BY JOSE PAOLO S. DELA CRUZ
We’ve seen her as an heiress in Crash Landing On You. Or, for some of us who have gotten our K-drama feet wet way earlier, in shows like Personal Taste (God, was that 2010?) opposite Lee Min Ho. But who is Son Ye-jin behind the cameras?
Well, the newest Smart Signature endorser sat down for a virtual meet and greet shortly after wrapping up her TVC shoot for the telco giant – giving us a glimpse of what goes on in her pretty little head. Here are some things we deduced from her interview.
1. She’s humble.
Despite achieving international fame, Ye-jin seems like a grounded lady. “There’s nothing special about me. In front of the camera, I’m always in character with the given role, so I tend to stick to it. But behind the camera, I think I’m just ordinary. I’m the same person as you guys,” she says.
2. She’s wise.
Asked for advice on how young people could succeed in their chosen paths, she answers: “It helps that I’ve always set a goal. And even if the reality is not close to that goal, just try your best to imagine yourself in that future and make the best out of everything. Then, think of it as a step closer to your dreams. Keep fighting!”
3. She’s relatable.
Even with her good looks and charisma, she also shares every woman, nay, person’s tendency to self-doubt. “Well, I am not sure if I’ve already succeeded, but I think young people who just started, not only in acting but also in other fields, are going to be so scared and experience hardships. Same as my experience,” she shares.
4. She’s a very organized traveler
Ye-jin, whose schedule probably reads like a dictionary, plans ahead whenever she does get a chance to have a sweet escape. “There’s always a limited time when you travel so I really think of how I can spend my time happily and effectively within that time. And most importantly, you must have a good roaming plan,” she reminds. The Korean superstar has also been to the Philippines a decade ago, for a vacation in Palawan and Puerto Princesa.
5. She wanted to shoot her latest commercial in the Philippines
By now, you’ve probably seen Ye-jin riding a Ducatti on your smartphones for her latest Smart Signature campaign, following the tracks of her CLOY co-star and PeopleAsia June-July 2020 cover boy Hyun Bin. And she’s as pleased as you are about this! “I was very happy. Actually, I wanted to go to the Philippines and shoot. And the fans who loved the drama sent me so many messages of support on social media. I am really happy to shoot an advertisement for a Philippine brand and it’s even better because it’s a Smart advertisement!”
Speaking of Smart, the telco giant also announced that customers who sign up for a new Smart Signature Plan will get an exclusive limited-edition scented candle handpicked by Son Ye-jin, and a chance to win a shopping spree worth up to P100,000 in cash credits via Paymaya. To join the promo, customers only need to sign up for a new Smart Signature Plan at the nearest Smart Store or via the Smart Online Store at store.smart.com.ph from Aug. 10 to Sept. 10, 2020.
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