Apink's Son Nae-eun on missing Yoon Bo Mi's wedding: 'I want to show who I really am'

Son Nae-eun, an actress and former member of the group Apink, has expressed her desire to break the fixed image that has surrounded her for years and reveal a new side of herself. Despite various controversies regarding group activities, she is expanding her career as an actress, stating, "I want to escape from a stereotyped image."

On the 15th, Son appeared on the YouTube channel YouTube Ha Ji-young, where she shared behind-the-scenes stories from her role in the SBS Friday-Saturday drama "Manager Kim," as well as her honest thoughts on her entertainment career and the public perception of her image.

In the video, Son remarked, "I think this is the first time I've appeared on YouTube alone," adding, "I haven't had many opportunities to speak freely about myself until now."

Host Ha Ji-young noted, "There seems to be a difference between the Son Nae-eun people know and the real Son Nae-eun," describing her as having a "baby bird" vibe. In response, Son confessed, "There is an image of who I am that people see. However, it feels like many people judge me based only on that appearance."

She continued, "Although my period of activity has been long, many people remember me only through a fixed image. That is why I thought I wanted to let people know what kind of person I really am."

Son also reflected on her cautious demeanor during her time as an idol. "In the past, there were no opportunities, and I wasn't very eloquent. I felt a strong need to be careful about everything," she said. "But as time passed and I grew older, my thoughts changed a lot."

In particular, she emphasized her desire to break the image formed during her Apink days, saying, "I feel like I have a stereotyped image, and I have a desire to break it." This is interpreted as Son, who has long operated under the representative image of a "pure idol," wanting to show new facets of herself as both an actress and an individual.

Since her debut with Apink in 2011, Son has become a well-known figure to the public. She has since expanded her potential as an actress through appearances in the film "Marrying the Mafia 5: Return of the Family" and dramas such as "The Great Seer," "My Kids Give Me a Headache," "Lost," and "Agency."

In 2022, she chose a new path by leaving Apink to focus on her acting career. However, following her absence from the group's 10th-anniversary activities and her lack of appearance at official gatherings with the members, rumors of discord were raised among some fans.

Recently, she drew attention once again when it was revealed that she did not attend the wedding of Apink member Yoon Bo Mi. Her absence was further highlighted as Kang Yu-gyeong, who left the team earlier, attended the wedding.

However, through this interview, Son focused more on how she wants to stand before the public in the future rather than explaining specific relationships. She expressed her determination to escape the mold of being an idol group member and create her own identity as an actress.

Currently, Son is continuing her transformation as an actress, appearing as Jung Sang-ah in the SBS Friday-Saturday drama "Manager Kim." Attention is focused on her new challenge to build her own acting world beyond the label of an idol-turned-actress.