Im Siwan

Yim Si-wan, born Yim Woong-jae on December 1, 1988, is a South Korean singer and actor. He first gained prominence as a member of the boy group ZE:A and its sub-unit ZE:A-Five. As an actor, he is widely recognized for his roles in the film The Attorney (2013) and television series such as Misaeng: Incomplete Life (2014) and Run On (2020). He also achieved international recognition after being cast in the second and third seasons of Squid Game.

Yim was born in Busan, South Korea, where he attended Busan Gudeok High School and Pusan National University. He later pursued studies at the University of East Broadcasting Arts and Woosong Information College. Prior to his debut, he legally changed his name to Yim Si-wan. While attending the Chin Chin Song Festival in Busan, he was recruited by Star Empire as a trainee. After three years of training, he officially debuted with ZE:A in January 2010 with the extended play Nativity.

Yim launched his acting career in 2012 with a role in the historical drama Moon Embracing the Sun, followed by appearances in Man from the Equator and Standby. His feature film breakthrough came in 2013 with the courtroom drama The Attorney, playing a detained student activist. The film became one of the highest-grossing Korean films of all time, earning Yim Best New Actor awards at the Max Movie Awards and the Marie Claire Film Festival.

In 2014, Yim starred in the hit drama Misaeng: Incomplete Life, playing a former baduk player transitioning to corporate culture. His performance won him an Excellence Award at the APAN Star Awards and a Baeksang Arts Award for Best New Actor. He expanded his film roles with A Melody to Remember (2016), One Line (2017), and The Merciless (2017), the latter leading to his first invitation to the Cannes Film Festival. The same year, he starred in the series The King in Love.

From July 2017 to March 2019, Yim completed mandatory military service as an active-duty soldier and assistant instructor. Upon his return, he starred in the series Hell Is Other People (2019), Run On (2020), Tracer (2022), Summer Strike (2022), and Boyhood (2023). He also appeared in the films Boston 1947 and Emergency Declaration (2020). His portrayal of a bioterrorist in Emergency Declaration earned him Best Supporting Actor honors at the Buil Film Awards and the Korean Film Producers Association Awards.

In addition to acting, Yim recorded and co-wrote the soundtrack song "Me and You" for Run On. In late 2025, it was announced he would debut as a soloist under SMart before signing with The Black Label. Beyond entertainment, Yim has served as a brand ambassador for companies like Narwal and Nongshim, held promotional ambassadorships such as for the 2024 World Team Table Tennis Championships, and supported various causes through donations for disaster relief, international aid, and medical facilities.