Kwon Na Ra

Who Is Kwon Nara?

Kwon Nara — born Kwon Ah-yoon (권아윤) and legally changed from Kwon Na-ra — is a South Korean actress and former singer. She was born on March 13, 1991, in Incheon, South Korea.

Her journey is one of remarkable reinvention. She first captured public attention as a founding member of the K-pop girl group Hello Venus. Then she made a bold transition into acting. Today, she is recognized as one of South Korea’s most versatile drama actresses.

She is known for her roles in the television dramas Doctor Prisoner and Itaewon Class. Furthermore, her recent work in The Midnight Studio (2024) and the upcoming Disney+ drama Knock-Off (2025) confirms that her career continues to rise.

Early Life: Born in Incheon, Dreaming Bigger

Incheon Roots and a Childhood Dream

Kwon Nara was born on March 13, 1991, in Incheon, South Korea. She has two younger sisters and keeps her parents’ identities private.

Kwon Nara’s childhood dream was actually to be a stewardess. However, during her teen years, a growing passion for performance pushed her in a completely different direction. She auditioned as a trainee for Fantagio Entertainment during middle school, and the entertainment industry never let her go.

Education: Dongduk Women’s University

Kwon Nara graduated from Dongduk Women’s University with a degree in Broadcasting Entertainment. This academic foundation, combined with years of professional training, helped shape her understanding of media, performance, and storytelling.

Physical Profile

Kwon Nara stands at 5 feet 7 inches (172 cm) tall. She has blood type A. Additionally, she was born under the Pisces zodiac sign, known for its creativity and emotional depth — qualities that clearly resonate in her performances on screen.

Music Career: Hello Venus (2012–2019)

Debut With Hello Venus

HELLOVENUS was a six-member girl group under Fantagio Music. Formed by Tricell Media (a joint venture between Fantagio Music and Pledis Entertainment), they debuted on May 9, 2012, with the mini album Venus.

The final lineup consisted of six members: Yoo Ara and Yoonjo from Pledis and Alice, Nara, Lime, and Yooyoung from Fantagio. Kwon Nara served as the group’s lead dancer, vocalist, visual, and face of the group.

That same year, they were nominated for Best New Female Artist and Artist of the Year at the Mnet Asian Music Awards. In 2013, they were named Rookie of the Year at the 2nd Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards.

Group Changes and Notable Songs

In July 2014, Fantagio and Pledis ended their Tricell Media joint ventures. Yooara and Yoonjo remained under Pledis, with the other four members continuing their group activities under Fantagio. In October 2014, Fantagio introduced two new members: Seoyoung and Yeoreum.

The group is most notable for songs such as “Sticky Sticky,” “Wiggle Wiggle,” and “I’m Ill.”

Disbandment (2019)

The group officially disbanded in 2019, after all the members’ contracts expired. For Kwon Nara, this was not an ending. It was a beginning.

Acting Career: A Star Is Reborn

Acting Trainee Roots and Early Cameos

Kwon Nara became an acting trainee for Fantagio Entertainment when she was in middle school. Therefore, while she was active in music, she also pursued smaller acting opportunities on the side.

She appeared in various television dramas and web series in cameo roles. Aside from her group activities, Nara appeared in a cameo role as a stewardess in the 20th episode of the SBS drama I Need Romance 3, connecting her childhood dream of being a stewardess to her growing screen presence in a charming way.

Suspicious Partner (SBS, 2017): First Major Acting Role

In 2017, Nara played her first major acting role in SBS’s romantic comedy drama Suspicious Partner. The series starred Ji Chang-wook and Nam Ji-hyun, with Kwon Nara in a supporting role as Cha Yoo-jung.

The performance earned her a nomination for Best New Actress at the 2017 SBS Drama Awards. It was her first major signal to the industry: she could act.

My Mister (tvN, 2018): Breaking Through

In 2018, Nara starred in tvN’s melodrama My Mister, followed by SBS legal drama Your Honor.

In My Mister, she played Choi Yoo-ra, the love interest of Dong Hoon’s younger brother. The drama starred Lee Sun-kyun and IU, and Kwon Nara’s performance earned her a nomination for Best New Actress in the Television category at the 55th Baeksang Arts Awards — one of South Korea’s most prestigious accolades.

Doctor Prisoner (KBS2, 2019): First Lead Role and Award Wins

In 2019, Nara got her first lead role in the KBS medical prison drama Doctor Prisoner. She played Han So-geum, starring alongside Namgoong Min.

The drama was a massive turning point. Because of this role, she collected two major trophies: the Best New Actress award at the Korea Drama Awards and the Best New Actress award at the KBS Drama Awards. Furthermore, she was also nominated for the Excellence Award and Actress in a Miniseries at the KBS Drama Awards.

Agency Transition and Itaewon Class (JTBC, 2020)

On June 6, 2019, acting agency A-Man Project announced on its Instagram that Nara was now part of its actors. This marked the official start of her full-time acting career as an independent artist.

Then came one of the biggest dramas of her career. Itaewon Class is a 2020 South Korean television series starring Park Seo-joon, Kim Da-mi, Yoo Jae-myung, and Kwon Nara.

