Son Ye-jin has spoken plainly about life as a working mother. The South Korean actor says raising her four-year-old son brings a level of happiness she cannot compare to anything else, but the daily work of parenting is harder than she expected. In a series of interviews tied to her Netflix series “The Scandal,” the 44-year-old also explained how becoming a mother and entering her 40s changed the way she looks at her career.
Son Ye-jin and her husband, actor Hyun Bin, married in 2022 and welcomed their son later that same year. The couple has kept their child mostly out of the public eye, though Son has shared small details about their family life in recent interviews.
Motherhood Is Joyful but Mentally Draining
Son Ye-jin did not sugarcoat the difficulty of raising a child. She said her brain stays busy even when she is not actively parenting.
“As a mother, even outside of active parenting hours, your brain has to run at full capacity thinking about your child. From small things like side dishes to preschool supplies, diaper counts, and what the next step is, there are simply so many details to manage.”
She added that working mothers face a special kind of tiredness because they have to give their full attention to work while still using mental energy to care for their child.
“When working, it’s hard enough to go all-in on work alone, but you also have to keep using the rest of your mental energy to care for your child, which can feel overwhelming. I think that’s why moms have it so tough.”
The actor also praised people who balance parenting and a career, saying she respects everyone who does it.
“I truly respect everyone who balances parenting and a career.”
The hard parts do not cancel out the good parts. Son Ye-jin said the happiness her son brings is unlike anything else.
“Even though parenting is hard, the happiness a child brings is incomparable, so I live with immense gratitude just to be able to spend time with my precious family.”
Life With Hyun Bin Is More Ordinary Than People Think
Son Ye-jin described her home life with Hyun Bin as similar to any other couple with a young child. The two actors take turns putting their son to bed and share household duties. When their child is sick, both of them stay up through the night.
“We are also normal parents. Because we do a job that attracts a lot of attention, maybe people think our lives are different. But in fact, we are also like other families. When our children are sick, we both stay up all night to take care of them. We also share housework.”
She said the couple has not had time to watch each other’s recent projects because their schedules revolve around parenting. Hyun Bin appeared in “Made in Korea” Season 2 on Disney+, while Son Ye-jin returned in “The Scandal” on Netflix. Both releases arrived around the same period.
The actor also explained that traveling with a child is not a real break.
“Traveling with a kid isn’t really a vacation.”
A Different View of Career After 40
Son Ye-jin said her approach to acting has changed with age and motherhood. Earlier in her career, she set specific goals and worried heavily about whether each project succeeded or failed. That mindset has loosened.
“Before, I used to think very specifically about what kind of actor I had to become. But later on, I realized that not everything is going according to plan. I used to be too concerned about the result. If I keep getting caught up in whether a work is successful or failed, I will be very tired.”
She now wants to build a long career rather than chase a high number of projects.
“If I used to run at full speed, now I want to accumulate more and show what I can do well. I also think that acting in many works is not necessarily good. Currently, I want to gradually try my hand at difficult roles and continue to grow.”
Motherhood also changed how she approaches a role, even if it did not change the kinds of scripts she receives.
“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.”
She said she regrets not enjoying her 20s more, when she was often unsatisfied with her acting and her appearance.
“I was never satisfied. I thought my acting was silly, and I did not like my face. I never believed it when older people told me that these were the good times.”
Protecting Her Son From Public Attention
Son Ye-jin and Hyun Bin have been careful about their son’s privacy. She said adults can choose to accept public attention, but a young child cannot make that choice. When strangers take photos of the family, she sometimes approaches them politely to ask if they can delete the pictures.
“For us, it can’t be helped, but our child should still be able to move around comfortably without restrictions. When it comes to exposing our child’s face, I inevitably become sensitive.”
Asked whether she would support her son if he wanted to become an actor, Son Ye-jin said she would.
“If he has talent, I think I would encourage him. If I don’t see the talent in him but he still insists on trying, I would let him try first and help him pivot if it turns out not to be his path.”
She joked that her son is expressive in private but freezes up during events like Christmas concerts, suggesting he may have stage fright.
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The Scandal Marks a Return to Historical Drama
“The Scandal” is an eight-part Netflix series inspired by the 1782 French novel “Dangerous Liaisons.” Son Ye-jin plays Lady Cho, an independent woman in the Joseon Dynasty who is trapped by the limited status of women in her time. Ji Chang-wook plays Cho Won, and Nana plays Hui-yeon.
The role marks Son Ye-jin’s first return to a historical drama in 24 years, since the 2002 film “Chihwaseon.” She said the character was difficult to play because Lady Cho is complex and not always easy to like.
“I had to keep thinking what thoughts were passing through her mind, and I still cannot say I have found the answer. But because it was a difficult character, it felt attractive to me.”
“The Scandal” is streaming on Netflix worldwide, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and India.
Also Read: The Scandal K-Drama: Son Ye-jin, Ji Chang-wook & Nana’s Joseon Love Game
For more Korean entertainment stories and star interviews, keep reading VvipTimes, where the human side of the headlines always gets its due.
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