Biography
Seol In-ah is an actress known for her versatile performances in television dramas. She gained recognition for her roles in “Sunny Again Tomorrow” (2018) and “Beautiful Love, Wonderful Life” (2019–2020), earning praise for her acting skills. Seol In-ah further expanded her popularity with supporting roles in hit dramas like “Mr. Queen” (2020–2021) and “Business Proposal” (2022), where her charming presence captivated audiences. She studied at Seoul Institute of the Arts, majoring in acting, and made her debut in 2015. Beyond dramas, she has also appeared in variety shows, showcasing her lively personality. With her growing career and strong screen presence, Seol In-ah continues to establish herself as a rising star in the Korean entertainment industry.
Profile
- Name: Seol In-ah
- Birth name: Bang Ye-rin
- Birthday: January 3, 1996
- Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
- Height: 167 cm
- Instagram: @_seorina
- Twitter: N/A
Career
Seol In-ah made her acting debut in 2015 with a minor role in KBS2’s “The Producers,” where she played a high school anti-fan of Cindy. She later gained public attention in 2016 after appearing on the variety show “A Look at Myself,” where her intense acting during a hidden camera prank involving veteran singer Jo Young-nam earned her the nickname “Jo Young-nam Slap Girl.” That same year, she took on a small but memorable role as the younger version of Han Geum-ok in MBC’s “Flowers of the Prison.”
Her career continued to gain momentum in 2017 when she played Jo Hee-ji, the girlfriend of Ji Soo’s character, in JTBC’s “Strong Woman Do Bong-soon.” Around the same time, she also became an MC for MBC’s Section TV Entertainment News, a role she held for nearly two years. She further expanded her acting portfolio by starring in “School 2017” as Hong Nam-joo, a popular high school student, alongside Jang Dong-yoon.
In 2018, Seol In-ah landed her first leading role as Kang Ha-ni in KBS1’s “Sunny Again Tomorrow,” which significantly boosted her recognition among older audiences and earned her the Best New Actress award at the KBS Drama Awards. While her performance was well received, some critics noted that her sharp features and husky voice made her more suited for antagonist roles. She later challenged herself with her first action-oriented role as Go Mal-sook in MBC’s “Special Labor Inspector” in 2019. That same year, she took on her first weekend drama lead role in “Beautiful Love, Wonderful Life,” playing Kim Cheong-ah, a long-time civil service exam taker.
In 2020, she made a notable special appearance in tvN’s “Record of Youth” as Jung Ji-ah, the ex-girlfriend of the male lead, portraying a cool and confident yet intelligent character. Later that year, she played Jo Hwa-jin in the historical drama “Mr. Queen.”
Her breakthrough came in 2022 with the role of Jin Young-seo in SBS’s “Business Proposal,” where she showcased a more lovable and comedic side, breaking away from her previous chic and strong-willed characters. Her performance was widely praised for its natural charm and comedic timing, marking a turning point in her career.
Following this success, Seol In-ah continued to receive critical acclaim, particularly for her role in KBS’s “Oasis” (2023), where she portrayed Oh Jung-shin, a bright high school student who matures into a resilient woman through life’s hardships. Her performance was so well received that many speculated she could win a top acting award. She further showcased her versatility in tvN’s “Twinkling Watermelon,” playing a dual role as Choi Se-kyung, an elite cello player, and her daughter, time traveler On Eun-yu. Her ability to seamlessly distinguish between the two characters while delivering emotionally compelling performances solidified her reputation as a talented and adaptable actress.
Personal Life
Early Life
Seol In-ah joined YUEHUA Entertainment as an idol trainee in middle school, believing it could be a quicker path to acting. However, due to internal company issues and strict management, she was the only trainee left by her final year of high school.
Feeling uncertain about her future, she decided to pursue college and prepared for entrance exams with just three months left. She combined basic dance skills learned from friends with hip-hop moves from her trainee years to create her own choreography, ultimately earning admission to the Acting Department at Seoul Institute of the Arts. Despite spending nearly four years as a trainee, she has no regrets, as the experience sharpened her instincts and contributed to her growth as an actress.
Health Issue
In the fitness program “Iron Girls”, Seol In-ah revealed a five-year struggle with insomnia that led to a dependency on sleeping pills. Despite maintaining an active public image, Seol In-ah disclosed that she pushed herself to stay busy in hopes of inducing sleep, which ironically earned her a reputation as a “healthy, active girl.” Her reliance on sleeping pills adversely affected her on-set performance, prompting her to quit.
However, withdrawal resulted in sleepless stretches of up to four days, severely compromising her immune system and causing skin issues. Medical consultations led to prescriptions of up to 24 pills daily to manage these symptoms.
Net Worth
Over the past eight years, Seol In-ah’s career has been on a steady rise, with her fame continuously growing. She gained significant recognition in the entertainment industry, but it was her role in the hit drama “Business Proposal” that truly catapulted her to international stardom. Following the drama’s success, she became a beloved celebrity and a crush for many fans around the world. Thanks to her increasing popularity and successful projects, various sources estimate her current net worth to be around $5 million.
Filmography
Film
- Closed Eyes (2017)
- Emergency Declaration (2022)
- Love My Scent (2023)
Television Series
- The Producers (2015)
- Flowers of the Prison (2016)
- Strong Girl Bong-soon (2017)
- School 2017 (2017)
- Sunny Again Tomorrow (2018)
- Special Labor Inspector (2019)
- Beautiful Love, Wonderful Life (2019–2020)
- Record of Youth (2020)
- Mr. Queen (2020–2021)
- Business Proposal (2022)
- Oasis (2023)
- Twinkling Watermelon (2023)
Web Series
- Celebrity (2024)
Facts
- Her role models include Kim Hye-soo, and her ideal type is Jo Jin-woong, whom she describes as a dependable “panda-like” figure.
- Seol In-ah is often spotted walking her dog in Haenggung-dong, Suwon, and frequently shares pet photos on social media.
- Seol has a strong connection to KBS, crediting the network for her career. She once believed simply watching KBS would boost ratings, only to be shocked on “Happy Together” when she learned that wasn’t the case.
- Despite her sophisticated image, she describes herself as inexperienced in love.
- Though she often plays older characters, she has a youthful side. She has a special bond with baseball, having thrown the first pitch at a Doosan Bears game and earning recognition from the WBSC. She also supports Suwon Samsung Bluewings and even performed a ceremonial kickoff at a home match.
- In April 2022, Seol In-ah left Oui Entertainment and signed an exclusive contract with Gold Medalist.
- Her stage name, Seol In-ah, was given by her cousin. It originates from her English name, Serena—when spoken quickly in Korean, it sounds like “Seol In-ah.” However, in American pronunciation, “Serena” is closer to Suh-REE-nah, making the connection less obvious.
- Her MBTI personality type is INFJ.
