Actor Son Ye-jin, who has returned with "The Scandal," opened up candidly about life as a mother and the weight she feels as an actor.

During a round-table interview for the Netflix original series "The Scandal" held at a cafe in Jongno-gu, Seoul on September 29, Son Ye-jin welcomed reporters with honest and witty answers throughout.

When asked about a past appearance on the variety show "Chef & My Fridge," where she playfully bragged that her son had looks that made it "hard not to become a celebrity," Son Ye-jin burst into shy laughter. "Seeing what I said on a variety show in print felt completely different. Watching someone say it on video versus seeing it written down as 'It's hard for my son not to become a celebrity' are two very different things," she explained. "I realized words in print can be intimidating. I even regretted saying it because I worried I might come across as obnoxious."

When asked whether her perspective as an actor or her attitude toward life had shifted since becoming a mother, Son Ye-jin first expressed deep admiration for those balancing work and family. "I truly respect everyone who balances parenting and a career," she said.

"As a mother, even outside of active parenting hours, your brain has to run at full capacity thinking about your child. From small things like side dishes to preschool supplies, diaper counts, and what the next step is, there are simply so many details to manage," she shared. "When working, it's hard enough to go all-in on work alone, but you also have to keep using the rest of your mental energy to care for your child, which can feel overwhelming. I think that's why moms have it so tough," she added, praising the dedication of all working mothers.

She continued, "Fortunately, now that he is four years old, we can communicate, and he understands when he is being scolded. I'm thankful that he doesn't throw big tantrums. Even though parenting is hard, the happiness a child brings is incomparable, so I live with immense gratitude just to be able to spend time with my precious family."

With second-generation actors drawing attention in the industry lately, she was also asked how she would react if her son wanted to pursue acting in the future.

"I would be all for it," Son Ye-jin said. "In fact, children of actors often develop an interest or curiosity about this work before debuting. Because it's what their parents do, they see that world from a broader perspective and get curious about it." She added, "If he has talent, I think I would encourage him. If I don't see the talent in him but he still insists on trying, I would let him try first and help him pivot if it turns out not to be his path." She then joked, "From what I've seen so far, he is quite expressive. But during things like a Christmas concert, he freezes up completely on his own. It seems he has terrible stage fright."

As part of a celebrity couple, she also shared the challenges of dealing with privacy exposure during family trips. "When we go on family vacations, many people take photos, and I often approach them politely to ask if they could delete them," Son Ye-jin revealed. "For us, it can't be helped, but our child should still be able to move around comfortably without restrictions. When it comes to exposing our child's face, I inevitably become sensitive."

Meanwhile, "The Scandal," starring Son Ye-jin, tells the story of Lady Jo (played by Son Ye-jin), a woman whose extraordinary talents are stifled by the societal constraints placed on women in the Joseon era, and Jo Won (played by Ji Changwook), Joseon's greatest seducer, as they engage in a daring, dangerous love bet involving another woman named Hee-yeon (played by Nana). Based on French author Pierre Choderlos de Laclos's classic novel "Dangerous Liaisons," the work is a masterpiece that has been reinterpreted multiple times, including films such as "Valmont," "Cruel Intentions," and the 2003 movie "Untold Scandal" starring Bae Yong-joon, Jeon Do-yeon, and Lee Mi-sook.

Returning to historical dramas after 24 years, Son Ye-jin delivered an unconventional transformation as Lady Jo, who challenges Confucian Joseon taboos by proposing a bet of seduction. All eight episodes of the Netflix series "The Scandal" were released on September 18.

[Photo = Netflix]

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)