Son Ye Jin has opened up about her return to acting, the challenges of balancing motherhood with her career, and whether she would support her son if he eventually wanted to pursue an entertainment career.
The actress, who stars in Netflix's latest series 'The Scandal,' also discussed what drew her to her character, Lady Jo, and shared her thoughts on having a Netflix release at the same time as her husband Hyun Bin's Disney+ series. She also addressed comments she recently made about her son's appearance that sparked attention online, explaining why she later clarified her remarks.
At the same time, Son Ye Jin expressed an open-minded attitude toward her child's potential future in the entertainment industry while emphasizing her concerns as a parent about protecting her minor son's privacy and image.
Son Ye Jin spoke with the press about 'The Scandal' during an interview held in Samcheong-dong, Jongno District, Seoul, on September 29.
'The Scandal,' starring Son Ye Jin, is a Netflix series adapted from French author Pierre Choderlos de Laclos' classic novel 'Dangerous Liaisons,' with the story reimagined in the Joseon era. The novel also served as the source material for the 2003 Korean film 'Untold Scandal.'
The series is directed by Jung Ji Woo, whose previous works include 'Happy End' (1999), 'Modern Boy' (2008), 'Eungyo' (2012), and 'Tune in for Love' (2019).
In the series, Son Ye Jin plays Lady Jo, a woman who challenges the restrictions of her era by proposing a dangerous game of love. Despite her extraordinary talents, Lady Jo is trapped by a society that gives women little agency, eventually even giving up her name, Jo Yoon. She secretly challenges her cousin and notorious womanizer Jo Won, played by Ji Chang Wook, to a wager, which eventually draws Hee Yeon, played by Nana, into their game.
Discussing the decision to release 'The Scandal' during the Chuseok holiday, Son Ye Jin said, "Since OTT platforms are global, there are apparently major seasons that we aren't necessarily aware of. Chuseok is still a very important holiday for us, so I'm grateful that our series is being released during the holiday."
Son Ye Jin was also asked about her and Hyun Bin appearing on different streaming platforms in September, with her series 'The Scandal' arriving on Netflix while his 'Made in Korea' Season 2 premiered on Disney+. She admitted that she has not been able to properly watch her husband's series yet.
"Unfortunately, we're both sleeping with our child," she said. "If I want to binge-watch it, I have to dedicate an entire day to it. So I've been constantly wondering when I should watch it—during the day or after putting the child to sleep."
The actress also addressed the comments she made about her son during an appearance on JTBC's variety show 'Please Take Care of My Refrigerator.' Son Ye Jin had jokingly remarked that her son had "the kind of looks that would make it difficult for him not to become an actor," but later expressed regret over the comment on social media.
"When something you say on a variety show gets turned into written text, it feels different," she explained. "Watching something in a video and seeing it written as an article are two different things. It made me realize how intimidating it can be when something gets put into writing. I thought it might come across as a little obnoxious, so I wanted to clarify what I meant."
She also spoke candidly about the challenges of balancing her career with raising a child.
"I truly respect everyone who balances childcare and work," Son Ye Jin said. "I read something that said mothers have to keep their brains running constantly for their children, even when they're not actively taking care of them. It may seem like small things, but there are so many things you have to think about—from what side dishes to prepare and how many diapers are left to what's in the refrigerator and what your child needs for kindergarten."
"Work alone can already feel overwhelming because you're constantly thinking about it, but then you also have to keep your mind running to take care of your child. There are times when that feels like a lot," she continued. "That's why being a mother is hard."
Still, she said things have become somewhat easier now that her child is four years old.
"Now that I've raised him to the age of four, it's okay. The difficult period was around two or three," she said. "Now we can communicate with each other, and he understands when he's being scolded. I'm grateful that he's not the type of child who throws a lot of tantrums."
Despite the challenges, Son Ye Jin emphasized how much joy motherhood has brought her.
"Even though it's difficult right now, the happiness my child gives me is truly incomparable," she said. "I'm so grateful that my child is healthy and that we can spend this precious time together as a family."
When asked what she would do if her son eventually wanted to pursue an entertainment career, Son Ye Jin said she would remain open to the possibility.
"What's interesting is that there are actually many children of actors, including actors we don't know personally, who want to work in this field," she said. "Because they've grown up watching their parents work, I think that world can feel very big to them. They've seen it since they were young, and that can turn into curiosity and interest. There seem to be many cases where they want to pursue it regardless of whether they have the talent."
"If he has talent, I'd let him do it," she continued. "Even if he genuinely doesn't have the talent and I don't think he'll succeed, but he really wants to do it, I don't think I could stop him. It's not as though he'll simply give up because his mother tells him not to. He might actually be good at it, and you can't know that without trying. I'd let him give it a shot, and if he realizes it's not his path, he can always come back."
However, she remains uncertain about whether her son would actually be suited to performing.
"He seems to be very expressive, but when they have a Christmas concert, he just freezes by himself," she said with a laugh. "So far, it seems like he has pretty severe stage fright, so I'm not sure yet."
When it comes to showing her son's face publicly, however, Son Ye Jin said she has become much more cautious.
"There is so much interest in my son and our family that when we travel, people recognize us and want to take pictures. There are also many people who secretly take photos," she said. "I always go over and ask them to delete them."
"We understand that our faces may be photographed, but if our child's face is made public, those photos could continue circulating even when we're no longer around," she explained. "It could potentially limit him if other people recognize him. So I've become a little more sensitive about having my child's face exposed."
Since making her debut more than two decades ago, Son Ye Jin has established herself as one of South Korea's leading actresses, showcasing a wide-ranging acting repertoire across genres.
She rose to prominence in the early 2000s through films such as 'The Classic' and 'A Moment to Remember,' becoming known for her pure and youthful image. She later demonstrated a more versatile side through projects including the drama 'Alone in Love' and films such as 'My Wife Is a Gangster?' and 'The Last Princess,' delivering increasingly bold performances and emotionally nuanced characters.
Son Ye Jin has also achieved a rare "Grand Slam" in South Korea's major film awards, winning Best Actress or top acting honors at the Blue Dragon Film Awards, Baeksang Arts Awards, and Grand Bell Awards.
She further cemented her status as a global star through the hit drama 'Crash Landing on You,' which became a worldwide phenomenon. With both strong acting credentials and proven commercial appeal, Son Ye Jin remains one of South Korea's most prominent actresses.