Top 10 Must-See Films of Son Ye Jin

Thirty Nine (2022) revolves around the friendship and love of three women at the age of 39. It's Cha Mi Jo (Son Ye Jin), Jung Chan Young (Jeon Mi Do), and Jang Joo Hee (Kim Ji Hyun). All three have been close friends since high school, and now they are stepping into their 40s. Thirty Nine follows their friendship along with the mysteries and challenges they face in life.

In the series, Son Ye Jin plays a successful and beautiful head of the dermatology department at a plastic surgery hospital in Gangnam.

Son Ye Jin made a brilliant choice with this TV series as her pre-wedding project. Several scenes showcase her exceptional acting talent, especially the heartbreaking moments when Mi Jo learns about Chan Young's suffering from illness or the pain Mi Jo endures after Chan Young's departure, demonstrating Mrs. Hyun Bin's acting prowess.

IMDb Rating: 7.7

Be With You (2018) revolves around the lives of father and son, Woo-jin (So Ji-sub) and Ji-ho (Kim Ji-hwan), after the wife and mother, Soo-ah (Son Ye-jin), passes away due to poor health. The two eagerly await the rainy season because, according to Soo-ah's words before her death, she will return when the rains come. When the rainy season arrives, the father and son find Soo-ah at an old train station, but she has no recollection of what happened. Woo-Jin and Ji-ho work together to bring back memories for Soo-ah, hoping to restore their family's happiness. However, as the rainy season ends, it's also the time when Soo-ah must leave her husband and son.

In the film, Son Ye-jin will captivate you with her pure yet alluring beauty. Her performance is deeply emotional, especially in conveying the character Soo-ah's tears and expressive red eyes, which feel authentic and natural. While the storyline is gentle, the film remains highly engaging, with its cinematography and scenes providing a sense of tranquil beauty.

IMDb Rating: 7.7
Audience Rating: 73%

Crash Landing on You (2019 - 2020) tells the story of Yoon Se-ri (Son Ye-jin), a wealthy and beautiful heiress of a large South Korean conglomerate. Despite her wealth and beauty, she lacks genuine affection from her family and appears with a self-centered and profit-oriented demeanor.

One day, while paragliding to advertise her products, Yoon Se-ri gets caught in a tornado, leading her to make an emergency landing in North Korea and getting stuck on a tree. There, she accidentally falls into the arms of Ri Jung-hyeok (Hyun Bin), a captain and military officer of North Korea. Se-ri decides to escape but runs straight into his house.

Son Ye Jin has brilliantly portrayed this role. Every nuance of Se Ri's emotions is depicted with a natural, intense, and creative performance. Some viewers might find her portrayal a bit quirky in the first few episodes, distinct from her usual acting style. However, continuing to watch the series reveals that Se Ri is initially acting to cope with unfamiliar people. It turns out, Son not only maintains but also skillfully performs in an extremely authentic manner.

IMDb Rating: 8.7

Audience Rating: 98%

Something in the Rain (2018) unfolds the romantic love story of Yoon Jin Ah (Son Ye Jin), a single woman in her thirties overseeing a franchised coffee brand. Friendly and sociable, she always feels empty for not having a romantic relationship at this age. The film is realistic yet equally romantic. The story brings intimacy to the audience as the main couple doesn't appear glamorous but rather portrays normal people busy with their daily lives.

In reality, Son Ye Jin had experience with a similar role in Personal Taste, and in Something in the Rain, her performance became more sensitive. Acting alongside Jung Hae In, she interacted naturally, making the audience almost forget the age difference between them.

IMDb Rating: 8.1

Audience Rating: 85%

The Negotiation (2018) revolves around Ha Chae-yun (Son Ye Jin), an investigator in the crisis negotiation team of the South Korean police. She is invited by the President's Secretary to negotiate at the request of the criminal Min Tae-gu (Hyun Bin), who is holding some Korean hostages on a small island in Thailand. The film offers tense, dramatic, and interesting moments for the audience. It has garnered significant attention from fans due to the magnetic pairing of Son Ye Jin and Hyun Bin.

Son Ye Jin, true to the reputation of A-list stars, shines and captivates in every frame with both her appearance and charisma.

