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Go Ara
Go Ara in Hwarang Promotion in January 2017.png
Go in January 2017
Born (1990-02-11) February 11, 1990 (age 34)
Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea
Alma mater Chung-Ang University
Occupation
  • Actress
  • model
Years active 2003–present
Agent King Kong by Starship
Height 169 cm (5 ft 7 in)
Korean name
Hangul
고아라
Hanja
Revised Romanization Go A-ra
McCune–Reischauer Ko Ara

Go Ara (Hangul: 고아라; born February 11, 1990) is a South Korean actress and model. She is best known for starring in the television series Sharp (2003), Heading to the Ground (2009), Reply 1994 (2013), You're All Surrounded (2014), Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth (2016–17), Black (2017), Ms. Hammurabi (2018), Haechi (2019), and Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol (2020).

Early life and training

Go was born in Jinju, South Gyeongsang, South Korea. At a young age, she constantly moved around Korea because her father was a soldier. When she was in junior high, she was recommended by a friend to audition for the talent agency SM Entertainment. In 2003, she became the winner of the SM Entertainment Teen Model Contest.

Career

2003–2012: Beginnings and rising popularity

Go was chosen to play the female lead, Lee Ok-rim, in the 2003 KBS teen drama Sharp. Her role as an ambitious and confident middle school girl catapulted her to instant stardom. She reprised her role in the sequel Sharp 2.

Go next starred in the 2006 SBS melodrama Snow Flower alongside Kim Hee-ae. Her portrayal of the rebellious and ambitious Yoo Da-mi won her acting recognition at the Baeksang Arts Awards.

Go's first film was the big-budget Japanese movie Genghis Khan: To the Ends of the Earth and Sea, which was released in Japan in March 2007. She played Khulan, the mistress of Genghis Khan, after being picked from more than 40,000 auditions. Go was then cast in another Japanese film, Dance Subaru due to her fluency in the language.

Go Ara at the 2008 Golden Disk Awards 163
Go at the 23rd Golden Disc Awards in December 2008

In 2008, she was cast in the MBC drama Who Are You? opposite Yoon Kye-sang. Despite low ratings in Korea, the body swap comedy drew in international fans, increasing her Korean Wave profile. This led to an appearance in the Japanese television drama Karei naru Spy.

In 2009, she was cast in MBC's romantic comedy Heading to the Ground with idol singer Jung Yunho from DBSK.

In 2012, Go made her domestic film debut in sports film Pacemaker, where she gained 5 kg weight to portray a pole vaulter representing South Korea. She then displayed her singing skills in the 2012 multicultural film Papa, with Park Yong-woo. Go drew attention for her singing and dancing abilities, fluent English and acting performance in the film.

2013–present: Career resurgence

Go's popularity further rose through the nostalgic campus drama Reply 1994 (2013). In order to portray Sung Na-jung, she cut her hair short, and gained 18 lbs. While many doubted her casting when it was first announced, Go's acting later nabbed praise both critically and with viewers. For her performance, Go received Best Actress nominations in the Baeksang Art Awards and APAN Star Awards. She next starred as the sole female rookie detective in the 2014 police drama You're All Surrounded, alongside Lee Seung-gi and Cha Seung-won.

In 2015, Go returned to the big screen alongside Yoo Seung-ho in joseon-era romance film, The Magician, where she plays a princess who finds love with a circus magician. This was followed by a leading role in Phantom Detective, a neo-noir action flick starring Lee Je-hoon as the titular Hong Gil-dong.

(조선마술사) 새해 인사 영상 (고아라)
Go in January 2016

In 2016, Go starred as the female lead opposite Park Seo-joon in youth historical drama Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth. The same year, she left SM Entertainment after 13 years and signed with newly formed management agency Artist Company in January 2017. She then starred in the fantasy thriller drama Black alongside Song Seung-heon, playing a woman who can foresee death.

In 2018, Go starred in the legal drama Ms. Hammurabi alongside Kim Myung-soo, playing a passionate rookie judge. The series was well-received for its honest depiction of adversities in modern-day Korean society; and Go was complimented for her acting.

In 2019, Go starred in the historical action drama Haechi, playing a detective who is well versed in both martial arts and foreign languages.

In 2020, Go starred in the music romance drama Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol as a pianist who hits rock bottom following her family's downfall alongside Lee Jae-wook.

In January 2023, Go signed with King Kong by Starship.

