Yoona has since achieved further public attention and acting acclaim[1] with a variety of role-types[2] in The K2 (2016), Big Mouth (2022), and King the Land (2023).

The success of Yoona's music and acting careers have led her to various CF deals, notably long-term collaborator Innisfree, and have established her as a top idol-actress of Hallyu.

[15] She then appeared in MBC's Woman of Matchless Beauty (2008), and was complimented by veteran actress Bae Jong-ok for her cameo performance.

[16] In May 2008, Yoona landed her first leading role in KBS's drama You Are My Destiny, playing the character Jang Sae-byuk.

[25][26] Although the drama scored low domestic viewership[27] and was criticized for its failure to relate to the viewers,[28] Yoona's acting received positive reviews.

"[29] Choi In-kyung of Hankook Ilbo said her acting was continuously improving and "Yoona is completely immersed in her character and has now become 'Hana' herself.

[33] In December 2013, Yoona starred alongside Lee Beom-soo in KBS2's romantic comedy drama Prime Minister & I.

[37] In March 2016, Yoona released her first solo single "Deoksugung Stonewall Walkway", a collaboration with the South Korean indie group 10cm, as part of SM Station.

[41] She played dual roles–one falls in love with the male lead character but later finds out he killed her father while the other is skilled in martial arts.

[43] Following the success, in August 2016, Yoona released a Chinese digital mini-album titled Blossom, which contains her renditions of well-known Mandarin songs.

[45][46] Tired of being typecast with a candy-like image and having always been burdened by the idol-actress prejudice, Yoona cast away the public perception and focused on the role as her "personal challenge.

[58] In August 2018, a Girls' Generation subgroup named Oh!GG was formed with Yoona alongside the four other members who had decided to renew their contracts with SM entertainment; the group released the single "Lil' Touch".

[61] In July of the same year, Yoona starred in the disaster action film Exit alongside Jo Jung-suk.

At the end of 2020, Yoona returned to the small screen in JTBC's office drama Hush, where she played an intern reporter.

[67] She also reprised her role in the action-comedy sequel, Confidential Assignment 2: International, which subsequently also became one of the highest-grossing films in South Korea like its predecessor.

[73][74] CNN credited her as "one of the household names in the Asia-Pacific region" which has helped Korean beauty brands become popular in China.

[101] In 2014, Yoona was appointed as ambassador for UNICEF's campaign, "UNIHERO", which aims to invite people to become heroes for the less fortunate children all around the globe.

[106][107] Starting September 2019, an advertisement campaign "Imagine Your Korea" was launched to improve Korean tourism awareness and attract more foreign tourists.

[112] As a member of Girls' Generation and a successful actress, Yoona has been hailed as a top idol-actress and a prominent South Korean figure.

[3] Having appeared in CFs even before her Girls' Generation debut, the success of Yoona's music and acting careers has led her to individually endorse almost 40 brands internationally, notably long-time collaborator Innisfree, including ten in 2019 alone.