Smart Hallyu Hangouts with Son Ye Jin

• Smart Hallyu Hangouts kicks off with Korean superstar Son Ye Jin

Virtual event brought Crash Landing On You’s leading lady closer to Filipino fans

“Our language and culture are different but despite this, I can feel all the love. I don’t know if I deserve this overwhelming love. I am thankful, moved, and motivated because when I hear how I’ve helped you get through difficult times, it makes me want to work on the next project.” Those were the heartfelt words of multi-awarded Korean actress Son Ye Jin for her Filipino fans during the first leg of the Smart Hallyu Hangouts.

Initiated by leading mobile services provider Smart Communications, Inc., Smart Hallyu Hangouts is a series of online shows where subscribers can watch their idols through a live feed from wherever they are in the world. The series kicked off with no less than Crash Landing On You (CLOY) superstar and Smart Signature endorser Son Ye Jin, who was joined by Philippines-based host Sam Oh, Korea-based co-host Park Kyung-lim, and 40 lucky fans.

During the event, Son Ye Jin shared a lot about her acting philosophy, her workout regimen, and even her behind-the-scenes moments from global phenomenon CLOY as well as her commercial for Smart released earlier this year.

“There were very long hours during the Smart shoot and we were on location. It took all morning and all night to shoot. And we were also remotely shooting with the Philippine team,” Son Ye Jin recalled. “It was kind of a strange situation but also very fascinating to be virtually communicating with the team in the Philippines. But I was very honored to have shot this commercial for Smart and I’m very happy to be working with the brand right now.”

The actress also offered interesting trivia about herself, such as her favorite color (light Indian pink), hobbies (exercising and walking her dog), favorite aspect of herself (when she can make someone laugh), and beauty secret (indulging in hair treatments). She has also been practicing Pilates for 10 years, she never watches herself on TV as she feels embarrassed and awkward, and she attributes her ability to play diverse roles and genres to a deep sense of empathy for whichever character she plays.

When asked about her experience in the Philippines, she said: “I’ve been to the Philippines a very long time ago, and the most memorable thing about that trip was the friendly faces of the Filipinos. I could see that everyone was very happy and friendly, and there was an innocence about them. The next time I go again, I would really love to go to Boracay.”

“I hear through the messages and gifts that Filipinos send me that they’re very thankful for helping them get through this difficult time,” she added. “But I haven’t done anything; all I did was my job. I’m so moved that people from far away, across oceans, feel this way about what I’ve done. It almost feels a little odd sometimes but overall, I’m just very thankful and I look forward to meeting you all in the Philippines.”

The event had more surprises in store for Smart subscribers, as five names were drawn and these fans were each given an autographed gift bag which Son Ye Jin prepared herself. On top of that, two thrilled fans were each given a minute-long one-on-one chat with Son Ye Jin, as well as personal, pre-loved gifts from the actress herself. The event wrapped up with a heartwarming tribute video for Son Ye Jin created by her Filipino fans, and a digital photo op session with all the attendees.

Smart Hallyu Hangouts is one of the brand’s ways of bringing amazing experiences to its valued subscribers. Despite the physical limitations brought about by the pandemic, Smart champions its dedication and cutting-edge technology to bring its Korean endorsers closer to their Filipino fans.

Fans can catch highly acclaimed Korean actor, Crash Landing On You leading man, and fellow Smart endorser Hyun Bin in the next episode on July 31. For more updates on the #SmartHallyuHangouts, follow Smart on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. 

Powered by the country’s fastest mobile data network.

Smart Hallyu Hangouts is powered by Smart, the country’s mobile data network as reported by third-party mobile internet analytics firm Ookla® and Opensignal.

Ookla, the global leader in internet testing and analysis, named Smart as the country’s fastest mobile data network in the second half of 2020 after it achieved a Speed Score™ of 24.99, with average speeds of 20.08 Mbps for download, and 7.42 Mbps for upload, based on 3,915,679 user-initiated tests taken with Speedtest®. Ookla has also cited Smart as the country’s fastest mobile data network for three years in a row now.

Smart has also scored a rare sweep in the April 2021 Philippines Mobile Network Experience Awards* by independent analytics firm Opensignal, beating the competition across all metrics in three essential aspects of service: Coverage (4G Coverage Experience, 4G Availability), Speed (Download and Upload Speed) and Experience (Games, Video and Voice app). This is the first time an operator in the Philippines won decisively in all categories.

Smart also enables subscribers to level up their digital experience with Smart 5G’s superfast speeds and ultra-low latency powered by the country’s most extensive 5G network with over 4,000 sites.

*Opensignal Awards – Philippines: Mobile Network Experience Report April 2021, based on independent analysis of mobile measurements recorded during the period January 1 – March 31, 2021 © 2021 Opensignal Limited.

