As soon as Jeon Yeo Bin entered the scene as the feisty lawyer Hong Cha-Young in Vincenzo, we immediately got a new K-drama femme fatale favourite. The 31-year-old actress stole every scene she’s in, going head-to-head with the oppas on the mafia-inspired series. We’ll go as far as to say that we love her even more than our oppa Song Joong-Ki, who is the lead in the series.
But while she may be a fresh face to most of us, and even to avid K-drama fans, she’s already got quite the track record in the industry.
Curious? Get to know Jeon Yeo Bin more with these five fun facts.
She debuted at 26
Most K-drama actresses start as early as their tween to teen years, but Jeon Yeo Bin only officially entered the industry at 26. It was five years after she graduated from university that she secured her first small movie role in The Treacherous in 2015. However, it wasn’t her first acting experience. She had a taste of acting during her university years as a Broadcast Entertainment major in Dongduk’s Women University.
Her projects prior to Vincenzo are noteworthy
You would think Jeon Yeo Bin’s filmography would be filled with cheesy films or TV cameos prior to snagging what’s undoubtedly her breakout role in the small screen.But you’d be surprised that she’s already been nominated for and awarded multiple acting accolades — from the Seoul Independent Film Festival, the 22nd Busan International Film Festival, the Marie Claire Film Festival, and the Baeksang Arts Awards, among others — for her role in the 2018 film After My Death.
In the film, Jeon Yeo Bin played Young-hee, a student suspected of driving her close friend and classmate to commit suicide. The film was critically acclaimed for its stunning cinematography and gripping storytelling; it’s a must-watch if you’re a new fan of Jeon Yeo Bin.
Speaking of her noteworthy projects, Jeon Yeo Bin previous roles, big or small, are usually badass. You might not remember her much from Save Me (starring Seo Ye-ji and Woo Do-Hwan) but she was the eager reporter chasing after the cult case in the story. In the 2020 film Night In Paradise, she joined an ensemble cast in a gangster revenge plot narrative that has a lot of complicated action and emotional scenes. While the film has not earned any award nominations yet, it was well-received in 2020’s Venice International Film Festival, proving once more that Jeon Yeo Bin has no room for flops in her filmography.
She’s a huge Wong Kar-wai fan
In an interview, Jeon Yeo Bin said that she’s absolutely in love with Hong Kong noir films and has pictured herself in action roles that involve a lot of gunfights and dramatics even as a young kid. One of her favourite directors is Wong Kar-wai.
ICYDK, Wong Kar-wai is a Hong Kong film director known for works such as Chungking Express (1994), In The Mood For Love (2000), and Grandmaster (2013). His love for vivid cinematography and wistful storytelling, even with mobster and revenge themes, continually earns him love from Asian film buffs. It’s no wonder why Jeon Yeo Bin’s roles have a pattern! Talk about taste.
She got her work ethics from her mum
Apart from her film preferences, another reason why Jeon Yeo Bin probably aces badass female roles so well is because she has real-life inspiration to reference from: her mother. She credits her mother’s strong and hardworking attitude for her work ethic. Her mum constantly reminded her to work on her ‘basics’ so that she remains grounded and disciplined in whatever she pursues in life.
She likes washing dishes (and other “boring” hobbies)
While she may come off as intense given her go-getting attitude, Jeon Yeo Bin also shared that she actually has a very chill personality. She likes washing dishes — “When I do the dishes, I find peace of mind — taking quiet walks, sipping a cup of coffee, and watching films during her free time. She said that many people expressed interest in her pushing out content in line with her interests, but she thinks her hobbies are quite chill and boring. We don’t think so, Yeo Bin-na, so please share!
Where to catch her next
Can’t get enough of her? Good news because her latest project is just around the corner. Jeon Yeo Bin will play Hong Ji-Yo in the new Netflix series titled Glitch. The sci-fi drama is about a woman trying to search for her boyfriend after what seems like an alien abduction. The drama has no release date yet but you know we’ll be raving about it as soon as we get more details.
(Cover photo from: @tvndrama.official)
Next, get to know South Korea’s ‘Queen of Melodrama’ Son Ye-Jin with these fun facts!
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