In an interview with Hankyung in late September, Son Ye-jin spoke candidly about raising her child with her husband, actor Hyun Bin. Her remarks offered a glimpse into the everyday experiences of parenthood behind the public image of one of South Korea’s most famous celebrity couples.
Son Ye-jin admitted that parenting can be exhausting, especially when she has to stay up at night caring for her child or struggles to get enough rest. “We are ordinary parents, just like everyone else. When our child gets sick, we also stay up all night taking care of him. Raising a child is very rewarding, but it is also incredibly tiring,” the actress explained.
According to Hyun Bin’s wife, the couple sleeps alongside their son, making it difficult to find time to watch an entire television series or even each other’s work because of their childcare responsibilities.
Finding Happiness in the Simple Moments of Parenthood
For Son Ye-jin, raising a child is not merely a responsibility but also an experience that helps adults grow. She believes becoming a parent gives people an opportunity to reflect on their own childhoods and appreciate the value of seemingly ordinary activities. “If we didn’t have a child, when would we ever go to an amusement park or a zoo? Trips like these can be exhausting, but they are incredibly precious,” she said.
Son Ye-jin has increasingly come to appreciate the time her family can spend together in good health. She feels grateful to share precious moments with her loved ones, even though caring for a child is far from easy.
The actress also discussed how parenting practices have changed over the years. In her view, parents today need to keep a close eye on their children whenever they go out, even when visiting a playground. This makes childcare more demanding in terms of both time and attention. She also revealed that she and her husband try to take their son outdoors and travel with him to give him more opportunities to explore the world. However, the couple remains cautious about sharing photos of their son online because they want to protect his privacy. Her comments highlight how the joys of motherhood do not eliminate the everyday pressures of parenting. Even with comfortable living conditions and family support, parents must adapt to changing routines, childcare responsibilities, and the need to safeguard their children’s privacy.
Adjusting Expectations for a More Peaceful Life
Alongside her reflections on family life, Son Ye-jin discussed how her professional outlook has changed since getting married and entering her 40s. Looking back, she recalled a period when she constantly pushed herself and placed high expectations on her professional results. She has since realized that worrying too much about whether a project succeeds or fails can become emotionally exhausting.
Son Ye-jin explained that she now wants to be an actress who can sustain a long career rather than someone who simply takes on as many projects as possible. She hopes to accumulate more life experience, challenge herself with new roles, and continue growing through each production. She admires people who know how to slow down, live more peacefully, and find joy in what they already have.
Another message emphasized by Hyun Bin’s wife was that social media does not reveal the entirety of anyone’s life. “I only post happy moments,” she said, reminding people that everyone experiences exhaustion and difficult days, even if those feelings never appear in publicly shared photos.
Son Ye-jin’s remarks offer a relatable perspective on women’s mental well-being: there is no need to perform every role perfectly or constantly demonstrate happiness. Acknowledging exhaustion, adjusting expectations, and appreciating what one already has are also important parts of adapting to life. For women balancing family responsibilities with professional ambitions, making time to rest, sharing responsibilities with their partners, and maintaining personal interests can help ease the pressure. Self-care does not necessarily require significant amounts of time or money. It begins with recognizing and not neglecting one’s own needs.
Son Ye-jin did not offer a perfect formula for balancing family and work. Instead, she showed that even a woman who finds happiness in motherhood can still feel exhausted, need time to rest, and learn to adjust the expectations she places on herself.
Born in 1982, Son Ye-jin is a renowned South Korean actress known for films and television dramas such as Summer Scent, The Classic, April Snow, Something in the Rain, and Crash Landing on You. She married actor Hyun Bin in 2022, and the couple welcomed their first son later that year. After taking time to prioritize her family, Son Ye-jin returned to film and television projects, continuing to attract attention for her acting and youthful appearance at the age of 44.
Sources: Ngoisao