She played Oh Soo-ah, who was offered a university scholarship by Jang Dae-hee and later became the Strategic Planning Head of Jangga Group. The drama won the Best Drama Series at the 25th Asian Television Awards. Kwon Nara received a Baeksang Arts Awards nomination for Best Supporting Actress — Television for her nuanced portrayal.

Royal Secret Agent (KBS2, 2020–2021): Historical Comedy Lead

She was also cast in the historical comedy TV series Royal Secret Agent as Hong Da-in, a courtesan whose beauty is comparable to Hwang Jini.

The series is about a government position of Joseon known as a secret royal inspector, who monitors corrupt government officials while remaining undercover. The role earned her the Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries at the 2021 KBS Drama Awards and a nomination for Outstanding Korean Actress at the Seoul International Drama Awards.

Bulgasal: Immortal Souls (tvN, 2021–2022): Epic Fantasy on Netflix

In 2022’s fantasy K-drama Bulgasal: Immortal Souls, she plays a character who transitions from being immortal to human after a tragic event. She played the dual role of Min Sang-woon / Min Sang-yeon. The drama streamed globally on Netflix, significantly expanding Kwon Nara’s international audience.

Agency Moves: A Busy Few Years Off-Screen

Following Bulgasal, Kwon Nara navigated several agency transitions. In June 2022, Nara signed with new agency C-JeS Entertainment. On June 19, 2023, it was reported that Nara had signed an exclusive contract with Ghost Studio to resume activities as an actress. On May 26, 2025, it was announced that Nara had signed with SUBLIME.

Additionally, in September 2022, she joined an ensemble cast featuring actors from Love in the Moonlight, Itaewon Class, and The Sound of Magic in the TVING-produced reality TV show Young Actors’ Retreat.

The Midnight Studio (ENA, 2024): Lead Role in Horror Comedy

Kwon Nara plays a freelance lawyer who joins a photo studio that caters to ghosts in The Midnight Studio. The drama aired from March 11 to May 6, 2024, on the ENA network, and she played the character Han Bom. The drama ran for 16 episodes and was well received by audiences for its creative blend of supernatural and comedic elements.

Knock-Off (Disney+, 2025): A Star-Studded Return

Kwon Nara has been cast as a pivotal character in Knock-Off, a black comedy drama led by Kim Soo Hyun and Jo Bo Ah.

The series will explore the underworld of counterfeit goods, set during Asia’s 1997 financial crisis. Kim Soo-hyun plays Kim Sung-joon, an ordinary office worker whose life takes a dramatic turn after losing his job, getting involved in the illegal counterfeit trade, and eventually rising as a global kingpin.

Kwon Nara portrays Moon Yoo-bin, a young woman who starts making and selling counterfeit goods with her brother. The Disney+ original drama was listed as part of the 2025 Disney+ K-Content lineup.

Filmography: A Career at a Glance

Television Dramas

Year	Title	Role	Network	Notes
2017	Suspicious Partner	Cha Yoo-jung	SBS	First major role
2018	My Mister	Choi Yoo-ra	tvN	Baeksang nomination
2018	Your Honor	—	SBS	Supporting role
2019	Doctor Prisoner	Han So-geum	KBS2	First lead role; 2 award wins
2020	Itaewon Class	Oh Soo-ah	JTBC	Baeksang nomination
2020–2021	Royal Secret Agent	Hong Da-in	KBS2	Lead role; KBS Award win
2021–2022	Bulgasal: Immortal Souls	Min Sang-woon / Min Sang-yeon	tvN	Netflix global release
2024	The Midnight Studio	Han Bom	ENA	Lead role; 16 eps
2025	Knock-Off	Moon Yoo-bin	Disney+	Black comedy crime drama

Awards and Nominations

Year	Award	Category	Project	Result
2017	SBS Drama Awards	Best New Actress	Suspicious Partner	Nominated
2019	Baeksang Arts Awards	Best New Actress – TV	My Mister	Nominated
2019	KBS Drama Awards	Excellence Award, Actress in Miniseries	Doctor Prisoner	Nominated
2019	KBS Drama Awards	Best New Actress	Doctor Prisoner	Won
2019	Korea Drama Awards	Best New Actress	Doctor Prisoner	Won
2020	Baeksang Arts Awards	Best Supporting Actress – TV	Itaewon Class	Nominated
2021	KBS Drama Awards	Excellence Award, Actress in Miniseries	Royal Secret Agent	Won
2021	Seoul International Drama Awards	Outstanding Korean Actress	Royal Secret Agent	Nominated

Personal Life: Private but Present

Kwon Nara keeps her personal life largely private. She has two younger sisters and does not publicly share information about her parents. Her relationship status has not been confirmed publicly.

What is clear, however, is her dedication to craft. She studied Broadcasting Entertainment at Dongduk Women’s University. She trained under one of South Korea’s leading entertainment companies. And she rebuilt her entire career from the ground up after her K-pop group disbanded.

Additionally, her legal name change — from Kwon Na-ra to her birth name Kwon Ah-yoon — marked a deliberate step toward self-definition, stepping out from her stage persona and into a fuller identity.