Lim Ji-yeon Reflects on Her Acting Journey and the Challenges of Leading in “The Tale of Lady Ok”

Lim Ji-yeon, who played the lead role of Ok Tae-young in JTBC’s drama “The Tale of Lady Ok,” recently reflected on her acting career over the past few years. Known for portraying strong, impactful characters in shows like “The Glory” (2022), “Lies Hidden in My Garden” (2023), and “Revolver” (2024), Lim Ji-yeon left a deep impression on viewers.

Returning to Historical Drama: A Personal Challenge

Lim Ji-yeon explained, “I didn’t purposely choose impactful characters, but now I feel it’s time to take on more ordinary, neutral roles and perform in a more monotone way. I want to be a character that viewers can easily and comfortably relate to.”

“The Tale of Lady Ok” tells the intense survival story of Ok Tae-young (Lim Ji-yeon), who, after having everything—including her name, status, and husband—become fake, teams up with Cheon Seung-hwi (Choo Young-woo), who risked his life to protect her. Lim Ji-yeon plays the role of Ok Tae-young, born as a slave named Gu-deok, who lives a second life with a false identity.

This marks her return to historical drama after a ten-year gap since “The Treacherous” (2015) and “The Royal Gambler” (2016). She reflected, “At that time, I was young and inexperienced, so I had many shortcomings. I had no idea how tough historical dramas would be, and I had a bias against them.” She continued, “However, after reading the script for ‘The Tale of Lady Ok,’ I realized I had been too afraid to try things outside my comfort zone. I felt ashamed of myself for not challenging myself earlier. So I decided to take on this challenge with a big heart, and that’s why I have so much affection for this project. I feel like I’ve overcome my trauma and returned to my roots.”

Taking the lead in a historical drama was a big responsibility, and Lim Ji-yeon felt the weight of it. “I lacked confidence in myself, especially as this was my first time carrying a historical drama, and the entire cast put in so much energy. I had to manage both my mental and physical strength to avoid burning out due to the amount of screen time,” she explained. “But above all, I loved my role.”

Lim Ji-yeon on Her Character’s Impact and Audience Reception

Lim Ji-yeon gained recognition for her acting in “The Glory,” with many even calling her “Park Yeon-jin” in real life, reflecting the deep connection her character had with the audience. Recently, in “The Tale of Lady Ok,” she has been called “Gu-deok” or “Tae-young” more often. “When I go to restaurants, older people tell me they like me. I used to be called Yeon-jin, but now it’s Gu-deok and Tae-young. ‘Lim Ji-yeon’ is rarely mentioned,” she said with a laugh.

She added, “I’m happy to be called by the name of my character in the work. It’s a happy thing for an actor to be addressed by the character’s name. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I still like being called Yeon-jin, Gu-deok, or Tae-young. I hope they keep calling me these names for a long time.”

Support and Chemistry with Co-Stars

Lim Ji-yeon captivated viewers with her touching romance scenes with Choo Young-woo, who played both Seung-hwi and Yeon-gyeom, in “The Tale of Lady Ok.” Regarding Choo Young-woo’s performance, Lim Ji-yeon commented, “It wasn’t difficult to distinguish between the two roles he played. I just thought of him as a different person. He did an excellent job, and it was great how he subtly differentiated the characters without overdoing it. I was impressed by how well he handled such difficult roles.” She also spoke highly of Choo Young-woo as an actor.

“The Tale of Lady Ok” holds special meaning for Im Ji-yeon, as it marks her first leading role and also her first romance project since her public relationship with actor Lee Do-hyun. Lim Ji-yeon shared, “Lee Do-hyun watches ‘The Tale of Lady Ok’ diligently, and his feedback has been consistent. He’s always cheering me on. He knows how much love and effort I’ve put into this project, and we both support and rely on each other.”

Lim Ji-yeon’s co-star from “The Glory,” Cha Joo-young, also stars in her first historical drama “The Queen Who Crowns,” where she plays the lead role. Lim Ji-yeon recalled, “The timing was really similar when we were choosing our projects. So we shared a lot during that process. When ‘The Queen Who Crowns’ first aired, I was nervous. But she did great, and I received a lot of positive energy from her. We continue to share our worries and help each other.”

Lim Ji-yeon will also appear in the tvN variety show “Fresh Off the Sea 2” this year. “I’ve been a fan of ‘Fresh Off the Sea’ and enjoyed watching it. I expect the chemistry in season 2 will be even more fun. We’ve all become close,” she said. “We haven’t filmed yet, but I think we’ll be starting soon.”