Oh My Girl's YooA Embarks on a New Journey as an Actress: A Heartfelt Interview

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"There were times when I wondered why things weren't working out despite my efforts, times when I lacked confidence, and moments when my enthusiasm got ahead of me. It was tough and I swallowed a lot of tears, but looking back, those times were meaningful, and I'm really grateful to my members."

These are the words of YooA from Oh My Girl. Last month, I met YooA at a café in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam, Seoul for an interview. Born in 1995, YooA debuted with the group Oh My Girl in 2015 and has recently entered her 30s, marking a new beginning as an actress. Throughout the interview, YooA expressed her deep affection for her fans and fellow members.

Known for her doll-like visuals, unique voice, and graceful dance moves, YooA has been a representative figure of Oh My Girl's identity. Her announcement of transitioning to acting in 2025 has once again put her in the spotlight. As a prominent center of the group and a solo artist, the title 'born idol' naturally followed her. The news of her choosing the path of an actress came as a surprise to many fans. In June last year, YooA signed an exclusive contract with the actor-specialized agency, Saram Entertainment.

"I've learned so much from my members over the past decade. My first experience of social life was during my trainee days. Although school is a small society, my first experience of forming a community as an individual was with Oh My Girl's company. While some friends had part-time jobs or social experiences, I lacked such experiences, which made me realize my shortcomings."

YooA shared, "There were times when my intentions were misunderstood during communication. I pondered a lot on how to coordinate better, but spending ten years with kind and polite members naturally taught me humility."

"Oh My Girl didn't succeed from the start. When the public began to recognize us, we realized we hadn't changed. We've always worked with the same mindset. It was just that the time came when the public noticed us. That's when I realized that consistency and perseverance are key."

YooA smiled, "The challenging times made me more humble. I love that none of my friends changed after gaining popularity."

Some Oh My Girl members started acting before YooA and gained experience. YooA said, "I used to learn from the same acting teacher as Arin. While filming my recent project, I could relate to the process Arin must have gone through on set. I felt proud thinking about how our youngest member managed on her own."

YooA expressed gratitude for the unwavering support from her members during her first film, 'Project Y.' She said, "I remembered the members who had acted before. I was full of support for them back then, and now that I've acted myself, I realize they must have faced challenges too. I want to applaud them again."

"Whenever something happens, Hyojung is the first to contact me. Even when I went to Busan, she was the first to reach out, and she often video calls me out of the blue, saying she misses me and even cries. Since we're with different companies now, we can't see each other as often. Seeing how much they miss me makes me realize how loved I am by my members. It motivates me to do even better."

When asked what she wants to say to her fans, YooA said, "I have so much to say, but the first thing that comes to mind is to tell them I love them. Showing my best self to my fans is my eternal dream. I will continue to strive to be a proud actress and singer. I promise, so please watch over me," she said with a sparkle in her eyes.

Lee So-jung, TENASIA Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr