Choi Jin-ri, known professionally as Sulli, was a South Korean singer and actress. She first made her debut as a child actress, appearing as a supporting cast member on the SBS historical drama Ballad of Seodong. Following this, she earned a number of guest roles, appearing in the television series Love Needs a Miracle and Drama City, and the film Vacation. She then subsequently appeared in the independent films Punch Lady and BA:BO, the former being her first time cast in a substantial dramatic role.
After signing a record deal with SM Entertainment, Sulli rose to prominence as a member of the girl group f(x) formed in 2009. The group achieved both critical and commercial success, with four Korean number-one singles and international recognition after becoming the first K-pop act to perform at SXSW. Concurrently with her music career, Sulli returned to acting by starring in the SBS romantic comedy series, To the Beautiful You, a Korean adaptation of the shōjo manga Hana-Kimi where her performance was positively received and earned her two SBS Drama Awards and a nomination at the 49th Paeksang Arts Awards.