Park Yu-rim

2017–2020: Beginnings

In 2017, Park signed an exclusive contract with Next Trend (Santa Music). Prior to this, she had appeared in music videos for Mot's "Cloudy in Seoul" and Moon Scent's "Hands."^[3][4] That same year, she was featured in the music video for Buzz's song "That Love". She was also cast as the lead actress and model for dxyz, a drama produced by 72sec TV as a follow-up to their series DeuxYeoZa. The series aimed to expand the story and enhance the visual experience, with plans to extend the brand into fashion.^[5] Park later appeared as a model in cosmetic advertisements.^[6]

At the end of 2017, Next Trend announced that Park had been cast as a kindergarten teacher in the tvN Drama Stage production Not Played. The story revolves around a woman in her mid-60s who has spent her life taking care of childcare and household chores, but discovers a hidden talent for billiards when she starts working as a cleaner at a billiards hall. Not Played is one of the ten short drama series in 2018 tvN Drama Stage,^{[note 1]} written by O'PEN writer Kang Min-soo.^{[note 2]} The drama was aired on tvN in January 2018.^[8]

In 2018, Park took on supporting roles in TV dramas such as Queen of Mystery Season 2 and The Third Charm. This was followed by another supporting role in Black Dog: Being A Teacher (2019–2020), but she had not yet achieved widespread recognition.^[9]

2021–present: Career breakthrough

Park's background in theater studies at Far East University proved advantageous during her audition for Drive My Car, She was already familiar with the play Uncle Vanya, which is central to the film.^[2] During her time at the university, the graduation stage featured rotating performances of Chekhov's four major plays, including Uncle Vanya. Although she did not participate in these specific productions, she had viewed them multiple times.^[1][10]

Park made her film debut in film Drive My Car after being cast through a rigorous audition process. Director Ryusuke Hamaguchi noted, "The Gafuku couple and the Yuna couple have a mirrored relationship that reflects one another." Regarding the casting, he further explained, "During the audition, Park Yu-rim shared an anecdote about not feeling lonely or bored when she had seaweed soup alone with her boyfriend on her birthday. Her genuine humanity naturally stood out to me, and I instantly thought of her for the role."^[2]

[...] I truly believe that Drive My Car was my destiny. After graduating from school, there was a time when I felt really devastated because I kept failing auditions. My confidence hit rock bottom, and my self-esteem plummeted. I lived like a ghost. I even questioned whether I should eat anything, thinking, "Am I allowed to eat this?" In my life, there have been three chances that came my way. I thought that the first opportunity came to me. It felt like a life-or-death situation. At that time, it seemed like that was the only thing in my life. Although I'm still young compared to others, I was so exhausted that I even thought about quitting acting. I'm truly grateful to the director.^[1]

Director Ryusuke Hamaguchi based the film on various short stories from Haruki Murakami's 2014 collection Men Without Women. In the film, Park portrays Yuna, a newly created character not found in Haruki Murakami's original short stories. Yuna is a mute Korean woman who uses Korean sign language to communicate. She is married to Yoon-su (Jin Dae-yeon) and auditions for the role of Sonya in a production of Uncle Vanya. Yuna's character arc, marked by resilience through personal hardships, mirrors that of Sonya. Park learned and practiced Korean sign language for the role.^[2] Park then received her first invitations to major film festivals and awards ceremonies. She was invited to the 26th Busan International Film Festival,^[11] followed by the 2021 Cannes Film Festival and the 79th Golden Globe Awards.^[12] She was also invited to the 94th Academy Award. Drive My Car went on to win Best International Feature Film Award at the 94th Academy Awards.^[13][14] Her performance in the film managed to earn her domestic and international recognition in the first half of 2022.^[15][16]

In March 2022, Park signed an exclusive contract with BH Entertainment.^[18] On April 26, 2022, Netflix Korea announced the confirmation of the production of Lee Chung-hyun's film Ballerina. Park portrays the character of Min-hee, a ballerina whose death leads Ok-ju (Jeon Jong-seo) to seek revenge.^[19] Additionally, Park made a memorable appearance in a cameo role as Kang Ji-hye, a wedding hall employee, in the second episode titled "Falling Wedding Dress" of ENA Channel's Extraordinary Attorney Woo.^[20]

In 2023, Park took on her first leading role in television in the JTBC drama Miraculous Brothers. The drama revolves around the story of Yook Dong-ju (played by Jung Woo) an aspiring writer facing financial difficulties, who aspires to become the renowned poet Yoon Dong-ju. Alongside him is Kang San (played by Bae Hyun-sung), a boy with mysterious abilities. Together, they embark on a journey to uncover the truth that surpasses the boundaries of time, creating miracles along the way. Park played the role of Park Hyun-soo, a homicide detective with sharp insight.^[20][21] Park received favorable reviews from viewers for her immersive acting skills. With a deep understanding of her character, Park brought a sense of realism to her performance, showcasing quiet charisma and serving as a pivotal figure in the mystery within the drama.^[22]

Film

Television series

Web series

Music video appearances