The drama was a local success, earning high viewership ratings during its two-month run, and also gained popularity in other countries.

[24][25] Architecture 101 was one of the ten most-watched films in South Korea in the first quarter of 2012, and achieved over 4.1 million admissions nine weeks after its theater release, a new box-office record set for Korean melodramas.

[26] The same year, Bae played a supporting role in the romantic comedy Big, written by the Hong sisters and starring Gong Yoo and Lee Min-jung.

[63] On March 9, Bae released her fourth music video for the single "Midnight", featuring a piano ensemble by Yiruma.

[69] In 2020, Bae starred in the romantic drama Start-Up as an aspiring entrepreneur who dreams of becoming Korea's Steve Jobs.

[78] After starting her acting career, Bae became one of South Korea's hottest stars, and following the success of Architecture 101 in 2012 she was nicknamed "The Nation's First Love" (국민첫사랑; Gungmin Cheotsarang) thanks to the innocent charm of her character.

[79][80][81] Writing for magazine Ize, journalist Kim Na-ra named Bae, Im Yoon-ah and IU the most in-demand troika of all-round entertainers of the 2020s in the fields of television, film, and advertising in South Korea, identifying them as successors to Kim Tae-hee, Song Hye-kyo, and Jun Ji-hyun.

[85][86] Some products were named after her, such as a perfume by The Face Shop,[87] contact lenses by Clalen,[88] a line of Guess jeans,[89] and two lipsticks by Lancôme.

[98] Idols who have cited Bae as an influence or role model include WJSN's Bona,[99] Oh My Girl's Arin,[100] Jung Chae-yeon,[101] Secret Number's Soodam,[102] Berry Good's Johyun,[103] GFriend's Yerin,[104] Momoland's Nayun,[105] and Melody Day's Yoomin.

[108] In April 2015, Bae joined the Social Welfare Community Chest as the 791st member of the Honor Society, a group of major donors with more than ₩100 million.

[111] On her birthday in 2018, Bae donated ₩100 million to the Life Sharing Practice Headquarters to be used for the treatment of children with cancer and leukemia.

[112] In April 2019, Bae donated ₩100 million to the Hope Bridge National Disaster Relief Association to help the victims of the large-scale wildfires in Gangwon Province.

[114] In February 2020, Bae donated ₩100 million to Good Neighbors (International Humanitarian Development NGO) to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and support the low-income class.

[115] In August, she donated ₩100 million to the victims who were affected by the recent floods, through Hope Bridge National Disaster Relief Association.

[117] In October 2020, Bae made a donation of ₩100 million through Life Sharing Practice Headquarters to support patients with incurable diseases and pediatric cancer.

[119] In July 2021, she donated ₩100 million through Life Sharing Practice Headquarters to support heart surgeries of premature infants.

[120][121] In March 2022, Bae made a donation of ₩100 million to the Hope Bridge National Disaster Relief Association to help the victims of the massive Uljin forest fire.

[122] In August, Bae donated ₩100 million to help those affected by the Seoul floods through the Hope Bridge National Disaster Relief Association.

[124] In July, she made a donation of ₩100 million to the Hope Bridge National Disaster Relief Association to help the victims of the floods in Chungcheong and North Gyeongsang Provinces.