Wikipedia

Im Ye-jin

In this Korean name, the family name is Im. In the stage name or pen-name, the surname is Im.

Im Ki-hee (Korean: 임기희; born January 24, 1960), known professionally as Im Ye-jin (임예진), is a South Korean actress. Affectionately called the original "Nation's Little Sister", Im debuted as a teenage actress taking on roles of the "pretty teenage student" in several movies and TV series – helping her win the title of everyone's favorite "dongseng" (동생; lit. younger sibling) in her time.[1][unreliable source?] She reached the peak of her popularity in the 1970s with the "Really Really" film trilogy, which includes Never Forget Me (1976), I Am Really Sorry (1976) and I Really Really Like You. She is currently active in television.

Im Ye-jin
Im in March 2019
Born
Im Ki-hee

(1960-01-24) January 24, 1960 (age 65)
Seoul, South Korea
Alma materDongguk University (Theater and Film)
OccupationActress
Years active1974–present
Spouse
Choi Chang-wook
​
(m. 1989)​
Children1
Korean name
Hangul
임예진
Hanja
林藝眞
RRIm Yejin
MRIm Yejin
Birth name
Hangul
임기희
RRIm Gihui
MRIm Kihŭi

Career

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Im Ki-hee began modeling in popular teen magazines when she was in junior high school. Using the stage name Im Ye-jin, she made her acting debut in Kim Ki-young's Transgression in 1974.

In 1975, Im played a high schooler in love with her teacher in Graduating School Girls, for which she won Best New Actress at the Grand Bell Awards. But it was a year later when she would be catapulted to stardom. Im headlined Never Forget Me (also known as Really Really Don't Forget, 1976) and its sequels I Am Really Sorry (also known as I'm Really Really Sorry, 1976) and Crazy For You (also known as I Really Really Like You, 1977) -- movies about teenage friendship, romance, and aspirations that became massive box office hits, screening to sold-out theaters. In an era when Korean cinema was in a dark period resulting from severe censorship by an authoritarian government, this led to the emergence of the teenage demographic as a major consumer of pop culture. Im had an innocent, girlish image, whose acting was charming and sweet without being saccharine, and she became hugely popular among middle school and high school students; girls wanted to be like her, and boys had her picture in their pockets.[2] The "Really Really" series established Im as the most popular young actress of that period, and for the next several years, youth melodramas starring her dominated the theaters in quick succession, often with Lee Deok-hwa as her leading man: Prayer of a Girl (1976), Ever So Much Good! (1976), I Really Have a Dream (1976), I've Never Felt Like This Before (1976), and Nobody Knows (1977).

Im entered college in 1979, studying Theater and Film at Dongguk University. By this time, she wanted to transition out of teen movies, and into more adult roles. She starred opposite Shin Seong-il in Love Song in a Peanut Shell, but it was poorly received, with audiences not prepared to see her break out of her "pure" image. Despite a supporting role in A Fine, Windy Day, Im's film career was in a slump, so she shifted her focus to television and radio in the 1980s.

After a few years of forgettable television dramas, Im's career was revitalized by Kim Soo-hyun, one of the most famous TV writers in Korea. Among Kim's dramas that Im starred in were 사랑합시다 (1981), Yesterday and Tomorrow (1982), Love and Truth (1984), Love and Ambition (1987), Farewell (1994), and Childless Comfort (2012). In Farewell, she shocked audiences by playing a Fatal Attraction-esque villain for the first time. Im also played the character Dal-soo in a series of one-act dramas for MBC Best Theater from 1995 to 2005.

As Im grew older, she remained active on television and the occasional film, in supporting roles as ajummas, aunts or mothers. As if coming full circle, she played one of the adult characters in a 2010 musical theatre adaptation of her early hit I Really Really Like You.[3][4]

From 2008 to 2010, Im was a popular panelist on the variety show Quiz to Change the World, for which she was recognized at the MBC Entertainment Awards.

