Park Ye-young

Park Ye-young (Korean: 박예영; born August 22, 1989) is a South Korean actress. After graduating from the Film Department of Konkuk University College of Arts and Design, Park began her acting career in 2013, and has since starred in several independent short and feature films. She is also recognized for her supporting role in Netflix original series Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021), Coupang play original Anna (2022), and drama Summer Strike (2022).

During her childhood, Park had the opportunity to watch a theater performance, sparking a vague curiosity about acting. However, it wasn't until middle school that she developed a serious interest in acting. Influenced by a teacher, Park decided to enroll in a theater class. She only attended for one semester because She had to transfer schools in the middle of the academic year. It was in high school when Park's passion for acting resurfaced, and she made efforts to persuade her parents to support her pursuit of this dream. To further her aspirations, she enrolled in and studied at the Film Department of Konkuk University College of Arts and Design.

Debut and career in independent film

Park embarked on her acting career with the short film Winter Preparation (2013), where she portrayed the titular character Jae-in. Directed by Lee Yoon-hyeong, the film premiered at the 12th Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival and was also screened at the 14th Daegu Short Film Festival. These experiences marked Park's first and second forays into attending film festivals. In the same year, Park starred in the short film "Shorts," which was screened at the 2013 Seoul Independent Film Festival.

In 2015, another short film featuring Park, titled And Autumn Has Come, was invited to the Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival and the Jeonbuk Independent Film Festival. A year later, her short film "The Road Not Taken," also known as "Galae" (2016), was screened at the Seoul International Women's Film Festival and received an invitation to the Seoul International Youth Film Festival.

A year later, her short film The Road not Taken also known as Galae (2016) was screened in Seoul International Women's Film Festival and invited to Seoul International Youth Film Festival.

Park Ye-young is an enigmatic actress. In films, Park often gazes at her co-stars from peculiar angles, at unexpected moments, and with a timing that is difficult to explain. As cinema is an art of perspectives, each time she does so, it evokes a sensation that the entire screen is tilting. It's a kind of gravitational force. That's the only way to describe it. It's because Park Ye-young alone has the ability to create such a feeling. At first, I thought it was a directorial choice, but as I observed this power consistently manifesting across films by different directors, I found it to be uncanny. I yearned to witness this power more frequently. Perhaps this actress will only grow stronger with time.

— Jeong Seong-il, director and film critic, Cine21

In 2017, Park was chosen as the featured actress for the "10th FILM DABIN Project: Actress Park Ye-young." The project showcased three of her independent films, And Autumn Has Come, My Chemical Love, and Shall We Go. and held two discussion events with Park. Additionally, two discussion events were organized, during which Park engaged in conversations about her work. The discussions were moderated by Director Hyung Seul-woo, and the panel included Director Choi Jeong-ho, Moon In-su, and Director Lee Yu-ri. These events took place on Saturday, November 11 at Seoul Theater 8, 13, Jongno-gu, Seoul and Saturday, November 18 at Pause Cinema, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon Province.

Television debut and recent projects

In 2019, Park made her television debut in a minor role as a nurse in Yoo Je-won's drama series Abyss. A year later, she appeared as Nurse Heo Min-young in episodes 22 and 23 of the drama series Soul Mechanic as nurse Heo Min-young. In 2021, Park portrayed the character Lee Sung-sil in episode 6 of the Sell Your Haunted House. During the same year, she reunited with director Yoo Je-won on her first supporting role as variety show writer Wang Ji-won in the drama series Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha. In the drama, Writer Wang was also love interest of role played by Lee Sang-yi. Furthermore, Park made a brief cameo appearance in the film Emergency Declaration and drama series Reflection of You. She then appeared in episodes 1, 2, and 4 of Inspector Koo, portraying the character Yoon Jae-young.

Moving on to 2022, Park starred alongside Bae Suzy in Coupang Play original series Anna, playing Anna's best friend Ji-won. Her performance garnered critical acclaim and earned her the New Actress Award for Series at the 2023 Director's Cut Awards. Additionally, in 2022, Park returned to independent film with the titular role in Jung Hae-il's film Joo-young in Wonderland. The film was screened in The 16th Evergreen Digilog World Film Festival where the director Jung Hae-il received the Special Award.

Park has been affiliated with artist management Dongyi Company since July 2022. However, in March 2023, Park signed with new agency C-JeS Entertainment.

Feature film

Short film

Television series

Web series

Listicles