Son Ye-jin: Motherhood ‘expanded my world’ as an actress
MANILA, Philippines — Becoming a mother hasn’t necessarily changed the roles Son Ye-jin wants to play on screen, but it has certainly changed the way she now approaches acting.
The South Korean superstar makes her return to drama in Netflix’s “The Scandal,” four years after starring in the 2022 series “Thirty-Nine.”
To many Filipino K-drama fans, she will perhaps always be remembered as Yoon Se-ri, the South Korean heiress who literally crash-landed into the life of North Korean military officer Ri Jeong-hyeok, played by Hyun Bin, in the global hit “Crash Landing on You.”
Much has changed in Son Ye-jin’s life since then. She wed Hyun Bin in 2022 and they welcomed their firstborn child later that same year.
Now, as she takes on the more mature and morally complicated role of Lady Cho in “The Scandal,” Son Ye-jin said motherhood has enriched the perspective she brings to her performances.
Asked by The Philippine STAR whether becoming a mom had affected the way she selects her roles nowadays, she said the difference is felt more in her acting than in the projects she accepts.
“I guess, being a mom really has not much to do with choosing which role I play. Because it’s usually the scripts that come in. I look at the scripts and then I get to choose from those options,” she said through an interpreter.
“But I guess what’s different now is the way I approach my performance. Because now my world has expanded. I know a different world. So I guess the way I approach different performances can be a little bit changing.”
That expanded world, of course, now includes the everyday joys — and challenges — of raising a child.
In a separate video interview released by Netflix Korea, Son Ye-jin shared that she had been spending much of her time parenting over working.
“I’ve been raising my kid lately, I’m taking a break. Raising a kid (is harder),” she admitted.
She also revealed that her son, who is turning four, has become more talkative and has even begun adorably telling his famous mom to “get a grip.”
“He’s turning four soon. Yes (he’s talking so well) these days, he tells me, ‘Mom, get a grip.’ When I’m exhausted and I say, ‘Woojin, I’m gonna lie down for a bit.’ Then he says, ‘Mom, get a grip.’ Where did you learn that?” she laughingly said, recalling her shocked reaction.
Son Ye-jin added, “It’s amazing where kids pick things up. As their vocabulary keeps growing, I think it’s just so cute.”
Giving a glimpse into her family life, she went on to confirm recent family trips to the US as well as Okinawa, Japan, saying these were her way of relaxing after wrapping up recent work. “But traveling with a kid isn’t really a vacation hahaha!” she was quick to add.
“We had a pretty packed schedule centered around my kid. It was tiring, but traveling together as a family is truly so happy.”
She also finally explained why her husband Hyun Bin’s face is always covered in her pictures on her social media accounts.
Asked if she was being considerate, she quipped, “I said, ‘Can’t you just post it?’ And he said, ‘Please cover me.’ That’s why I always cover him.’”
While family life and motherhood have opened up a whole new world for the actress personally, her TV comeback is likewise giving audiences a very different Son Ye-jin onscreen.
In “The Scandal,” a Joseon-era reimagining of the 1782 French novel, Les Liaisons dangereuses (The Dangerous Liaisons), she essays the role of Lady Cho, an influential noblewoman dealing with the restrictive social norms of that period. She orchestrates a dangerous game of seduction, enlisting the help of her playboy cousin, Cho Won (Ji Chang-wook), to target and compromise her husband’s young concubine as an act of revenge.
However, Cho Won finds the task too easy and suggests raising the stakes. Lady Cho then dares him to seduce Hui-yeon (Nana), a virtuous young widow. If he succeeds, Lady Cho promises to finally give herself to her cousin, who has long been obsessed with her. Things unravel though when Cho Won unexpectedly finds himself developing genuine, romantic feelings for Hui-yeon.
During the virtual interview with Filipino media, including this paper, Son Ye-jin admitted that her character was far removed from the women she had portrayed in the past, which was precisely what attracted her to the role.
“Lady Cho was a big divergence from the past characters I’ve taken in my past projects, and that’s why I was very much intrigued in this character and wanted to take up this role,” she said.
“She is a very emotionally charged, very layered character. And her way of expression is indirect, very nuanced and very detailed as well.”
Because Lady Cho often conceals what she is really thinking or feeling, Son Ye-jin said even the smallest details required careful consideration.
“So for every scene and every line, I thought long and hard about which way would be the most befitting for this character,” she said.
“I had a lot of thoughts even with the smallest of the details. So it was challenging, but a very fun attempt for me.”
All eight episodes of “The Scandal” are now streaming on Netflix.
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