Park Yu-rim

Park Yu-rim (, born February 6, 1993) is a South Korean actress and model. Park began to make her name known through her film debut role Yuna in Ryusuke Hamaguchi's film Drive My Car. Previously, Park played supporting roles in television dramas such as Queen of Mystery Season 2 (2018), The Third Charm (2018), and Black Dog: Being A Teacher (2019-2020). Her most recent role is as Choi Min-hee in Lee Chung-hyun's Netflix film Ballerina (2023).

Early years and education
When Park was young, she used to enjoy watching movies with her family and friends. During those times, she would often find herself captivated by the allure of the films playing on the screen. This curiosity ignited a question in her mind: "How are these movies made?" She developed a strong aspiration to become a part of the filmmaking process and step into the world behind the screen. The aspect of this world that initially fascinated her were the actors. Subsequently, she pursued her studies in the theater and film department at Far East University, with a primary focus on theater. She appeared in various plays such as 'Beautiful Signs', 'Attic', and 'Home'.

Early career
In 2017, Park Yu-rim signed an exclusive contract with Next Trend (Santa Music). Prior to this, she had made appearances in music videos for singer Mot's "Cloudy in Seoul" and Moon Scent's "Hands." During the same year, Park showcased her acting skills in Buzz's music video for the title track "That Love". Shortly after, Park was chosen as the lead actress and model for the upcoming drama "dxyz," which was produced by 72sec TV as a follow-up to their previous drama series, "DeuxYeoZa." The goal of "dxyz" is to amplify the captivating story of the two women from the previous season and offer an elevated visual experience. Moreover, taking inspiration from the distinctive color palette of "DeuxYeoZa," there are plans to expand the brand into the fashion industry. Park later ventured into the world of cosmetic advertisements, where she appeared as a model.

In the end of 2017, Next Trend, announced that Park had been cast in the role of a kindergarten teacher in the tvN Drama Stage production titled 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, written by O'PEN writer Kang Min-soo. The drama was aired on tvN in January 2018.

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). However, she was yet to make a name for herself.

Career breakthrough
Park garnered worldwide attention for her portrayal of Yuna in the critically acclaimed film Drive My Car, which received the Best International Feature Film Award at the 94th Academy Award. Director Ryusuke Hamaguchi based the film on various short stories from Haruki Murakami's 2014 collection "Men Without Women," infusing his own interpretation and creativity. Yuna, played by Park, is a newly created character who did not exist in the original work. She is a hearing, mute Korean woman married to a Japanese man named Yoon-su (Jin Dae-yeon), who moved to Hiroshima three years prior. Yuna communicates using Korean sign language. She auditioned for the role of Sonya, Vanya's niece, in the play Uncle Vanya, directed by the film's protagonist, Gafuku (Nishijima Hidetoshi). Similar to Sonya, Yuna demonstrates unwavering determination as she perseveres through personal hardships.

Park made her film debut after being selected for the role through a rigorous audition process. She devoted herself to learning and practicing sign language specifically for this film. In a video interview on the 16th, Director Ryusuke Hamaguchi remarked, "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 Yoo-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."

Upon hearing the news about the audition for Drive My Car, she was filled with excitement. Her background in theater studies at Far East University proved to be particularly advantageous, as she was already acquainted with the play Uncle Vanya, which is featured in the film. During her time at the university, the graduation stage showcased rotating performances of Chekhov's four major plays: The Seagull, Three Sisters, The Cherry Orchard, and Uncle Vanya. Although she was unable to attend the graduation performance or act in person, she watched the plays multiple times. "[...] 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."Starring in Drive My Car was what led Park to her first invitations to acclaimed film festivals. The 26th Busan International Film Festival was the first to extend an invitation, followed by the 2021 Cannes Film Festival and the 79th Golden Globe Awards. She was then invited to the 94th Academy Awards. As a result, her popularity skyrocketed domestically in the first half of 2022.

In March 2022, Park signed an exclusive contract with BH Entertainment. 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. 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.

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. 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.