[CELEB] Son Ye-jin shows 'Thirty-Nine' and 40 are just numbers

Television

Published: 20 Feb. 2022, 17:10 Updated: 20 Feb. 2022, 18:54

[CELEB] Son Ye-jin shows 'Thirty-Nine' and 40 are just numbers

Poster for the new JTBC drama series "Thirty-Nine" [ILGAN SPORTS]

New rom-com series “Thirty-Nine” starring actor Son Ye-Jin is off to a strong start following its premier last week.

The drama recorded a local viewership rating of 5.1 percent after two episodes on Feb. 16 and 17, according to Nielsen Korea. This number is already 0.4 percentage points higher than what previous JTBC drama “Artificial City” recorded during the same time frame.

Son’s last series “Crash Landing On You” chalked up the highest ratings the series’ broadcaster, tvN, had ever seen with 21.7 percent.

During the series’ press conference on Feb. 16, Son said that she decided to star in “Thirty-Nine” because of how much she was able to relate to her character after reading the script.

“I thought the drama series’ writer had installed a security camera in my house! That’s how much I was able to sympathize with my character,” Son told reporters.

“Thirty-Nine” tells about the friendship of three single women on the verge of turning 40 years old. Son plays the head dermatologist at a clinic who is smart and professional at work but still a bit wet behind the ears when it comes to romantic relationships.

And like her character, Son herself turned 40 this year.

“When I debuted [as an actor] during my 20s, I never imagined myself turning 30 or 40 years old,” said Son. “But as time goes on, age matters less. And just because someone turns 40, it doesn’t mean they suddenly mature or become an adult. So I wish people wouldn’t worry about how old they are and just enjoy life.”

The press conference was also the actor’s first public appearance since her engagement announcement with actor Hyun Bin on Feb. 10.

“So many major events occurred early this year […] I received a lot of congratulations, so I want to sincerely thank everyone for that,” she said.

Son and Hyun Bin revealed in January last year that they were dating. The pair starred as lovers in tvN’s hit television series “Crash Landing on You” (2019-20) and will be tying the knot at a private wedding in March.

Actor Son Ye-Jin, right, with her fiancé Hyun Bin during a scene in tvN drama series "Crash Landing on You" (2019-20). [ILGAN SPORTS]

To promote her new drama, Son also appeared on the tvN entertainment program “You Quiz on the Block” on Wednesday. Having acted for some 20 years without a hiatus, Son revealed her honest thoughts about her profession on the show.

“One thing that is not so great about this job is that nobody can help the actor who is standing in front of the camera,” Son told the show’s host Yu Jae-seok, “and this can be very lonely.”

The entertainment show can be streamed online at Tving.

Along with Son, “Thirty-Nine” stars other female leads Jeon Mi-do and Kim Ji-hyun.

Comprised of 12 episodes, “Thirty-Nine” airs every Wednesday and Thursday at 10:30 p.m. Episodes are also available on Netflix and Tving.

Actor Son Ye-Jin [ILGAN SPORTS]

Son Ye-Jin

Date of birth: Jan. 11, 1982
Zodiac sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Suseong District, Daegu
Debut: 1999 advertisement for the cosmetics brand Man Who is Holding Flowers
Agency: MSteam Entertainment

Son made her debut in a 1990s cosmetics advertisement at the age of 19. She subsequently made her acting debut as the female lead in the MBC drama series "Delicious Propose" in 2001. Emerging as the "icon of first love," Son quickly rose to fame with romance films "Lover's Concerto" (2002) and "The Classic" (2003). Afterwards, she received recognition for more diverse leading roles like in the historical drama film "The Last Princess" (2016) and thriller film "The Negotiation" (2018). On television, she has remained the queen of melodramas and rom-coms, starring in JTBC's hits series "Something in the Rain" (2018) and "Crash Landing on You" (2019).

This information was confirmed by MSteam Entertainment on Feb. 17, 2022.