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South Korean actress Nana speaking during an interview
K-Pop & Asia

Nana Recalls Getting Stranded At A Highway Rest Stop Without Her Phone

The After School singer turned actress shared the shocking moment her vehicle drove off without her during a trip.

By Dee AlvarezPublished Updated 2 min read

Getting stranded on the road is a nightmare scenario for anyone, but finding yourself abandoned at a highway service station without a mobile device is a whole new level of panic. Former After School member turned actress Nana revealed that she once experienced this exact situation firsthand during a journey. The South Korean star recounted the unbelievable mix-up during a recent promotional appearance alongside fellow cast members Son Ye Jin and Ji Chang Wook. The trio came together in a newly released video to chat about their upcoming project, *The Scandal*, while opening up about personal anecdotes and unexpected moments from their careers. Nana’s story stood out as one of the most surprising admissions from the sit-down. She explained that she had stepped away from her vehicle during a brief stop along the trip, only for the driver to pull away without her on board.

What Happened To Nana At The Rest Stop To make matters significantly worse, Nana had left her smartphone inside the vehicle before stepping out. Without any way to call her management team or crew, she was effectively stranded alone at the location with no easy way to contact anyone on the road. The unexpected separation left the star stuck waiting at the rest area until the passengers inside the vehicle finally realized they were traveling without her. It remains unclear how long she was left waiting before her ride turned around to pick her up, but the situation quickly became an unforgettable memory.

Nana Promotes The Scandal Alongside Star Cast The revelation emerged as Nana, Son Ye Jin, and Ji Chang Wook teamed up to engage with audiences ahead of *The Scandal*. The group displayed strong chemistry as they shared stories and reacted to different situations during the promotional segment. Fans of the K-pop legend turned screen star were stunned to learn how easily such a major mix-up could happen on the road. Despite the initial stress of being abandoned without her phone, Nana recounted the incident with humor, proving she can now laugh about one of the most chaotic moments of her career.

The backstory

Verified moments, in order.

Nana: From After School to a life on screen

Pop groups establish her name; acting gives her a second career. These are the milestones—and the personal scrutiny—behind the singer turned actress.

  1. 2009-11

    After School brings her into pop

    Nana — After School brings her into pop

    Nana, born Im Jin-ah, joins After School alongside Raina. She makes her debut with the group’s release of Because of You, beginning the idol career that puts her in public view.

  2. 2010-06

    Orange Caramel gives her another identity

    Nana — Orange Caramel gives her another identity

    Nana teams with fellow After School members Raina and Lizzy in Orange Caramel. The trio debuts with Magic Girl, building a separate identity around playful costumes and theatrical pop performances.

  3. The Good Wife marks an acting breakthrough

    Nana — The Good Wife marks an acting breakthrough

    Nana plays law-firm investigator Kim Dan in the South Korean adaptation of The Good Wife, alongside Jeon Do-yeon and Yoo Ji-tae. The supporting role becomes a key step in her transition from idol to established actress.

  4. The Swindlers takes her into a cinema ensemble

    Nana — The Swindlers takes her into a cinema ensemble

    Nana appears alongside Hyun Bin and Yoo Ji-tae in the crime film The Swindlers. Playing a member of a con-artist team extends her screen career beyond television.

  5. Into the Ring puts her in the lead

    Nana — Into the Ring puts her in the lead

    Nana stars opposite Park Sung-hoon in Into the Ring. She plays Goo Se-ra, a persistent complainant who enters local politics, taking the central role in a romantic comedy built around district-council battles.

  6. 2022-09Flashpoint

    Her tattoos become a public talking point

    Nana — Her tattoos become a public talking point

    Visible tattoos at a promotional appearance for Confession prompt speculation about whether the body art is real or connected to a role. At a subsequent press event for Glitch, Nana confirms that the tattoos are real and a personal choice, not something she gets for the character.

  7. 2023-08

    Mask Girl gives her a shared—and central—role

    Nana — Mask Girl gives her a shared—and central—role

    Nana stars in Mask Girl as one of three actresses portraying Kim Mo-mi, alongside Lee Han-byeol and Go Hyun-jung. She plays the character after cosmetic surgery in the thriller about an office worker whose masked online persona becomes entangled with violence.

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People also ask

Who is Nana?
Nana is a South Korean singer and actress who originally gained fame as a member of the K-pop girl group After School before transitioning into a successful acting career.
Who are Nana's co-stars in The Scandal?
Nana stars alongside top South Korean actors Son Ye Jin and Ji Chang Wook in the production.
Did Nana have her phone when she was left behind?
No, Nana accidentally left her phone inside the vehicle before stepping out, leaving her unable to contact her team.