Son Ye-jin reveals why she chose to marry Hyun Bin: ‘It’s fate’

Actress Son Ye-jin delighted fans at the Bucheon International Film Festival’s mega talk session on July 6, where she discussed her personal life and career. During the event, a fan expressed admiration, saying, “The actress I wanted to see in person the most was Son Ye-jin, while it was Hyun Bin among male actors. That’s why I thought it was such a great blessing when I heard the two were marrying each other”.
The fan then posed a heartfelt question about when Son Ye-jin knew she wanted to spend her life with Hyun Bin. They asked, “You two worked together on two projects, so I wonder when and at what moment you felt like you wanted to spend your whole life with the other person, Hyun Bin, both as actress Son Ye-jin and as human Son Ye-jin”, as quoted by Kbizoom.
In response, Son Ye-jin smiled warmly and humorously deflected, “This question is interesting. Isn’t it time to end the talk?” She reflected on the commonality of actors developing relationships with co-stars but emphasized she didn’t favor that aspect personally. She stated, “Actors meet a lot of co-stars while working on numerous projects. Many of them ended up dating or even getting married, but personally, I don’t prefer that aspect”.
She then shared the nature of her connection with Hyun Bin, explaining, “It’s fate when we realize that ‘people keep saying we look like each other’. I never thought I looked like him but people around me keep saying we did. So I looked at him more carefully and started thinking, ‘Do we really have the same vibe?’. We worked together on two projects, but I actually fell in love with his real personality”.
Describing Hyun Bin’s character, she mused, “How should I say this? To compare him to people in the old days, he was very nice and rational like a scholar”. She praised his straightforward nature, noting, “It’s not like he’s someone who hides unpleasant things and presents himself in a good way, but he’s actually very straightforward and simple. He’s handsome, too”, which drew laughter from the audience. She further added, “Above all, he’s very reliable. That’s the main reason”.
Son Ye-jin then shared insights into how motherhood had shaped her perspective, revealing, “I spent the past two years mostly for myself including marriage, childbirth, and childcare”. She admitted that “Actors tend to be selfish, but I guess I have broadened my horizon and my heart has also become softer after having a child. It was the time that made me forget that I was an actress”.
“When I started acting, I had to figure out things on my own because didn’t know anything and had no one to help. It was similar to when I became a mother. Many people actually handle such difficult things very easily. Personally, it brought me happiness greater than I could imagine. Then suddenly, I wondered what kind of role I should play and how I would act it, and decided that I would use these emotions, which I experienced for the first time, in acting”, she reflected.
Transitioning to her views on marriage and family, Son Ye-jin expressed, “For every woman, getting married is like entering a new world”. She discussed the shift in priorities from career-focused pursuits to nurturing a family, saying, “There are so many things to do and worry about. In the past, I only cared about acting, travel, and working out, but now, I have to take note of everything to keep track. The sense of stability from having a family becomes my goal and the wish for my child to grow up healthily has also changed the way I look at the world. I hope many people get married and have children if they can. It’s not something easy but it’s worth it”.
Looking ahead, Son Ye-jin revealed her aspirations to explore different acting roles, “I really want to play a villain role and I think I can do it well. Or, I also want to try an action film and play a mother role”. She teased her upcoming projects, hinting, “I think I’ll be very busy from the second half of this year”.