Personal life

On March 7, 2019, Go's agency reported that during the filming of Haechi Go ruptured her Anterior talofibular ligament which resulted in her being hospitalised.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Ref.
2007 Genghis Khan: To the Ends of the Earth and Sea Mistress Khulan
2009 Dance, Subaru! Liz Park
2012 Pacemaker Yoo Ji-won
Papa June
2015 The Magician Princess Cheongmyeong
2016 Phantom Detective President Hwang
2023 The Childe Yoon-Ju

Television series

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2003–2005 Sharp 1 Lee Ok-rim
2005–2006 Sharp 2
2006–2007 Snow Flower Yoo Da-mi
2008 Who Are You? Son Young-in
2009 Karei naru Spy Shin Yoon-ah Cameo (Episode 3)
Heading to the Ground Kang Hae-bin
2013 Reply 1994 Sung Na-jung
2014 You're All Surrounded Eo Soo-sun
2015 The Producers Herself Cameo (Episode 8)
2015–2016 Reply 1988 Sung Na-jung Cameo (Episode 18)
2016–2017 Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth Aro
2017 Black Kang Ha-ram
2018 Ms. Hammurabi Park Cha Oh-reum
2019 Haechi Chun Yeo-ji
2020 Hospital Playlist Herself Cameo (Episode 5–6)
Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol Goo Ra-ra

Web series

Year Title Role Ref.
2024 The Scandal of Chunhwa Princess Hwari

Music video appearances

Year Title Singer From the Album Ref.
2004 "Hug" TVXQ Tri-Angle
2005 "La'Tale"
2007 "Innocent Blue" Mink
2011 "Before U Go" TVXQ Keep Your Head Down
"Juliette" (Japanese ver) SHINee The First
2015 "A Million Pieces" Cho Kyuhyun Fall, Once Again

Discography

Year Title From the Album Ref.
2012 "Now" Papa OST
"Little Girl Dreams"
2013 "Start" Reply 1994 OST

Ambassadorship

Year Title Ref.
2005 Ambassador of Farming and Forestry
2008 Swiss Friend, an ambassador of Switzerland by Switzerland Tourism
2013– Present Good Neighbors (NGO) Goodwill Ambassador
2014–2015 Seoul Metropolitan PR Ambassador
2015 Seoul Police Goodwill Ambassador
2016 Ambassador for the Korean Air Force

Awards and nominations

Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination
Award ceremony Year Category Nominee / Work Result Ref.
André Kim Best Star Awards 2007 New Star Award Go Ara Won
APAN Star Awards 2014 Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Reply 1994 Nominated
2018 Ms. Hammurabi Nominated
2020 Popular Star Award, Actress Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol Nominated
Asia Artist Awards 2020 Popularity Award (Actress) Go Ara Nominated
Baeksang Arts Awards 2007 Best New Actress – Television Snow Flower Won
2010 Most Popular Actress (Film) Heading to the Ground Nominated
2012 Best New Actress – Film Papa Nominated
2014 Best Actress – Television Reply 1994 Nominated
Most Popular Actress (TV) Nominated
Blue Dragon Film Awards 2012 Best New Actress Papa Nominated
Buil Film Awards 2012 Best New Actress Nominated
2023 Popular Star Award The Childe Nominated
Grand Bell Awards 2012 Best New Actress Pacemaker Nominated
KBS Drama Awards 2004 Best Young Actress Sharp 1 Won
2017 Excellence Award, Actress in a Mid-length Drama Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth Nominated
2020 Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol Nominated
Netizen Award, Actress Nominated
Best Couple Award Go Ara with Lee Jae-wook
Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol
Nominated
Korea Broadcasting Awards 2021 Popularity Award Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol Nominated
Korea Film Actors Association Awards 2016 Phantom Detective Won
Korean Advertising Association (KAA) 2008 Best Advertising Model Award Go Ara Won [1]
Korea Sharing National Awards 2017 Minister of Health and Welfare Award Won
MBC Drama Awards 2008 Best New Actress Who Are You? Nominated
Mnet 20's Choice Awards 2012 Barbie Girl Go Ara Won
SBS Drama Awards 2006 New Star Award Snow Flower Won
2014 Excellence Award, Actress in a Drama Special You're All Surrounded Nominated
Netizen Award, Actress Nominated
Best Couple Award Go Ara with Lee Seung-gi
You're All Surrounded
Nominated
2019 Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Mid-length Drama Haechi Nominated
Best Couple Award Go Ara with Jung Il-woo
Haechi
Nominated
SM Entertainment's 5th Anniversary Teen Model Contest 2003 N/A Go Ara Won
Style Icon Awards 2014 Top 10 Style Icons Won
tvN10 Awards 2016 Made in tvN, Actress in Drama Reply 1994 Nominated
Best Kiss Award Go Ara with Jung Woo
Reply 1994
Nominated
Weibo TV Series Awards 2020 Popular Overseas Drama Stars Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol Nominated

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Go Ara para niños

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