12 Quick Facts About "Record Of Youth" Star Park So-Dam

Before anything else, you have to know that Park So-dam is the embodiment of not taking no as an answer! Knowing she had the skills to jump-start an acting career, she continued to audition for films—many, many of them—despite getting turned down not one, not five, not even 10, but at least 15 times. There seemed to be no one willing to give her a shot in the business, and it was only in 2013 when she was 22 years old that she got a break. 

She didn't start out like many of Korea's biggest stars who knew they wanted to be onscreen since they were little. She never did commercials as a child, didn't participate in school productions in high school, and didn't think of acting at all even when she was in college. Her start in acting might be considered a late one by Korean standards considering that many budding actresses start getting experience in their teens, but when she decided that she was going to be an actress, there was nothing that could stand in her way. 

What was it that got her attention, then? She saw "Grease," as in the iconic piece of American pop culture with John Travolta and Olivia Newton John, and that was that. It sparked a fire in her that couldn't be put out and it was then that she expressed an interest in acting. You'd think that she'd get into romance and lighthearted films, or even musical theater with an influence like that, but her trajectory couldn't have been farther off! She quickly rose to popularity in the indie film circuit for her portrayals of oddball, disturbed, and just serious-minded characters. 

She began working in films before crossing over to K-Dramas. Going on the big screen for the first time in 2013, she had five projects in that year alone! Three of those projects were short films where she played supporting roles, but one project in particular earned her praise from the right people. She starred in "Steel Cold Winter," a mystery/thriller, and it marked the beginning of a continuous stream of projects.

She has starred in at least one film since "Steel Cold Winter" every year, however her filmography still definitely leans towards indie work rather than mainstream or big box-office hits. Some of her biggest fans cite 2015's horror hit "The Priests" as one of her best performances by far. The movie had her play a possessed school girl whose soul gets ravaged by a demon, and for it, Park So-dam earned a total of 10 nominations for a Best New Actress/Best Supporting Actress award—eight of which she won!

In the same year, she starred in "The Silenced," a film that was highly praised at the Busan Film Festival, and in "The Throne," a period drama. She took on supporting roles for both but that's not to say that she was a minor player; taken together, she successfully showed the industry her versatility and thus began her work in television.

She concentrates on films up to this day and has only five series credits to her name. However, 2020 could have her appear in more K-Dramas with her most recent project, "Record of Youth," where she stars alongside Park Bo-gum and is quickly gaining traction among fans and critics alike. Its first episode is scheduled to premiere on September 7 on Netflix, and many hold high expectations for the actress here, as she takes on the role of a budding makeup artist.

If you're looking for a Park So-dam starter pack, here it is: see her in "No More, No Less" (her very first taste of the big screen) and "The Silenced," then "Cinderella and the Four Knights" when it comes to series. You'll see the many faces of Park So-dam with this watch list. Make your way up to "Parasite" and "Record of Youth" to see how much she's exercised her acting muscles over the years!

She's also had her taste of theater work. Park So-dam has appeared in three stage productions: "Let Me In," Closer," and "The Student and Mr. Henri." She hasn't returned to theater since 2017, however.

Speaking of "Record of Youth," the K-Drama has her fill in the shoes of a makeup artist with dreams of establishing her own beauty brand. Without revealing too much of the story, her role is meant to inspire other young people chasing their dreams even amidst many difficulties. 

Saving the best for last, Park So-damn might be a familiar face to you because she starred in history-making film, "Parasite." The four-time Oscar-winning film had her play the role of Jessica (the deceitful sister from the poorer Kim family) and she was present at the Academy Awards held in February this year where she received the film's awards alongside her cast mates, film execs, and director Bong Joon-ho. 

She's also done some work in modeling and fashion editorials, the equally stylish twin sister of being an actress. She's posed for Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Vanity Fair, and Elle so far, and something tells us that these features are just the beginning.