Son Ye Jin confesses she felt anxiety, feeling a sense of uncertainty in her career

Actress Son Ye Jin candidly opened up about the 26 years of her acting career and confessed to feeling anxiety at times.

On September 18, the Actors House event of the 30th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) was held at the SoHyang Theater, Shinhan Card Hall, Dongseo University in Haeundae, Busan, with Son Ye Jin in attendance, sharing her honest thoughts.

Actors House is BIFF’s signature program where representative contemporary actors, who combine acting skills and star power, share honest and in-depth stories about their craft and works. Son Ye Jin expressed, "This is a rare opportunity. Over time, I’ve gained experience, and some people like my work, so I’m able to share my story. I am here because there are people who want to hear it, and as an actress, I feel extremely lucky."

Director Park Chan Wook’s new film 'No Other Choice' was selected as the opening film of the 30th Busan International Film Festival, and Son Ye Jin plays ‘Mi Ri,’ a character who grows stronger in the face of crisis. Mi Ri comforts the despondent ‘Man Soo’ (played by Lee Byung Hun) and serves as the anchor of her family, with Son Ye Jin’s unique charm adding depth and richness to the character.

Recalling the set of 'No Other Choice,' Son Ye Jin admitted, "After getting married and having a child, I felt anxious, wondering if I could meet audiences again with truly remarkable works like before."

She continued, "Times have changed, and many actors continue to work after marriage, but thinking about my future as an actress, I couldn’t assume it would be the same as before. There was a sense of uncertainty. I wondered if I could still do romance roles, if people would seek me out. But looking at the paths of senior actresses like Youn Yuh Jung, Kim Hie Ae, Jeon Do Yeon, and Kim Hye Soo, I realized there would naturally be a path for me too, and a way for me to show my acting at this time."

She said, "I wanted to be found again when the time came, having grown as an actress and showing a deeper performance. Meeting 'No Other Choice' and going to the set, I felt truly happy. Previously, I felt burdened and responsible, but this film felt less heavy because Director Park Chan Wook and senior actor Lee Byung Hun were there. That allowed me to enjoy the set more."

Working with Lee Byung Hun for the first time in 'No Other Choice,' Son Ye Jin said, "I find it really hard to be flexible in front of the camera. Directors often tell new actors to 'just be natural,' which is the hardest part. The more you act, the more tense you become. You have your own pre-set tone, lines, and actions. If everything is planned, it’s not easy to move flexibly. Sometimes you put too much force, or sometimes you overdo it. But watching Lee Byung Hun act, it felt like all his tension was gone. Seeing him perform without any force was the most impressive."

She added, "That’s what I strive for. Watching a senior perform with such relaxed acting, mixing it appropriately with the director’s guidance and his own thoughts, you can’t help but think he’s an outstanding and talented actor," praising him highly.

Regarding her first collaboration with Director Park Chan Wook, she said, "On set, his chair had his name on it, just that presence and weight make the actors follow him. I respect all directors, but the aura, style, and world of Director Park deserve respect. As a Korean actress, that is admirable."

From 'The Classic' (2003) and 'Crash Landing on You' (2019) to 'The Truth Beneath' (2016) and 'The Last Princess' (2016), Son Ye Jin has faced audiences with a versatile range across genres and scales.

Reflecting on her relentless acting career, she said, "I did it out of ambition and mental strength. I’m the type to run hard, fall, and get back up. I’m amazed at how I could keep going. Acting was painful, and I couldn’t enjoy it, but my desire to do well is what brought me this far."

She continued, "In my twenties, my youth was defined only by my work; I didn’t live enjoying it. Still, I’m grateful and fortunate that those moments were preserved thanks to acting. Those times are why I’m here. If there’s something you want to try, you should go all out. Eventually, there comes a moment when it shines."

Son Ye Jin also overcame slumps through her work. She explained, "There were times I fell into a slump, moments when I felt apathetic and didn’t want to do anything. Looking back, it might have been burnout. Going through those months, I was fortunate to overcome it, and doing another project helped a lot."

She cited 'The Art of Seduction' (2005) as a turning point in her career. She said, "That work freed me from always playing tragic heroines who cried, died, or suffered. No one expected me to do comic acting. It was quirky and unconventional, and looking back, I didn’t really know what comedy was, I even did slapstick just to be funny. Doing 'The Art of Seduction' courageously, I felt freedom for the first time. Many people came to the theater, saw my acting, and laughed instead of crying, which gave me a tremendous sense of joy."