Go Youn Jung

Who Is Go Youn-jung?

Go Youn-jung (고윤정) is a prominent South Korean actress and model. She was born on April 22, 1996, in Mullae, Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, South Korea.

She debuted as an actress on the television series He Is Psychometric (2019), followed it with supporting roles in Sweet Home (2020) and Law School (2021), and after her breakthrough role in Alchemy of Souls (2022), she has since become one of South Korea’s most sought-after actresses.

Furthermore, in Korean media, she is frequently cited as part of the “So-Youn-Ye” troika—the MZ Generation’s defining trio of actresses—alongside Shin Ye-eun and Han So-hee.

Early Life: Art, Ballet, and a Failed Audition That Changed Everything

Growing Up in Seoul

Go Youn-jung was born and raised in Seoul, South Korea. She was born in Mullae, Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, South Korea. From a young age, she showed a deep love for the arts. my dramatist

She studied fine arts for seven years. She trained in both ballet and figure skating. Therefore, discipline became a core part of her character long before she ever stepped in front of a camera.

A Schooling Built on Art

After graduating from Seoul Mullae Elementary School, Yanghwa Middle School, and Seoul Arts High School, where she majored in Western Painting, Go Youn-jung went on to Seoul Women’s University, where she graduated with a degree in Contemporary Art.

She shares the same alma mater as fellow actresses Han Ji Min and Lee Bo Young. Seoul Women’s University is one of South Korea’s most respected institutions for the arts.

The Audition That Redirected Her Life

Go Youn-jung had always set her sights on acting. However, her path was not straightforward.

Her initial entrance exam did not go as planned. She auditioned for the film Parasite—the Bong Joon-ho masterpiece that would go on to win the Academy Award for Best Picture—and was unsuccessful. Rather than giving up, she used the experience as fuel.

Go earned income through modeling and used the funds to finance acting lessons. She signed with MAA Entertainment—the same company as 20th Century Girl actress Roh Yeon Seo and A-Teen’s Jo Hye Joo—and began building her craft with quiet determination. Wikipedia cosmos

Modeling Career: Building a Platform Before the Screen

Before audiences knew her as an actress, Go Youn-jung built a strong modeling foundation.

Before officially becoming an actress, she started out doing commercials for big-ticket brands like Nike, Giorgio Armani, and Ritz Crackers. She also made her first public appearance as a model for University Tomorrow magazine.

Additionally, she appeared in the 2019 music video for “However” (“Geurona”) by 10cm.

These early commercial successes gave her both financial independence and industry visibility. Because of this foundation, she was able to invest seriously in her acting training from the beginning.

Career Highlights: From Supporting Roles to Leading Lady

Acting Debut: He Is Psychometric (2019)

In 2019, Go made her acting debut by appearing in a supporting role in the tvN television series He Is Psychometric. It was a modest start. However, it signaled the arrival of a performer with precision and presence.

International Breakthrough: Sweet Home (2020)

Go gained her first major international attention with Netflix’s Sweet Home in 2020. In Sweet Home, Go Youn-jung plays Park Yu-ri, a character within a group of survivors trapped in an apartment complex during a monster outbreak.

Sweet Home achieved significant global reach, peaking at number one on Netflix charts in eight Asian countries and number three globally, expanding Go’s industry visibility.

Moreover, to prepare for the role, she went to action school for about three months and performed several stunts in order to portray her character. This commitment to physical preparation would become a hallmark of her career.

Law School (2021)

In 2021, Go landed the role of Jeon Ye-seul on the JTBC television series Law School. It was another supporting credit. Nevertheless, each role added texture to her growing reputation.

The Dual Breakthrough Year: Hunt and Alchemy of Souls (2022)

2022 was the year Go Youn-jung went from recognizable face to commanding lead.

In 2022, Go made her film debut in Lee Jung-jae’s Hunt and achieved major popularity through Alchemy of Souls and Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow, where she assumed a leading role that showcased both physicality and emotional depth.

In Alchemy of Souls, Go appears as Naksu, an elite assassin whose identity becomes central to the series’ overarching narrative. The show combines court intrigue, romance, and supernatural conflict, unfolding across two parts that expand the mythology and character arcs.

She appeared in a cameo in Part 1 of the series. She then returned in December as the female lead for Part 2, titled Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow.

For her role, Go received the Best New Actress Award at the 2023 Asia Contents Awards & Global OTT Awards and the 3rd Blue Dragon Series Awards.

Career-Defining Role: Moving (2023)

Moving stands as the most significant project of Go Youn-jung’s career to date.