FULL TRANSCRIPTION:

SMART HALLYU HANGOUTS

Quotes of Son Ye-jin

July 16, 2021 Friday 3:30-5:00PM

Introduction

I’m very happy to be here to meet with my Filipino fans. I’m so honored and excited to see them today.

Are you aware of how popular you are in the Philippines?

Honestly, I didn’t know how huge I was but I would get a lot of pictures and messages from fans so I’m actually very surprised but also very happy that I am so well-loved in the Philippines.

Do you really ride the motorcycle as seen in the Smart commercial?

I don’t, really. There was actually a stunt double who rode the motorcycle. The scene that we shot was just until the part where I was getting on the motorcycle.

What was the most memorable part about shooting the Smart commercial?

There were very long hours and we were on location. It took all morning and all night to shoot. And we were also remotely shooting with the Philippine team. It was kind of like a strange situation but also very fascinating, and to be virtually communicating with the team in the Philippines was a very different experience. But I was very honored to have shot this commercial for Smart and I’m very happy to be working with Smart right now.

What have you been up to after Crash Landing On You (CLOY)?

Right as we were wrapping up CLOY, the pandemic was starting. We didn’t really realize how serious it was at the beginning, so ever since we went into full pandemic mode, same with everyone—I’ve been staying home, I’ve been limiting my trips outside the house where I would meet my friends or do things outside. This is a very sad situation, the whole world is experiencing this right now, and everyone is going through a difficult time. So I’ve kind of been doing the same thing as everyone else. 

Questions from Fans

You get many comments like your smile is very charming, your acting is really good, I love you—these are the most common comments you get. Aren’t you a little tired of hearing them? Maybe your ears are bleeding at this point?

No, I’ll never get sick of hearing them. I want to hear more. (laughs)

What is your favorite season?

I like late spring to early summer because around this time, you can feel a breeze and it’s very fragrant.

What is your favorite color?

Light Indian pink

Can you say “I love you all” in Tagalog?

Mahal ko kayo.

What do you like to do when you take a rest?

I like to exercise to keep strong and fit and so that I’m always ready to jump on a project. I also really like to walk my dog. 

What is your beauty secret?

It’s exercise still. It’s not so much for being slim or as a diet purpose but it’s really about my mental health. I think a lot of people, when they see somebody, they see beauty or health not because they see beautiful features, but positive energy. Something that is glowing from within. I think that this is something that you feel as you grow older. (laughs)

How do you think you will change in the next 5 or 10 years?

I would like to still be acting. I’d like to be present among the fans and show my work.

Have you been to the Philippines? Which part of the Philippines would you like to go to the most?

I’ve been to the Philippines a very long time ago on the family trip, and the most memorable thing about that trip was just the friendly faces of the Filipinos. I could see that everyone was very happy, very friendly, and there was an innocence about them. I found that very memorable.

I would really love to go to Boracay. 

Which aspect of yourself do you like the most?

I think I like it best when I can make someone laugh. There’s something about being able to do that to another person that makes me happy. I’m also normally very naughty and playful and I also like to laugh myself. Because I laugh a lot, it also makes the other person feel good, like they’re doing a job.

Yes or No Segment

“I am the best actress in Korea.”

No. A little. Yes, maybe. (laughs)

“I would like to be born as Son Ye Jin.”

No, because I’ve already had this experience. In the next life, I would like to be born to fly, which is actually what I did in CLOY.

“I search for my name in portal websites.”

No. When I’m working maybe I will look, when there’s a new show out or something, I’ll check out what they’re saying. But when I’m resting like I am now, I would go for an entire week sometimes without checking online. When I’m resting, I’m really resting, I’m committed to that. Sometimes when I would post on social media, there would be someone that talks about that but when I’m not working, I really not checking anything.

“Do what you want to do, or don’t do what you don’t want to do.”

Do what you want to do. But of course, as an adult who’s working, there are some times when I have to do what I don’t want to do. Depending on your career, where you are in life, and your personality, your answer to this question can differ a little.

What is your favorite thing to do?

Eating something that I really love, like sweet and sour pork.

Son Ye Jin’s Work

Whenever you see one of your works come on TV, would you watch it again or replay it?

No, I get very embarrassed and awkward and immediately flip the channel.

You’re very good at crying on screen. What is the secret?

I really attribute this to perhaps a deep sense of empathy for the character. When I see someone who is sad, I also feel sad. It helps me act out this sorrow. Maybe I also have a multiple personality because I’m naturally very playful and happy, but there’s this other side of me where I am maybe also sorrowful. (laughs)

Is there a role that is difficult for you to act out?

Actually they are all difficult. In the beginning, it was really just a matter of following what was in the script, what the character was. But eventually as I ventured into different genres and roles, I started to feel like I don’t want them to feel like I am acting out a character—I want to speak as this person. And so to act from that depth, it is very difficult for me to do that. But of course, I enjoy this work so much.

Between a serious role and a comedic one, which one do you feel you fit in more? Do you think that your actual personality has a sense of comedy?

