Cover Get to know Jeon Yeo-bin, one of South Korea's rising rookie stars (Photo: Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

Korean actress Jeon Yeo-bin is one of the most talked-about rookie actresses today after showcasing her acting chops in K-drama Vincenzo and movie, Night in Paradise. Here are some things to know about the rising star

Korean actress, Jeon Yeo-bin (or Jeon Yeo-been) is on everyone's radar, thanks in part to her acting prowess as lawyer Hong Cha-young in the hit Korean drama, Vincenzo  and as Jae-yeon in Night in Paradise.

The rookie actress hasn't been acting for very long but made an impact in every major role that she took on, always rising to the challenge especially when she transitioned from indie movies to more commercially driven ones.

While she might be a fresh face to many, she's made sure that she's a name that you should watch out for. If you've been one of the people mesmerised and smitten by her undeniable charms, now is the time to get to know this acting monster. Here, we list down all the interesting tidbits to know about Jeon Yeo-bin, including her dramas, age, Instagram and more.

See also: Lee Do-Hyun: 8 Things To Know About The Korean Rising Star

1. She started acting late

Most celebrities in her generation made their acting debut in their late teens to early twenties but Jeon debuted at 26 years old. She thought about doing acting while she was studying broadcast entertainment at Dongduk Women's University but only took it seriously after graduating. She landed her first role in a short film, The Best Director in 2015.

See also: Kim So-Yeon, 5 Things To Know About The Baeksang Arts Awards Best Actress Winner

2. Her movie "After My Death" earned her an acting award

While Jeon made her official movie debut in the period film, The Treacherous, it was only a minor role. Her first major movie role was in the film, After My Death, where Jeon showed her potential as an actress that everyone should keep an eye out for. The then-rookie talent who was already 28 years old, played high schooler, Young-hee, who has been accused of pushing her friend to commit suicide.

Her cathartic performance as the meek yet intriguing Young-hee earned her several acting award nominations and bagged an Actress of the Year award at the prestigious Busan International Film Festival, putting her name on the list of future stars.

In an interview with Korea Times, Jeon said her role as Young-hee remains as her most memorable one. "All the characters I’ve played so far mean a lot to me, but I think Young-hee of After My Death was a real turning point for me as an actor. It opened doors to so many great opportunities."

See also: 7 Korean Movies To Watch On Netflix

3. Her first K-drama role

If you're already impressed with Jeon bringing home an acting category for her first major movie role, you'll be surprised that she earned a nomination for Best New Actress at the prestigious Baeksang Arts Awards for her first major K-drama role in Be Melodramatic. While she lost to Itaewon Class' Kim Da-mi, it allowed her to land the life-changing role in what would be her biggest project to date: Vincenzo.

Two years prior to Be Melodramatic, Jeon had a minor role in Save Me as an undercover reporter and Live as a jobseeker.

See also: 57th Baeksang Arts Awards 2021: Full List Of Winners

 

4. "Vincenzo" is her first major lead role

When it was announced that Song Joong-ki would be making his return to the small screen in Vincenzo, many are curious who would be the actress starring alongside him. For a household name like Song, many would expect an A-list actress to be his partner but rookie actress, Jeon bagged the role instead, making it her second Korean drama project.

Song is a seasoned actor but Jeon never backed down and carried Hong Cha-young's character with such energy and versatility, switching from comedy, romance and drama any time.

In an interview with Netflix, Song joked that when Jeon saw his name as the lead actor for the drama, she might have thought of refusing the role. But instead of being intimidated starring alongside a popular actor, Jeon took on the challenge. And now, she's one of the hottest rising actresses.

See also: Vincenzo: All The Jewellery Worn By Jeon Yeo-Bin In The Korean Drama

5. She has another Netflix series in the works

Thanks to the popularity of Vincenzo, Jeon nabbed the lead role of Hong Ji-hyo in the upcoming Netflix K-drama, Glitch. Helmed by the team behind the other Netflix Korean original series Extracurricular, Glitch follows Hong as she tracks down her missing boyfriend with the help of members of a UFO club.

Following the announcement of her casting, Netflix says "Jeon Yeo-bin is expected to portray this multidimensional character in a unique and imaginative way."

See also: 30 New Must-Watch Korean Dramas In 2021

6. She loves her "Night in Paradise" character

Night in Paradise recently just dropped in Netflix but the movie actually premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2019. Jeon isn't as well-known then as she is now but popular noir director, Park Hoon-jung still choose her for the lead role. Speaking to the Korean Herald, Jeon says "I appreciate director Park Hoon-jung for casting me and actor Eom Tae-goo in the lead roles I am really grateful that he trusted us and that he was willing to go on an adventure with us."

While she definitely made her mark in After My Death, Night in Paradise is her first major film in two years which is probably why her character, Jae-yeon is special. She also says that she loves that Jae-yeon is not reliant on male characters, something that other crime and thriller movies usually depict.

For her role, Jeon learned how to shoot with guns. "I realised that she would be a rare character in Korean action noir. I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to play Jae-yeon, who brings a totally new [kind of] character to the centre of all the male characters," she says in a separate interview with Korea Times.

See also: 5 Things To Know About "Night In Paradise"—Netflix's New Korean Thriller Film

 

7. She loves Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai

Maybe it shouldn't come as a surprise that Jeon chose to star in Night in Paradise after all as she's a big fan of Hong Kong noir movies, particularly the works of renowned Hong Kong movie director, Wong Kar-wai. "I grew up watching Hong Kong noir films. As a kid, I often imagined myself playing the lead role in such movies, performing gunfights and sacrificing myself for the sake of friendship," she said in an interview with Korea Times.

While she hasn't acted in a Wong Kar-wai film yet, director Park Hoon-jung is a popular Korean noir director himself. And she still got the chance to shoot with guns. With her steady growth and acting chops, we won't be surprised if she gets a love call to star in Wong's movie soon.

See also: Wong Kar-Wai Reveals First Trailer For "Blossoms Shanghai" TV Series

 

8. She posts regularly on Instagram

Jeon's Instagram account is quite new and while it was also recently hacked, she was able to get it back though her previous photos have been deleted. She regularly posts on her account, mostly on Instagram Stories sharing updates and promoting her upcoming drama, Glitch.

It seems like she also regularly reads comments. In an interview with the Korean Herald, Jeon says, "I recently created my Instagram account and I receive lots of feedback from foreign fans." Stay updated with Jeon and follow her Instagram, @jeon.yeobeen.

See also: 12 Stylish Women's Suits To Wear Now, Inspired By Vincenzo's Jeon Yeo-Bin

9. She's a Leo

Jeon was able to play a high schooler when she was already in her late 20s so it shouldn't come as a surprise that she's actually older than she looks. Jeon was born on July 26, 1989 in Gangneung, South Korea.

See also: 14 Popular Korean Drama Filming Spots To Add To Your Travel List

10. She almost quit acting

Since Jeon started her acting character in her late 20s, she made a promise that if she couldn't make a living out of being an actress by 30, she'd quit. But thanks to the success of her projects and her slow but worthwhile rise to the spotlight, it seems the decision to act late paid off.

See also: Interview: "Sweet & Sour" Cast And Director Discuss The Netflix Movie

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