In Moving, Go Youn-jung plays Jang Hui-soo, a high school student with inherited superhuman abilities, including rapid healing and enhanced strength. The Disney+ superhero drama was adapted from Kang Full’s beloved webtoon and became one of the most talked-about Korean dramas of 2023.

For this performance, she received the following major awards and nominations:

• Won Best New Actress, Asia Contents Awards & Global OTT Awards (2023)
• Won — Best New Actress, 3rd Blue Dragon Series Awards (2024)
• Nominated — Best New Actress (Television), 59th Baeksang Arts Awards (2024)

Additionally, she reprised her role as Park Yu-ri for the opening episode of Sweet Home Season 2 in 2023 and took on the role of Lee Ji-soo in TVING’s fantasy series Death’s Game the same year.

Medical Drama Lead: Resident Playbook (2025)

Resident Playbook is a 2025 South Korean television series created by Shin Won-ho and Lee Woo-jung, starring Go Youn-jung, Shin Si-ah, Kang You-seok, Han Ye-ji, and Jung Joon-won.

Go Youn-jung plays Oh Yi-young, a first-year obstetrics and gynaecology resident. The show aired from April 12 to May 18, 2025, on tvN.

Following its eventual premiere, Go received praise for her performance and character development. Her performance led her to rank first on 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 to the second week of May 2025. This later earned her the Best Actress (Television) title at the 2025 FUNdex Awards.

2026: A Year of Multiple Leads

In 2026, Go appeared in We Are All Trying Here (12 episodes, as Byeon Eun-a) and Can This Love Be Translated? (12 episodes, as Cha Mu-hee).

Both projects cemented her status as one of the most in-demand leading actresses working in Korean television today.

Complete Filmography

Television Dramas

Year	Title	Character	Role Type
2019	He Is Psychometric	Kim So-hyun	Supporting
2020	The School Nurse Files	Choi Yoo-jin	Supporting
2020	Sweet Home (Season 1)	Park Yu-ri	Supporting
2021	Law School	Jeon Ye-seul	Supporting
2022	Alchemy of Souls (Season 1)	Naksu / Cho-young / Jin Bu-yeon	Supporting → Lead
2022	Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow	Naksu / Jin Bu-yeon	Lead
2023	Moving	Jang Hui-soo	Lead
2023	Sweet Home (Season 2)	Park Yu-ri	Guest
2023	Death’s Game	Lee Ji-soo	Supporting Lead
2024	Light Shop	Jang Hui-soo	Special Appearance
2025	Resident Playbook	Oh Yi-young	Lead
2026	We Are All Trying Here.	Byeon Eun-a	Lead
2026	Can This Love Be Translated?	Cha Mu-hee	Lead

Film

Year	Title	Character	Notes
2022	Hunt	Cho Yoo-jung	Film debut; directed by Lee Jung-jae

Awards and Nominations

Year	Award	Category	Project	Result
2023	Asia Contents Awards & Global OTT Awards	Best New Actress	Moving	Won
2023	Brand Customer Loyalty Awards	Rising Star Actress	—	Won
2024	59th Baeksang Arts Awards	Best New Actress (Television)	Moving	Nominated
2024	3rd Blue Dragon Series Awards	Best New Actress	Moving	Won
2024	Brand Customer Loyalty Awards	Actress – Hot Trend	—	Won
2024	Brand of the Year Awards	Advertising Model (Female)	—	Won
2025	FUNdex Awards	Best Actress (Television)	Resident Playbook	Won
2025	Marie Claire Asia Star Awards	Beyond Cinema Award	—	Won
2025	Brand of the Year Awards	Best Actress (Indonesia)	—	Won
2025	Korea Drama Awards	Excellence Award, Actress	Resident Playbook	Nominated
2025	APAN Star Awards	Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries	Resident Playbook	Nominated
2026	Brand Customer Loyalty Awards	Actress – Hot Trend	—	Won
2026	Brand of the Year Awards	Actress (OTT) Category	—	Won
2026	Blue Dragon Series Awards	Popularity Award	—	Won

Personal Life: Private but Passionate

Go Youn-jung is known for keeping her personal life tightly guarded. She is described as friendly but very private—proving this by sharing so little of her personal life with the world.

Her MBTI personality type is ISTP—analytical, observant, and deeply independent. These qualities come through clearly in both her life choices and the nuanced characters she tends to portray.

She has a background in ballet and figure skating. Furthermore, she studied fine arts for seven years at the school level. Because of this, her approach to performance is exceptionally physical and disciplined.

She remains active on Instagram at @goyounjung, where she occasionally shares glimpses of her work and creative interests.