Son Ye-Jin, the rise and rise of 'Nation's First Love': Why she is a beloved Korean icon

For those who hopped on the Son Ye-jin bandwagon recently, a particular scene or several, from her 2019 international sensation, Crash Landing On You remains particularly seared in their memories: A sick and exhausted Ye-jin talking to a seemingly cold Hyun-Bin in a negotiation room: In his effort to protect her, he must not show any affection. He utters words that he cannot take back, and she knows they’re lies. Ill, stressed and unduly pale, Ye-jin leaves the room, only to be rushed to the hospital for emergency.

You watch a scene like that and understand, why it’s really no surprise that she is loved by fans so dearly and appreciated by critics. Yet, her popularity isn't a new development: Even before the star-crossed CLOY as it’s fondly called, Son Ye-jin was already an established star. The star has showcased such versatility in her roles that it’s hard to believe it's the same actor each time.

Her journey began far before the shows Something in the Rain and CLOY that have now become synonymous with her fame. It goes as far as 2003, where she experienced one of the biggest successes of her career with the film, The Classic. In the film ridden with much melodrama and heartbreak, Ye-Jin took on two difficult roles: A mother in a series of flashbacks, and her daughter later, trying to piece the mystery of her mother’s fractured romance together. The film was received well and Ye-jin earned her title of ‘The Nation’s First Love’ owing to her portrayal of warmth, and innocence. For a while, Ye-Jin kept to the image, with the 2004 film, A Moment To Remember. By 2006, she was the highest-paid actress in South Korea.

Yet, Ye-Jin was sure that this couldn’t just be it: So, she decided to mix things up in the next few years. Con artist, deeply nuanced portrayals of a woman struggling in a loveless marriage, or a femme fatale, or a rather intense and dark mystery like White Night, Ye-Jin kept delivering the surprises, one after the other, while not giving up on fun-romantic comedies on the side.  Perhaps, a deeply underrated performance is her show Personal Taste, with Lee Min-ho. Ye-jin displays a flair for comedic timing and a quiet softness that endears her even more to the audience, especially in a scene where she dances with Min-ho—a fan-favourite, for good reason. If she could make you laugh in one scene, she could twist the knife in the emotionally raw scenes.

And that was still somehow the beginning, Ye-Jin kept honing her performances carefully throughout the years, which led to Something In the Rain with Jung Hae-in by 2018. The story portrayed the romance between an older woman and a man that has to weather innumerable societal and professional storms. It was filled with as much sweetness as it was filled with heartbreak, as Ye-Jin had mastered the art of communicating entirely with her eyes, without uttering a word. One of the most searing scenes is when Ye-jin’s mother in the show tries to hit Ye-Jin, and Hae- insteps in  to take the lashing. A weak, but resolute Ye-Jin finally tries to end her relationship with him, with little success.

Ye-Jin won’t be slowing down anytime soon. It has been over two decades of rich performances, a variety of genres ranging from romantic to thrillers. She isn’t close to done.

Afterall, she is the Nation’s First Love. And as her own work would tell you; the first love never fades. It just burns brighter.