In 2014, Im signed with the talent agency YG Entertainment.[5][unreliable source?] In December 2019, it was confirmed that her contract with YG Entertainment has expired and decided not to renew.[6]

Personal life

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In 1989, Im married Choi Chang-wook, a TV director and producer at MBC.[citation needed]

Filmography

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Film

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Television series

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  • Jade Flute (TBC, 1975)
  • By Ear (MBC, 1975)
  • Third Class (MBC, 1977)
  • The Spring Maiden Has Come (MBC, 1977)
  • South Wind (MBC, 1978)
  • X Search Party (MBC, 1978)
  • Frugal Family (MBC, 1979)
  • White Dandelion (MBC, 1979)
  • Anguk-dong Madam (MBC, 1980)
  • Han River (MBC, 1981)
  • Let's Love (MBC, 1981)
  • Yesterday and Tomorrow (MBC, 1982)
  • Friend, My Friend (MBC, 1982)
  • Sunflower in Winter (MBC, 1983)
  • Love and Truth (MBC, 1984)
  • First Love (MBC, 1986)
  • Love and Ambition (MBC, 1987)
  • Peers and Turi (MBC, 1988)
  • Legacy (MBC, 1989)
  • Sunrise (KBS2, 1989)
  • Last Place Search Party (MBC, 1990)
  • Freezing Point (KBS2, 1990)
  • Ancient Geum Jan-di (KBS1, 1991)
  • A Rainy Afternoon (KBS2, 1991)
  • Mozart the Janitor (KBS1, 1992)
  • Professor Oh's Family (SBS, 1993)
  • Mountain Wind (MBC, 1993)
  • Farewell (SBS, 1994)
  • Partner (MBC, 1994–1997)
  • Love and Marriage (MBC, 1995)
  • MBC Best Theater – "Dal-su's Trial" (MBC, 1995)
  • MBC Best Theater – "Dal-su's House Building" (MBC, 1995)
  • Three Kingdoms (KBS2, 1996)
  • MBC Best Theater – "Dalsu's Son Goes to School" (MBC, 1996)
  • MBC Best Theater – "Dal-su's Tea" (MBC, 1996)
  • MBC Best Theater – "Golden Garden" (MBC, 1996)
  • OK Ranch (SBS, 1997)
  • MBC Best Theater – "Dal-su Breaks the Filial Piety Law" (MBC, 1997)
  • MBC Best Theater – "Dal-su's Alone Arirang" (MBC, 1997)
  • To Love Is (EBS, 1998)
  • See and See Again (MBC, 1998)
  • Crush (KBS2, 1998)
  • MBC Best Theater – "Dal-su, Hit by a Boomerang" (MBC, 1999)
  • LA Arirang (SBS, 2000)
  • Blue Mist (KBS2, 2001)
  • Wonderful Days (SBS, 2001)
  • Affection (SBS, 2002)
  • Honest Living (SBS, 2002)
  • MBC Best Theater – "Run, Manager Jang" (MBC, 2002)
  • MBC Best Theater – "Do You Love Me?" (MBC, 2003)
  • People of the Water Flower Village (MBC, 2004)
  • Full House (KBS2, 2004)
  • Ireland (MBC, 2004)
  • MBC Best Theater – "Dal-su, Tutoring His Son" (MBC, 2004)
  • Love and Sympathy (SBS, 2005)
  • MBC Best Theater – "Dal-su, Caught in the Special Prostitution Law" (MBC, 2005)
  • Princess Hours (MBC, 2006)
  • Which Star Are You From (MBC, 2006)
  • MBC Best Theater – "A Walk Around The Neighborhood" (MBC, 2006)
  • Winter Bird (MBC, 2007)
  • Little Mom Scandal (CGV, 2008)
  • Lawyers of the Great Republic of Korea (MBC, 2008)
  • Little Mom Scandal 2 (CGV, 2008)
  • Boys over Flowers (KBS2, 2009)
  • The Road Home (KBS1, 2009)
  • Queen Seondeok (MBC, 2009)
  • Life Is Good (MBC, 2009)
  • Life Is Beautiful (SBS, 2010) (cameo)
  • You Don't Know Women (SBS, 2010)
  • Smile, Mom (SBS, 2010)
  • My Princess (MBC, 2011)
  • Sweet Palpitations (KBS2, 2011)
  • Romance Town (KBS2, 2011)
  • Iron Daughters-in-Law (MBC, 2011)
  • Immortal Classic (Channel A, 2012)
  • My Kids Give Me a Headache (jTBC, 2012)
  • 7th Grade Civil Servant (MBC, 2013)
  • Princess Aurora (MBC, 2013)
  • Miss Korea (MBC, 2013)
  • Can We Fall in Love, Again? (jTBC, 2014)
  • Marriage, Not Dating (tvN, 2014)
  • Rosy Lovers (MBC, 2014)
  • The Producers (KBS2, 2015)
  • Splash Splash Love (MBC, 2015)
  • Yeah, That's How It Is (SBS, 2016)
  • The Liar and His Lover (tvN, 2017)
  • Hit the Top (KBS2, 2017)
  • A Korean Odyssey (tvN / 2017–2018) - Bangmooljangsoo (peddler)
  • My Only One (KBS2, 2018)[10]
  • Lie After Lie (Channel A, 2020)
  • Young Lady and Gentleman (KBS2, 2021)[11]
  • Beauty and Mr. Romantic (KBS2, 2024) - So Geum-ja, Pil-sung's grandma[12]

