On April 17, 2026, legendary South Korean drama writer Im Sung-han—also known by her pen name Phoebe—stepped into the digital spotlight in a rare and much-anticipated appearance. She joined comedian Eom Eun-hyang’s YouTube channel for a live broadcast, drawing in a wave of fans, industry insiders, and curious viewers. For someone who’s carefully maintained her mystique for over three decades, this event carried the weight of a minor cultural phenomenon. Yet, true to form, Im Sung-han kept things enigmatic by appearing only via voice, quipping, “You might be disappointed I didn’t show up in person, but you all know my face from photos. I look rustic.”
Im Sung-han’s appearance was more than a publicity stunt—it was a candid, sometimes humorous, and at times deeply personal conversation that peeled back the curtain on her career, creative process, and the rumors that have swirled around her for years. According to Newsis, she addressed the persistent speculation about her pen name, clarifying, “It’s a misunderstanding that ‘Im Sung-han’ is my brother’s name. My mother gave me a male name for health reasons after hearing that names with the character ‘영’ (meaning glory) could harm health. She wanted me to be healthy, so she gave me a man’s name.” She even revealed another pen name, ‘Hyangran’, used when a more feminine touch was needed, especially for earlier works.
Im’s unique writing style—marked by sentence inversion and noun endings—has become a signature in the K-drama world. She explained that her approach was initially a response to feedback from a senior actor during her debut. “Writers use too much formal language. Try writing in a more colloquial style,” the actor advised. Im took this to heart, listening closely to how people spoke and noticing that natural speech often involves inversion and abrupt endings. “It seems to differentiate my work,” she reflected.
Im Sung-han’s dramas, including See and See Again, Mermaid, Princess Aurora, Heavenly Being, and Marriage Lyrics Divorce Composition, have consistently captured the public’s imagination—and, occasionally, its ire. She spoke candidly about her experiences with anti-fans. “During Mermaid, there was even a protest demanding I retire,” she recalled. But she’s philosophical about criticism. “Even the president has about 48% who are against them,” she joked, adding, “When my shows had a 78% viewership, if Korea had 20 million viewers, anti-fans were about 15,000. Instead of being hurt, I’m grateful for the attention, and I try to write even more perfectly, fearing their criticism.”
Turning to her latest project, the TV Chosun weekend mini-series Doctor Shin, Im didn’t shy away from discussing its underwhelming ratings, which have hovered around 1%. “If I thought the show was truly bad or boring, I’d reflect on that. But as long as I get messages from people saying they’re enjoying it, that’s enough for me. There’s no need to live and die by the numbers,” she said, as reported by Spotv News. The writer even mused about taking a hiatus: “I wonder if I should write fewer dramas. Maybe I’ll take a break for a few years. Being able to write at my age is a blessing, but sometimes, like getting caught in the rain, you just have to accept what comes.”
The broadcast wasn’t just about her creative philosophy—it was peppered with behind-the-scenes stories and personal anecdotes. Im revealed her unique way of bonding with actors: “Whenever I work on a drama, I take the actors to karaoke. I observe their hidden talents,” she said, drawing laughter as she recounted how actor Shin Ju-shin (played by Jung Yi-chan in Doctor Shin) belted out Na Hoon-a’s ‘Musiro’ with a surprisingly notable voice. “He sang it so well,” she added with clear affection.
Im also described her hands-on approach to nurturing new talent. Before filming Doctor Shin, she led rehearsal sessions with actors like Jung Yi-chan, Baek Se-ra, Ahn Woo-yeon, Joo Se-ban, and Cheon Young-min. “Ju-shin had to carry the show, but at first, he wasn’t strong enough,” Im admitted. “He seemed mentally shaken, so I told the actors to call me ‘noona’ (older sister) and the director ‘hyung’ (older brother) to make things more comfortable.” She recounted with amusement how, after being scolded, the actors would say, “I’ll go, noona,” instead of the usual, more formal “I’ll be going,” making her laugh so hard she had to hide her face behind the script.
Despite her nurturing approach during rehearsals, Im keeps her distance once filming begins. “I only contact actors during rehearsal periods. Once shooting starts, I change my phone number and don’t maintain contact,” she said, emphasizing her focus on newcomers and her preference for professional boundaries. The sole exception is actress Han Hye-sook, whom Im described as “honest, cool, and a true star—someone I still meet from time to time.”
Im’s criteria for casting leads are unambiguous: “I look at their face and vocalization,” she stated on Eom Eun-hyang’s channel, underscoring her belief that a strong presence and voice are essential for drama leads.
In a rare glimpse into her private life, Im discussed her niece, actress Baek Ok-dam, revealing, “She’s married and raising her children well. She’s a wonderful mother.” Addressing why Baek Ok-dam didn’t appear in Doctor Shin, Im explained, “I told her that focusing on raising her children is best. You can’t do both perfectly. It’s not easy to work and be a good mother.”
Im Sung-han’s steadfast refusal to use assistant writers is another hallmark of her fiercely independent style. “No one writes as well as I do, so there’s no reason to have an assistant. And I wouldn’t hire someone who writes worse than me,” she said with characteristic bluntness, as reported by Spotv News.
Since her 1990 debut with KBS Drama Game – Standing in a Maze, Im has become a household name, penning a string of ratings juggernauts that have defined eras of Korean television. Yet, she’s also cultivated an air of mystery, rarely appearing in public and letting her work speak for itself. This mystique only adds fuel to the ongoing fascination with her distinctive dialogue and storytelling style, which has recently found renewed popularity among the MZ generation, sparking a wave of rewatching her classic dramas.
As of now, Im Sung-han continues to meet viewers with Doctor Shin on TV Chosun. Whether she decides to take a break or return with another drama, her influence on the Korean drama landscape remains undeniable. For fans and critics alike, her rare public reflections offer a deeper understanding of the mind behind some of the nation’s most unforgettable television moments.