(Jumped to chemistry with co-star Yang Kyung-won or Pyo Chi-soo from CLOY):

There was actually great chemistry between the two of us. The actor fit the character so well. Although we were very serious while acting, our roles and lines were so funny that we had such a great time acting.

(Son Ye-jin added):

When I received the script for CLOY, I thought it was so funny and I enjoyed it so much. But I also felt a lot of pressure because I wasn’t sure if I could bring the script to life and do it justice. The writer of CLOY actually wrote for a comedy show as well so the timing was very crucial. But I had a great time acting this out and I’m very happy that I did this project.

Do you actually drink the alcohol in CLOY? Is it real alcohol?

Yes, it’s real beer and soju. I drink them all, I think it actually helps me when I need to do these drunk scenes because in real life I don’t drink very well. So I’ll have one drink and I’ll get red, and the audience would see this and think, oh she actually is drunk! So this really helps me in my drunk scenes.

How are you when you drink? You seem like the happy drunk type who would laugh more and be happier.

Yes, that is what happens. I get really hyper. But because I don’t drink that much, it doesn’t get retained for very long because I’d eventually want to go to bed.

Do you actually speak these languages (English, Chinese, Japanese)?

I don’t actually speak them but I practice very hard to get the pronunciation correct. I’ve been trying to learn English for 15 years now because as a celebrity, I need to travel outside of the country sometimes and speak English. But then once I start working on a project and I don’t get to use the language anymore, I’ll forget so I feel like for 15 years, I’ve kind of been in the same spot. But for this Smart commercial, I really wanted to get it right so I practiced very hard and made sure that I did the English dubbing myself.

Have you set a goal for yourself, seeing as how ever since your debut, your acting skills have garnered you numerous awards including Rookie of the Year Awards and Best Actor Awards in many film festivals. So what is your goal from here on?

First of all, there have been a lot of people who helped me in my career for me to achieve what I have. I’m looking forward to trying out even more genres and taking on many diverse roles. I’m excited to see what kind of roles I’ll be taking on. From my 20s to my 30s to my 40s obviously there have been transitions so I’m excited and looking forward to what kind of roles I can play in the future. Roles that can hopefully move your heart.

What kind of role would you like to act in the future because you have taken on so many diverse ones. One of the things we love about you is that you are very adventurous and have a very wide range. As you get all these roles, you go deeper and deeper as an actor.

Renee Zellweger’s role in the movie “Judy” because I saw how the character’s experience, her life and all of those things were kind of acted out in her face. I want to get a point when as I age, my wrinkles can show how my experiences have been like and use those things to express a character.

Follow Son Ye-jin

Beauty (hair and skin secrets)

I like to indulge in hair treatments although I do think that you kind of have to be born with it. I’m not innately born with good skin so I actually put in a lot of effort so that I have good skin.

Workout

I’ve been doing Pilates for 10 years. I’m very athletic and good at sports. I’m not very good at golf yet, my swing in the YT video maybe looked good but when it comes to the actual game, I wouldn’t say that I’m a professional, more of a beginner. I actually played a role of a caddie one time and I was learning how to play golf but I’m just not very good at it.

How do you not give up working out everyday?

It’s a battle between me and myself. I think of it as a promise with myself and with the instructor. I feel bad when I have to cancel an appointment, so I really try as much as possible not to do that. When I’d feel sick of course I won’t be able to show up that day but as much as possible, I think it’s good manners to keep a promise and it’s also very fulfilling when I’m able to do so. That is my approach to keeping a consistent workout regimen.

Cooking

There’s a saying in Korea that when someone is very good at making dumplings or a certain rice cake, then she will have very beautiful children. Did your mom make very good dumplings?

I’ve never seen my mother make dumplings. (laughs)

The dumplings look very full. What’s in the filling?

I made a very healthy version. I put tofu, chives, kimchi—it was really just all vegetables.

Fashion

What is your real-life fashion sense?

I’m really more casual in real life, I like to keep it feminine. I like dresses, but I also like wearing T-shirts and shorts. My favorite outfit is actually a white shirt and jeans.

Final Messages

I hear through the messages and gifts that Filipinos send me that they’re very thankful for helping them get through this difficult time. But I haven’t done anything, all I did was my job. I’m so moved that people from far away, across oceans, feel this way about what I’ve done and I feel very thankful. It almost feels a little odd sometimes but overall I’m just very moved whenever I hear things like this. I thank all of you and I look forward to meeting you all in the Philippines.

Our language and culture are different but despite this I can feel all the love. It’s almost like I don’t know if I deserve this overwhelming love. I am thankful, moved, and motivated because when I hear how I’ve helped get you through difficult times, it makes me want to work on the next project. Acting can be very hard, it’s not an easy job although I enjoy it very much, but when I hear things like these from fans, I want to put out more good work which will please them. I’m very happy that I’m able to do that for all of you.