ActorMask Studio
Lim Nayoung
Lim Nayoung (임나영) led I.O.I as its captain after finishing tenth on Produce 101 in 2016, bringing a quiet authority to a group built on chaos and 101 competing egos. Born December 18, 1995 in Gwanak District, Seoul, she trained under Pledis Entertainment from a young age and was one of only two Pledis trainees to make I.O.I's final lineup.
When I.O.I disbanded in January 2017, she returned to Pledis and co-debuted Pristin on March 21, 2017. As leader, she anchored the nine-member group through a debut that drew immediate comparisons to TWICE. Pristin's 2017 hit WEE WOO peaked at number four on the Gaon Chart; sub-unit Pristin V followed in 2018 with Get It. When Pledis announced disbandment in May 2019, Nayoung was among the first to chart a path forward.
The pivot to acting was gradual and deliberate. She graduated from Dongduk Women's University, signed with Ascendio in July 2023, then moved to Mask Studio in February 2024 for a focused acting push. Screen credits include a supporting role in the tvN thriller Flower of Evil (2020), the idol drama Imitation (2021), family drama Unpredictable Family (2023), and a lead in the horror film 4 Minutes 44 Seconds (2024). She also appeared in the Korean-Japanese joint musical series Nebula (2024) and made her musical theater debut in I Loved You (2023).
At 30, Nayoung brings a decade of entertainment industry depth that few of her peers can match. She remains one of the most respected figures from the Produce 101 era.
1 articles7 creditsDebut: May 4, 2016South Korean
Fans Also Ask
Who is Lim Nayoung?
Lim Nayoung (임나영) is a South Korean actress and former idol born December 18, 1995, in Gwanak District, Seoul. She finished 10th on Produce 101 in 2016, leading I.O.I as its captain, then debuted with Pledis Entertainment's girl group Pristin in 2017 before transitioning to full-time acting.
What K-pop groups was Lim Nayoung in?
Lim Nayoung was a member of I.O.I (2016-2017), the project group formed from Produce 101, where she served as captain. She then debuted with Pristin (2017-2019) under Pledis Entertainment and its sub-unit Pristin V. After Pristin disbanded in 2019, she focused on her acting and modelling career.
What has Lim Nayoung acted in?
Lim Nayoung has appeared in the family drama Unpredictable Family (2023), the Korean-Japanese joint musical series Nebula (2024), and the horror film 4 Minutes 44 Seconds (2024). She has steadily expanded her acting portfolio since leaving the idol industry in 2019.
What is the I.O.I 10th anniversary?
On March 9, 2026, I.O.I launched official social media accounts under the ID 'ioi_10th' to mark the group's 10th anniversary. Nine members including Lim Nayoung, Chungha, Kim Sejeong, Jung Chaeyeon, and Jeon Somi opened coordinated profiles on Instagram, X, and TikTok together.
What agency is Lim Nayoung with now?
Lim Nayoung signed with Sublime Artist Agency in 2019 after Pristin disbanded. She moved to Ascendio in mid-2023, then signed with newly established Mask Studio in February 2024. Her contract with Mask Studio concluded in November 2025.
