Son Ye-jin says working with Park Chan-wook felt like ‘having homework checked’
Son Ye-jin shares her thoughts on returning to the big screen. Courtesy of MSTeam Entertainment
Actress Son Ye-jin shared her thoughts on returning to the big screen after seven years with the film “No Other Choice,” saying she rediscovered the joy of acting under director Park Chan-wook’s meticulous guidance and through collaboration with her fellow actors.
In a recent interview, Son admitted she initially found her character, Mi-ri, somewhat vague. “When I first received the script, I thought the character lacked impact. I wondered if I really had to do it, or if I could do it well, because it didn’t feel like there was much to express,” she said.
Still, she was eager to work with Park. “I really wanted to do a project with director Park. It was also my comeback, and as an actor, I wanted to hear people say, ‘She had to do this role.’ That was my motivation,” she said. Park later developed Mi-ri’s character further, shaping it into what appears in the final version.
Son described the first day of filming as nerve-racking. “Director Park is thorough and never lets anything slide. He gave me directions I hadn’t thought of, and I panicked a bit,” she said.
“From the very first line, it was like that. I thought the word ‘eel’ needed to stand out, but the director asked me to make it softer. Changing an intonation I was used to was not easy — I even broke into a cold sweat. It felt like being a student having homework checked, but once I experienced it, I found it fun.”
She noted how her co-stars also embraced Park’s style. “Even senior actor Lee Byung-hun adjusted completely to the detailed directions. On set, we trusted that a remarkable film would come out of it. Rather than feeling anxious, I felt very happy,” she said.
On the film’s comic elements, Son said she was surprised by how the scenes turned out. “For the dragonfly scene, I only knew music would play. I didn’t laugh when I first read the script. But by the fourth time I watched the film, I was laughing at parts I hadn’t before,” she said.
Son married actor Hyun Bin and welcomed a son in 2022, and said she brought a mother’s perspective to Mi-ri.
“When I tell my child in the film, ‘Mom dug into the ground,’ I think without having a child myself, I would have delivered it as just reassurance. Instead, I wanted to say it while trembling but still trying not to hide anything. That was possible because I am a mother,” she said. “When I look at my husband in the film, Man-su (Lee Byung-hun), who covers for our child’s faults, I felt both relief and ethical conflict. Those expressions came from being a mother.”
Son said that she still has a strong desire to act in romance films. “Even after marriage and motherhood, I have a longing for melodramas. I want to keep telling love stories," she said. “I could do something like ‘Secret Love Affair,’ or another like ‘Crash Landing on You,’ or even play an older character in a romance like ‘The Classic.’ I think I can express it differently now, and I look forward to that.”
Son Ye-jin greets fans during an open talk for the opening night film “No Other Choice” at the 30th Busan International Film Festival in Busan, Sept. 18. Yonhap
Son also opened up about the challenges of motherhood. “After becoming a mother, I poured 200 percent of my energy into my child. It’s not just about being happy — childcare means dark circles under your eyes and never a moment when you can switch off. It made me realize how truly hard parenting is, and I gained deep respect for other mothers,” she said.
Still, her return to set gave her renewed vitality. “Even just getting in the car to go to work made me happy. The quiet moments, the tension and joy of acting, and working alongside such remarkable senior actors made me feel more happiness than anxiety,” she added.
Life as part of an actor couple with Hyun Bin, she noted, is simpler than many might expect.
Asked about his reaction after attending a premiere, Son said, “We’re a cool couple — there are no compliments between us. He just said, ‘Good job.’ Afterward we were busy talking with guests, so we didn’t have time to share our thoughts. We’ll probably talk at home about what worked and what could have been better.”
Reflecting on how motherhood has changed her perspective as an actress, she said, “It’s hard to say I’ve become deeper or more mature in an obvious way, but my outlook is definitely different. Before, work was just work, and I approached it with a sense of responsibility. But after becoming a parent, I realized that simply getting through the day safely is happiness. I learned not to push myself too hard, not to measure everything by strict standards. I think those feelings will show in my acting.”
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.