IMDb Rating: 6.6

Tomatometer: 60%

Audience Rating: 73%

The story of The Truth Beneath (2016) starts with politics and ends in the tremors of maternal love. Kim Jong Chan (Kim Ju Hyeok) launches a campaign for the National Assembly, while his wife Yeon Hong (Son Ye Jin) juggles family life and wholeheartedly supports her husband's career. Their seemingly perfect life takes a turn when their daughter Min Jin (Shin Ji Hoon) goes missing on the first day of Jong Chan's election campaign.

The plot of the film is not groundbreaking, and the touching stories of mothers going to great lengths to find their children are not exceptionally unique. However, director Lee Kyoung Mi's intelligent exploration of the 'maternal' theme stands out.

With a character with many complex psychological twists like Yeon Hong (Son Ye Jin), if not strong enough, it is impossible to fully portray. Son Ye Jin is the perfect 'team carrier' for The Truth Beneath, with timely emotional expressions, she conveys the spirit of the film even when portraying a character driven to madness by the truth or a mother who loves her child unconditionally.

IMDb Rating: 6.8

Audience Rating: 72%

In The Last Princess (2016), Son Ye Jin transforms into Princess Deokhye, the last princess of the Korean Empire sent to Japan during a tumultuous historical period. According to historical records, she led a tearful life, eventually suffering from schizophrenia and disappearing in a dark chapter of Korean history. This is the first time the relatively unknown life of a princess has been dramatically portrayed on screen.

The Last Princess (2016) is a popular and critically acclaimed work. Many critics praised Son Ye Jin for portraying the emotional depth of Deokhye during a turbulent period in history. It's a emotionally stirring film for viewers.

IMDb Rating: 7.0

Audience Rating: 70%

In The Classic (2003), the story begins with high school student Ji Hye (Son Ye Jin) accidentally discovering a box containing her mother's old diary and love letters.

From there, the film recounts a love triangle involving Ji Hye's mother, Joo Hee (also played by Seo Ye Jin), her current father Tae Soo (Lee Ki Woo), and a man named Joon Ha (Jo Seung Woo). Although Joo Hee and Joon Ha fall in love after a fateful meeting, she is arranged to be engaged to Tae Soo by her family.

Back to the present, Ji Hye also gets entangled in a complicated relationship as she secretly loves Sang Min (Jo In Sung), the boyfriend of her close friend Soo Kyung (Lee Sang In). Throughout the film, present and past scenes are intertwined, allowing viewers to recognize similarities between the love stories of mother and daughter Joo Hee and Ji Hye.

Son Ye Jin was extremely successful in portraying the innocence of mother Joo Hee and the mischief of her daughter Ji Hye in the film. She immersed the audience in the pure emotions of first love, thanks to her saintly beauty and authentic acting. The Classic is one of the most unforgettable love stories on the Korean big screen.

IMDb Rating: 7.8

Audience Rating: 66%

In A Moment to Remember (2004), the story revolves around the life of a fashion designer, Soo Jin (Son Ye Jin). Soo Jin suffers from short-term memory loss, often forgetting items she bought and even her purse at supermarkets.

The plot begins with a hilarious situation: once, Soo Jin forgets a water bottle and her wallet at a supermarket. Upon returning to retrieve them, she encounters a man, Chul Soo (Jung Woo Sung), and mistakenly believes he took her water bottle. Many amusing and touching incidents unfold, leading to an unexpected connection between the two, and they gradually develop feelings for each other.

The two main actors, Jung Woo-sung and Son Ye-jin, deliver flawless performances, showcasing rare on-screen chemistry. It's why with such talented actors, it's nearly impossible not to adore them and feel the emotional rollercoaster throughout the journey.

IMDb Rating: 8.1

Audience Rating: 92%

Lovers Concerto (2002) also stirred quite a sensation upon its release. The film portrays a love story involving three friends. Kyung Hee and Su-in have been best friends since childhood, so close that they decide to switch names. Complications arise when they encounter another boy... All the story unfolds in one summer, captured through the lens of photographs in a letter.

This marked Son Ye Jin's debut as a lead, and she successfully depicts a cheerful and youthful Soo In. With the incredibly authentic performances of the three main actors, the 'Love Concerto' became one of the most beautiful love stories in Korean cinema of the decade.

IMDb Rating: 7.2

Audience Rating: 80%