Variety show

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Music video

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Theater

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  • I Really Really Like You (2010)

Radio program

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Awards

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References

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  1. ^ "Here Are 10 Korean Celebrities Who Have Been The "Nation's Little Sister"". koreaboo. June 1, 2019. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  2. ^ Noh, Jae-hyun (January 11, 2013). "Adult diapers are closer than you think". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on November 17, 2014. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
  3. ^ "2008.6.5 Event Calendar". Korea JoongAng Daily. June 4, 2008. Archived from the original on November 17, 2014. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
  4. ^ Choi, Min-woo (December 19, 2008). "High notes and discord in the musical world". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on January 7, 2014. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
  5. ^ "Actors Cha Seung Won, Jang Hyun Sung, & actress Lim Ye Jin along with management staff sign with YG Entertainment". Allkpop. January 19, 2014. Archived from the original on February 3, 2014. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  6. ^ [단독] 임예진, YG엔터테인먼트와 재계약 않기로. iMBC 연예 (in Korean). December 17, 2019. Archived from the original on October 7, 2022. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  7. ^ Giammarco, Tom (December 13, 2012). "Ever So Good (1976)". Seen in Jeonju. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
  8. ^ Giammarco, Tom (September 19, 2012). "Angry Young Men (1976)". Seen in Jeonju. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
  9. ^ Giammarco, Tom (October 10, 2009). "A Good Windy Day (1980)". Seen in Jeonju. Archived from the original on April 1, 2016. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
  10. ^ ""Only on My Side" Park Sang-won, Cha Hwa-yeon, Im Ye-jin, and Jin Kyung Join the Team". HanCinema. August 12, 2018. Archived from the original on August 13, 2018. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  11. ^ Kim Myung-mi (May 18, 2021). 신사와 아가씨' 김영옥 차화연→이종원 이일화, 베테랑 배우 총출동. Newsen (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on September 22, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  12. ^ Kang Min-kyung (February 1, 2024). [공식] 임수향, 돈 버는 기계서 추락한 톱배우...지현우와 로맨스('미녀와 순정남') [[Official] Lim Soo-hyang, a top actor who fell from a money-making machine... Romance with Ji Hyun-woo ('Beauty and the Pure Man')]. Ten Asia (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 1, 2024. Retrieved February 1, 2024 – via Naver.
  13. ^ Han Eun-soo (February 19, 2017). '복면가왕' 줄리엣의 정체는 임예진...가사 실수에 깜놀 "4개월 연습했는데 죄송하다". E-Today (in Korean). Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  14. ^ Kim, Hee-ju (July 7, 2011). "T-ara holds Japan debut showcase". The Asia Business Daily. Archived from the original on October 27, 2014. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
  15. ^ Ko, Kyoung-seok (December 30, 2009). "Yoo Jae-seok wins grand prize at MBC Entertainment Awards". 10Asia. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
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