Go Youn-jung

2019–2021: Beginnings

After graduating from Seoul Women's University, she joined MAA Entertainment as a model and actress. She began her career by modeling for various commercials, including those for Nike, Armani, Ritz Crackers, and SK Telecom.^[6] Go earned income through modeling and used the funds to finance acting lessons.^[7] After approximately six months of training, she participated in the final audition for the film Parasite in what was her first attempt at a professional role, but she was not selected. This experience reportedly motivated her to commit seriously to acting.^[7] That same year, Go made her debut in the television series He Is Psychometric, playing Kim So-hyun, a single mother.^[8]

In 2020, Go made a cameo in the Netflix original series The School Nurse Files, as Choi Yoo-jin, one of the students. That same year, she appeared in the Netflix original series Sweet Home as Park Yu-ri, the caregiver of a terminally-ill senior, An Gil-seob (played by Kim Kap-soo).^[9] Sweet Home significant global achievement, peaking at number one on Netflix charts in eight Asian countries and number three globally,^[10] expanding Go's industry visibility.^[11][12] Go and her fellow actresses were praised for breaking stereotypes of female characters.^[13]

In 2021, Go starred as Jeon Ye-seul in Law School, earning acknowledgment for her portrayal of a law student who suffered dating violence.^[14] In March 2021, she was cast in her first feature film, a South Korean espionage action thriller film titled Hunt.^[15] She was reported to be making a special appearance in the tvN period fantasy series Alchemy of Souls,^[16] and on October 29, she was confirmed as part of the main cast for the adaptation of Kang Full's webtoon Moving.^[17]

2022–present: Breakthrough and transition to lead roles

When the film Hunt had its world premiere at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival in the Midnight Screenings section on May 19, 2022, Go officially made her cinema debut. The film was the feature directorial debut of Lee Jung-jae, who also starred in the film alongside Jung Woo-sung.^[18] Her performance as Joo Yoo-jeong garnered critical acclaim, leading to nominations for Best New Actress at the 31st Buil Film Awards,^[19] 58th Grand Bell Awards,^[20] 43rd Blue Dragon Film Awards,^[21] and 59th Baeksang Arts Awards.^[19]

In June 2022, Go made a cameo appearance as the skilled assassin Nak-su in Part 1 of the tvN fantasy period drama Alchemy of Souls, written by the Hong sisters. She returned in December as the female lead for Part 2, titled Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow. In this installment, she portrayed Jin Bu-yeon, an amnesiac priestess who enters into a marriage with Jang Uk (played by Lee Jae-wook).^[22][23][24]

In 2023, Go starred in two streaming series. Moving was broadcast on Disney+ from August 9 to September 20, 2023, where she played Jang Hui-soo, a character who inherits superpowers and possesses healing abilities and superhuman strength.^[17][25] For her role, Go received the Best New Actress Award at the 2023 Asia Contents Awards & Global OTT Awards^[26] and the 3rd Blue Dragon Series Awards.^[27] That same year, she made a special appearance in Death's Game which aired on TVING in December.^[28][29][30]

In 2024, Go worked on two series. She completed filming for the tvN drama Resident Playbook, a spin-off of Hospital Playlist, where she was cast as Oh Yi-young, a first-year obstetrics and gynaecology resident at Jongno Yulje Hospital.^[31] While its release was initially set for April 2024,^[32] the drama faced a one-year broadcast postponement due to a nationwide medical strike. Following its eventual premiere on April 12, 2025, Go received praise for her performance and character development.^[33] Her performance also led her to rank first on the Good Data Corporation's top 10 list of the most buzzworthy actors in TV-OTT drama for four consecutive weeks, from the third week of April^[34] to the second week of May 2025,^[35] which later earned her the Best Actress (Television) title at the institution's 2025 FUNdex Awards.^[36] She also received a nomination for the Excellence Award at the 2025 Korea Drama Awards.^[37] Following the drama's commercial success, Go joined the cast and crew on a reward vacation to Bali.^[38][39]

From June 2024 to February 2025, she filmed the Netflix series Can This Love Be Translated?, directed by Yoo Young-eun.^[40][41] The series marked her first lead role in the genre and reunited her with screenwriters the Hong sisters.^[42] She portrayed a dual role: Cha Mu-hee, a top actress, and Do Ra-mi, an alter ego who intermittently takes over Mu-hee's consciousness. The series, which centers on her romance with multilingual interpreter Joo Ho-jin (played by Kim Seon-ho), premiered on January 16, 2026.^[43]

In April 2025, it was announced that Go would star in the drama We Are All Trying Here, written by Park Hae-young.^[44][45] Directed by Cha Yeong-hoon, principal photography began in October 2025. The series is scheduled for release in 2026.^[46] Go expanded her activities into variety programming in 2026, joining the regular cast of the show The Secret Friends Club, which is set to premiere on February 1, 2026.^[47]

Film

Television series

Television shows

Music video appearances

Soundtrack appearances

Awards and nominations

State and cultural honors

Listicles