10 Son Ye-jin Movies You Must Watch

The spellbinding Son Ye-jin has taken on an array of roles during her extensive career, effortlessly flipping between identities and storylines while veering between being endearing, stern, fragile, prevailing, and beyond. She ubiquitously embodies an adorable naivete in a woman, no matter the role; her portrayals all capture our imaginations as a result. Here are my top 10 favorite movies from her oeuvre that you may like.

Lovers’ Concerto (2002)

An affair that leaves a lasting imprint is depicted in Lee Han’s romantic melodrama concerning a young man (Cha Tae-hyun) reflecting on the intricate bond he once had with two girls (Lee Eun-ju and Son) while working in a cafe.

Due to its heavy use of irregular temporal leaps and backstories, the plot may appear a little convoluted to some. However, eventually, it’s a compelling drama in its deftly carved-out construction of wonder encompassing the leads and the interplay of love and friendship. With the other protagonists, Son impresses as always.

The Classic (2003)

A mother and daughter’s romantic relationships are paralleled in the movie. The daughter, Ji-hye (Son), uncovers a box of old letters and a diary detailing the life of her mother, Joo-hee (also Son). Every time Ji-hye reads one of these letters, a scene from the mother’s perspective in the past is introduced. These flashbacks are interspersed with Ji-hye’s own narrative, in which she falls in love with Sang-min (Jo In-sung).

While there are several twists in The Classic, the one that steals the show occurs towards the climax. No matter the hyperbole, we need more love stories like this. It is beautiful. With her unequaled ability to draw you in and make it difficult to tear your eyes away from her, Son makes every sensitive moment felt.

A Moment to Remember (2004)

The unwavering love of a couple is given in the examination of their relationship dealing with the strains of grieving brought on by Kim Su-jin’s diagnosis of a rare form of Alzheimer’s illness in Son’s portrayal of Su-jin and Jung Woo-sung’s portrayal of Choi Chul-soo. A Moment to Remember‘s unique focus on their love life makes its merits stick out, and as Su-jin’s memory fades, the joy you’ve had during its build-up is abruptly quelled.

Su-jin’s anguish, discomfort, and skepticism are tangible in how Son digs into her emotions both before and after she loses her memory, proving her mastery of expressing profound sentiments.

April Snow (2005)

Following the catastrophic injuries sustained by their spouses in an accident, In-su (Bae Yong-joon) and Seo-young (Son) run into each other at the hospital. They learn that their partners are having a fling. While sharing the same hotel, In-su and Seo-young come closer, sharing their grief and wrath, and start worrying about the prognosis of their partners. When In-su’s wife laments her earlier actions after emerging from a coma, she leaves him with no choice but to make one.

In light of Bae’s renown as a top Hallyu star, this iconic love drama film by Hur Jin-ho enjoyed an exceptional turnout during its run. Additionally, it gained momentum for Son’s nuanced portrayal of her character, resulting in her nomination for Best Actress at the 2005 Blue Dragon Film Awards.

White Night (2009)

Journey Under the Midnight Sun by Keigo Higashino was the inspiration for this critically praised mystery thriller directed by Park Shin-woo and starring Han Suk-kyu, Son Ye-jin, and Go Soo. In a deserted building in a secluded town, a pawnbroker’s body is strangely discovered. In a scene from the past, we look at a man’s corpse found on a deserted ship. Later, the main suspect—a woman thought to be his lover—is also identified. When her daughter, Lee Ji-ah (Son), moves in with her aunt, she adopts the name Yoo Mi-ho. 14 years later, the case is reopened for inspection, exposing ominous details about Mi-ho and the man who has been trailing her around.

White Night is utterly enigmatic without simple fixes or happy closure, and Son’s imposing presence lends the movie its distinctive voice.

Spellbound (2011)

Spellbound, helmed by Hwang In-ho, is reportedly one of the best contemporary romantic comedy films made in South Korea. Together with her widely recognized characters, Son’s rendering of the lonesome Kang Yo-ri herein remains especially vivid. The movie features Jo-goo (Lee Min-kee), a street magician who approaches Yo-ri to join him in his horror magic show.

Yeo-ri explains that her peculiar pallid visage is attributable to her undesirable skill to see the dead, one she acquired upon weathering an accident in high school. Not only does she see the dead, but they also intrude on her daily life. In specific, the malicious spirit of her best friend, who perished in that disaster, terrorizes everyone around her. What ensues is a thrilling rom-com as the two end up in love and the scenario worsens.

The Truth Beneath (2016)

Son and Kim Joo-hyuk star in this award-winning Korean thriller from Lee Kyoung-mi, which follows a politician (Kim) and his wife (Son) in the wake of their daughter’s disappearance shortly before the national elections.

The plot is a tangled web of political intrigue that holds your attention from beginning to end until the underlying truth is exposed. Son releases an unrelenting parent’s ordeal in an act that is nothing short of spectacular.

The Last Princess (2016)

Princess Deokhye (the Joseon Dynasty’s last princess) is the centerpiece of director Hur Jin-ho’s imaginative adaptation of Kwon Bi-young’s best-selling novel. Her life in Japan, where she had been compelled to relocate by the Imperial Japanese government, is told in the film, as are her efforts to return to Korea.

The Last Princess is an atypical period drama—an extensive narrative encompassing a lot more material than expected. You are drawn deeper into Dokhye’s emotional odyssey with Son’s superb characterization of the titular role.

The Negotiation (2018)

A professional crisis mediator (Son) within the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency squares off against a ruthless man (Hyun Bin) with ties to the international arms trade when he takes some Koreans hostage in Bangkok and strives to get past his unusual calmness to know his motives.

Son dominates the stage with her instinctual appeal, while Hyun unleashes his devious best as the villain; his trademark sexiness is still there, though.

Be with You (2018)

Before dying, Woo-jin (So Ji-sub) received a promise from Soo-ah (Son) to return the next year at the onset of the rainy season. She keeps her word but has no recollection of the past. Also, the joy of reunion is fleeting; Soo-ah must leave as the rainy season ends.

With the leads’ on-screen equation taking center stage, Lee Jang-hoon’s Be with You gathered steam. It should be mentioned that it was a remake of the same-named 2004 Japanese film, based on a Takuji Ichikawa novel.