Son Nae-eun on the pressure of being an 'idol-turned-actor'

Actress Son Nae-eun, a former member of the group Apink, has candidly shared the pressures and changes she has experienced while building her career as an actress following her idol activities. She revealed that the label of being an "idol-turned-actor" constantly keeps her on edge, but she is using that pressure to fuel her growth and effort.

On the 22nd, a video titled "Son Nae-eun: 'From first impressions of So Ji-sub to getting numbers abroad!' Deep dive into Agent Kim and the real Son Nae-eun" was posted on the YouTube channel YouTube Ha Jiyoung.

During the appearance, Son expressed her respect for actor So Ji-sub, with whom she worked in the SBS Friday-Saturday drama Agent Kim Reactivated, recalling their first meeting.

"I met him for the first time during the script reading, and it was truly amazing," she said. "I have watched many of his works before, and his nickname 'So Gan-ji' is quite famous. I thought he would have an incredible aura, but just seeing him sitting there made me gasp in admiration."

Host Ha Ji-young asked, "Son Nae-eun, you are known to be quite shy, and So Ji-sub is also known for his introverted personality. Wasn't it awkward when you first met?"

To this, Son laughed and replied, "Agent Kim (So Ji-sub), Yoon Kyung-ho, Choi Dae-hoon, Joo Sang-wook, and even myself—all of our MBTI types were I (Introverted)." She added, "But when we are acting, we don't look like that at all."

She continued, "I tend to be the one to speak first because I worry the other person might feel uncomfortable, but since they were my seniors, I didn't know what to talk about. There were times when filming ended while I was still just worrying, 'What should I say?'"

Son also revealed that her personality has changed significantly over the years.

"In the past, I placed many restrictions on myself. I lived thinking, 'I shouldn't do things like this,'" she said. "Looking back now, it feels like such a waste. I regret not experiencing more things when I was younger."

She added, "It wasn't that I tried to change forcibly, but I changed naturally as time passed. Now, I can converse comfortably even with people I've just met."

In particular, she confessed that during her early days of activity, even daily life was not easy.

Son surprised the audience by saying, "It was difficult even to go to the bank or walk alone. It was like that until my mid-to-late 20s."

Ha empathized, saying, "Since you debuted at a young age and were always accompanied by your company and people around you, it was inevitable. It feels like you are finally living as the person known as Son Nae-eun."

Son replied, "That is so true. Now I feel like I am truly living as myself. It feels good, but my sense of responsibility has grown just as much."

Above all, Son honestly shared the greatest pressure she feels while working as an actress.

"I always think, 'People must be judging me,'" she said. "Especially since I am an actor from an idol background, I become more conscious of those gazes."

She added, "That pressure hasn't completely disappeared even now. However, it has improved much more than before, and I am trying not to be too self-conscious."

She noted that this pressure has instead become the driving force for her growth.

"That is why I try to work harder and continue to develop," Son said with a smile. "On set, I try to approach people first and smile a lot. Doing so has given me the confidence that 'this is more manageable than I thought.'"

Son, who debuted as a member of Apink in 2011, received great love through the group's activities and has since expanded her range into dramas and films. After leaving the team in 2022, she has focused on her acting career, and recently, through the SBS Friday-Saturday drama Agent Kim Reactivated, she is expanding her presence by showcasing more stable and deep acting.

Having lived for a long time with the label of an "idol-turned-actor," Son did not hide that pressure during this interview. Her sincere confession that she is constantly refining herself to be recognized as an actress shows her current path: quietly walking her own way behind a glamorous image.