[Kang Il-hong's Close-up] Actress Son Ye-jin's '25 Years of Perseverance'... The Secret to 'Long-Running' Success, Harder Than Being a Star

From 'Melodrama Queen' to Madame Jo... Consistent Presence Even After Marriage and Childbirth25 Years with the Agency Since Debut as a High School Student... Tenacity to Never Let Go of First ConnectionsActress Son Ye-jin returns to historical dramas after 24 years. Son Ye-jin is etched in our minds not as a star who shines brightly and disappears, but as an actress whose presence only solidifies with time. /THE FACT DB[THE FACT|Reporter Kang Il-hong] Actress Son Ye-jin returns to historical dramas after 24 years. She does so through the Netflix original series 'Scandal.' After the 2002 film 'Strokes of Life,' Son Ye-jin takes on the historical genre once again, transforming into Madame Jo, who does not hide her desires and talents despite the constraints of the Joseon era. This series, released last weekend, is receiving fervent attention from global viewers and tells a story that transplants the French novel 'Les Liaisons dangereuses' to the Joseon period.Even after more than 20 years since her debut, Son Ye-jin's name carries a sense of stability. To the public, she is imprinted not as a star who shines brightly and disappears, but as an actress whose presence only solidifies with time. After gaining recognition through commercials as a high school student, she steadily expanded her domain through numerous works such as 'Delicious Proposal,' 'The Classic,' 'A Moment to Remember,' and 'Crash Landing on You.'Several keywords clearly define Son Ye-jin's longevity. The first is 'an image that speaks through work rather than gossip.' In the entertainment industry, a star's popularity is not solely determined by their work. Private life, relationships, and even a single word can become subjects of public interest. For top female stars, in particular, their image outside of their work significantly impacts their careers. In this regard, Son Ye-jin has built a relatively stable and dignified actress image for the public throughout her long career.While it is necessary to be cautious in asserting that a celebrity has 'absolutely no scandals,' it is clear that Son Ye-jin's name has been imprinted on the public's mind through her work, acting, and characters, rather than issues related to her private life. Although she was dubbed the 'Melodrama Goddess,' she did not confine her image to that alone. She portrayed a cool-headed negotiator in 'The Negotiation,' a historical figure in 'The Last Princess,' maternal anxiety in 'The Truth Beneath,' and an action character in 'The Pirates.'The value of 'rarity,' the most difficult asset for an actor to obtain. In the Netflix original series 'Scandal,' Son Ye-jin transforms into Madame Jo, who does not hide her desires and talents despite the constraints of the Joseon era. /Netflix 'Scandal'◆ Adjusting Pace According to Life Changes... Resting When Needed and Returning with WorkThe second is 'the time taken to choose projects.' Son Ye-jin's filmography shows a distance from simply increasing the number of works. Instead, she has chosen projects where she can showcase her acting abilities, even if it means enduring certain gaps. After 'Shark' in 2013, she returned to television after five years with 'Something in the Rain,' and after 'Crash Landing on You,' she took her time selecting her next project. Her return to the big screen in 2025 with director Park Chan-wook's 'Decision to Leave' after seven years falls into the same category.At the time, Son Ye-jin revealed that she actively discussed the realism and plausibility of her character with the director, even though her role was relatively restrained. For a star, a gap in work can be risky, as they can be forgotten by the public. However, for Son Ye-jin, the gap strangely turns into 'anticipation.' This is the rarity, one of the most difficult assets for an actor to possess.The third is 'the tenacity to maintain long-term relationships from the beginning.' When discussing Son Ye-jin, it is impossible to overlook her long-standing relationship with Kim Min-sook, the CEO of her agency, MS Team Entertainment. Son Ye-jin has maintained unwavering loyalty with her current agency since her debut, and she herself has mentioned in various interviews, "Even if my position changes, I do not easily change a connection once made for minor gains."In the entertainment industry, a star's rise often brings changes to their surroundings. Bigger companies, more favorable terms, and more dazzling offers pour in. In such a situation, maintaining a long-term relationship with the management that has been with you since your debut is difficult to explain solely by 'human loyalty.' It must be based on mutual trust that is unknown to outsiders. And the fact that this trust has been built over a long period is itself another asset of Son Ye-jin as an actress.'Scandal,' released last weekend and receiving fervent attention from global viewers, is a story that transplants the French novel 'Les Liaisons dangereuses' to the Joseon period. The photo shows actresses Nana and Son Ye-jin, and Ji Chang-wook (from left) at the 'Scandal' press conference. /Reporter Kim Sung-ryeol◆ Adjusting Pace According to Life Changes... Resting When Needed and Returning with WorkAnother aspect worth noting is 'change that is not confined by image.' While Son Ye-jin is first associated with melodrama, a closer look at her career reveals that she cannot be explained by a single color. Even after becoming a representative melodrama actress with 'The Classic' and 'A Moment to Remember,' she moved between thrillers, action films, historical dramas, and comedies. Recently, she showed restrained naturalistic acting in 'Decision to Leave,' and in the current 'Scandal,' she transforms into Madame Jo, a character filled with desire and strategy.Director Jung Ji-woo's assessment of Son Ye-jin as "an actress who carries the story on her shoulders, makes the audience believe in the character, and takes responsibility for the entire drama" is also noteworthy. In particular, her current role is a new test for actress Son Ye-jin. She plays a woman who appears demure on the outside but harbors desires and ambitions within. Son Ye-jin also stated at the press conference, "I chose this project because I feel I am now at an age where I can express such emotions."The fifth is 'balance between life and acting.' Even after marrying Hyun Bin and giving birth, Son Ye-jin did not rush her acting career. After focusing on childcare for about three years, she returned with 'Decision to Leave' in 2025, and her next move is the historical drama 'Scandal' after 24 years. What's important is not a simple success story like 'unshaken by marriage and childbirth.' Son Ye-jin adjusted her pace according to life's changes. She rested when she needed to, and when she returned, she returned with her work.◆ A Star That Shines Long, Not One That Burns Brightly, 'A Truly Beloved Actress'Perhaps Son Ye-jin's true strength lies here. Becoming a star is difficult. However, maintaining one's own pace after becoming a star is even more difficult. She waits for projects she wants to do rather than chasing trendy genres, chooses characters over relying on her name value, maintains long-term relationships with those who recognized her from the start, and accepts life changes like marriage and childbirth naturally while not losing her identity as an actress.Therefore, Son Ye-jin's long career in the entertainment industry cannot be fully explained by the term 'managed image.' It is perhaps closer to the result of consistency, choices, relationships, and self-discipline. The reason her return to historical dramas is even more captivating is precisely this point. There are 24 years between Son Ye-jin in 'Strokes of Life' in 2002 and Son Ye-jin in 'Scandal' in 2026. However, her presence as an actress has only grown stronger.From a fresh rookie to a 'melodrama queen' and then a national star, she has now transformed into a mature actress capable of portraying her own desires and ambitions. The modifiers attached to her name have changed over time, but one thing remains constant: above all, she is 'an actress who has been loved for a long time.' A star that twinkles for a long time is stronger than a star that burns brightly. This might be why Son Ye-jin's present shines so brightly.eel@tf.co.kr