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The Korea Times

By Park Jin-hai
As the heroine of recently ended Netflix Korean drama series The Tale of Lady Ok, Lim Ji-yeon captivated audiences with her wide-ranging performance in its narrative of a lowly slave’s growth during Korea’s 1392-1910 Joseon dynasty.
Having made a strong impression with her previous antagonist role in Netflix’s 2022 series The Glory, the 34-year-old actress landed her first title role in this drama.
The drama follows the story of Gu-deok (Lim), who escapes her abusive master’s house and is later adopted by the noble Ok family. However, when the family’s daughter, Ok Tae-young, dies, Gu-deok assumes her identity and her elevated status.

After gaining noble status, she becomes a renowned lawyer and takes control of her own life, defying the traditional image of Joseon women.
“I was drawn to the character because she’s so complex. Even though Gu-deok is a slave, she’s not just a slave. She’s also a noblewoman and even oejibu, a legal advocate for the people. I loved the idea of playing such a multifaceted character,” Lim said, explaining her reason for choosing the role in a recent interview.
“Despite being born into a lowly status, she overcomes her circumstances, accumulates wealth through sheer determination and possesses a sharp intellect.
“Even after becoming a noblewoman, she continues to fight for the wronged and displays unwavering strength. I was deeply inspired by these qualities and aspired to be more like her,” she said.
“She is also warm-hearted, always ready to help others. I admire her ability to shape her own destiny. Gu-deok is the first character I’ve ever wanted to emulate and learn from.”
I’m not an exceptionally gifted actress, but I believe that if I don’t give up ... anything is possible
Lim Ji-yeon
The drama shows the protagonist’s rapid transformation from a slave to Ok Tae-young, a lawyer, as she resolves cases with satisfying swiftness in each episode. Viewers naturally found themselves rooting for her as they watched her character develop.
The actress stated confidently that this drama marks a significant milestone in her career. She added that this was the first time she had become so deeply immersed in a character to the point of feeling inseparable from them after the drama ended.
“I realised for the first time how much I could love a character I was playing. And more than anything, it was a project where I truly experienced the burden and pressure of responsibility for a work (as the leading actor).
“It brought me so much growth, so I think it’s made a big mark on my screen career,” she said.

However, when she was first offered the historical drama – Lim was in the middle of the immense popularity of The Glory – she was concerned whether the historical drama genre would suit her.
“I thought a historical drama would require more technical acting skills, and I felt like I wouldn’t look good in hanbok [traditional Korean clothing]. I was at a point where I wanted to do something I was good at and something I thought would be successful,” she said.
However, she said she realised her mistake after reading the script.
“I realised that I always had been someone who enjoyed the challenge of acting, so why did I hesitate and try to avoid it out of fear that I couldn’t do it? I wanted to be brave and take on the challenge. And I wanted to show everyone that I could also fit well into a historical drama.”

She said that she and Gu-deok have a similarity in that they both seem like they would find things difficult, but she believes in the power of effort.
“I’m not naturally talented, and I’m not an exceptionally gifted actress, but I believe that if I don’t give up and put in the effort, anything is possible. I think that’s one aspect of being an actor that I share with her,” Lim said.
After concluding The Tale of Lady Ok, her next drama, The Unfriendly Love (literal translation), is a romantic comedy about journalists featuring Lee Jung-jae.
After taking on many intense and dramatic roles, Lim expressed a desire for a change of pace.

“I’ve been playing a lot of strong, impactful characters lately. But I’ve realised that I don’t always need to be the centre of attention. I think it’s time for me to play a lighter, more ordinary character that we see in our everyday lives. I think it’s time for me to play a more ordinary and relatable character,” she said.
Lim said she wants to be an actress that people are excited to see what she will do next, rather than someone they automatically trust.
“I enjoy the images I’ve created, but I want to keep challenging myself and growing as an actor. I want to be seen as a blank canvas, always ready to take on new roles and explore different possibilities,” she said.
Read the full story at The Korea Times.


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Lim talks about overcoming doubt to star in the Joseon era Netflix show, and how playing a slave who rises to nobility ‘deeply inspired’ her


Lim talks about overcoming doubt to star in the Joseon era Netflix show, and how playing a slave who rises to nobility ‘deeply inspired’ her.


The Tale of Lady Ok star Lim Ji-yeon on why period K-drama made ‘a big mark’ on her career

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Lim talks about overcoming doubt to star in the Joseon era Netflix show, and how playing a slave who rises to nobility ‘deeply inspired’ her

Lim talks about overcoming doubt to star in the Joseon era Netflix show, and how playing a slave who rises to nobility ‘deeply inspired’ her