Anyone who loves K-pop will know Lim Yoona’s name. She has been standing at the forefront of the Hallyu wave since she debuted in 2007 with Girls’ Generation (SNSD), one of the most popular girl groups in K-pop history. Armed with an irresistible smile, Lim Yoona has conquered performance after performance and seamlessly brought her stage prowess onto the screen, becoming an icon adored by generations of fans. Her star power is undeniable in our February issue, where she poses effortlessly clad in Miu Miu and Qeelin jewellery. After all, she is the one and only Lim Yoona.

Lim Yoona has recently become the talk of the town once more for her performance in King the Land, her latest romance series that ranked first on Netflix’s chart for non-English TV shows. She plays the bright and sunny Cheon Sa-rang, a passionate and devoted hotel employee. The name of her character, Sa-rang, means love in Korean. And in this serendipitous encounter with Vogue Hong Kong,  Lim Yoona takes centre stage in our celebration of love. For her, love is more than just a feeling — it is the beating heart of humanity: “I think love is something so necessary in life, no matter what form it takes. It plays a big role in bringing more warmth to our world.”

You recently starred in King the Land, which topped Netflix’s Global Top 10 chart. What was the most memorable moment of filming this series? Any behind-the-scenes stories you can share with us?

Filming in the cold weather was very memorable for me, especially the outdoor shoots where we truly fought the cold. [laughs] One behind-the-scenes story that comes to mind now is a moment before the broadcast of King the Land where I said in an interview that I wanted the series to rank first globally, and it became a reality.

What is your favourite thing about your character Cheon Sa-rang? Do you see yourself in her? 

I like that she has a positive and professional attitude. Her bright smiling face felt familiar.

You starred in the noir drama Big Mouth, which is a striking contrast to the romantic King the Land. As an actress, how do you prepare yourself to step into the shoes of your very different characters?

I tend to put a lot of thought into the styling that suits the character or the emotional expressions that fit their personality. With each character, I always research how I can best convey their emotions and narrative to my audience.

You first stepped into the limelight in 2007 when you debuted as a member of Girls’ Generation. It has been more than a decade since your debut — how do you feel looking back? Has anything changed？

In terms of who ‘I’ am as a person, not much has changed fundamentally — the core remains similar. But I think there is a maturity that comes with the 18 years that have passed. I’ve grown by building on the insights and wisdom gained through my experiences over those years.

How would you say you have evolved as an artist?

I think I’m steadily taking one step forward at a time. With each passing year, as my filmography continues to expand, I believe there are parts of me that continue evolving. There have been new challenges and many works that received love. Going forward as well, I want to keep taking on challenges that can help me grow even more.