she is still thirsty for more experiences in the field.

"Maybe it is because I did more singing than acting. I am still discovering new things about acting. I want more experiences," she said.

Before "Confidential Assignment," her acting spectrum had been seen somewhat narrow and she had wanted to have a breakthrough role. So the film was a turning point for her.

"Many people supported my performance in the movie in which I tried to show a different side of me. It was really encouraging," she said, adding that she discovered a new joy while playing the character in the cop caper.

This undated file photo shows Girls' Generation member Yoona. (Yonhap)

She was able to balance singing and acting for a long time simply because she loves the two jobs, she said. But it took her longer to be acknowledged as an actor than to gain fame as a member of the girl group, she admitted.

"Because we work together as a team, we had better chances, and it was quicker to accomplish things. But acting is a lone process, and it has been slow to proving myself."

Starting last year, she became more devoted to acting.

"My fans like me to play bright characters," she said. "I have recently changed my hair to a bob. So I am in the mood to try a romantic comedy for my next project."

(YONHAP)