“I don’t usually look back at the past. Instead of ‘what have I done,’ I always think ‘what should I do next.’ I want to go beyond what I’m already good at and do even better.”
Celebrating her 35th year since debut, top Korean actress Jeon Do-yeon recently sat down for an interview at a café in Samcheong-dong. Beyond the newly released Netflix series “Price of Confession,” she shared various thoughts and experiences.
“Price of Confession” follows Yoon-su (Jeon Do-yeon), who becomes a suspect in her husband’s murder, and Mo-eun (Kim Go-eun), known as a witch for committing a horrific crime. Jeon Do-yeon elevates the immersion of the story by portraying Yoon-su, pushed into a dead end, accepting Mo-eun’s proposal with overwhelming emotional depth.
The project drew attention as it brought together Jeon Do-yeon and Kim Go-eun, two of the most acclaimed leading actresses of their respective generations. It marks their first reunion in ten years since the 2015 film “Memories of the Sword.”
Jeon Do-yeon said, “I started after reading the script up to episode 4. I went into it without knowing the exact price Yoon-su would have to pay. I didn’t expect it to be such a struggle. We began filming in the hottest season and finished during the coldest. It was very difficult.”
She continued, “Despite appearing in so many works, this was my first thriller. That’s why I was drawn to it. It was also directed by Lee Jeong-hyo, whom I worked with on ‘The Good Wife,’ and the fact that it’s a thriller driven by the narratives of two women was compelling.”
Jeon Do-yeon added, “I tried hard to understand Yoon-su’s actions after her husband’s death. I focused more on her backstory to convince myself. I believed she was someone whose sense of reality falters when something extreme happens. She may seem unusual, but I approached her as an ordinary person—not bold enough to easily harm others.”
She expressed special affection toward Kim Go-eun, with whom she reunited after 10 years. “We’ve met several times privately before. Maybe that’s why when we worked together this time, it felt so natural, as if those 10 years hadn’t passed. Kim Go-eun was already very good in ‘Eungyo.’ She was someone who needed just one phrase: ‘You’re doing well.’”
Jeon Do-yeon continued, “I can’t say how much she has grown—that’s not for me to judge. But while working on ‘Price of Confession,’ I complimented her, saying she did extremely well. Mo-eun is not an easy role. Her emotions aren’t overt, so she could have seemed monotonous. But Kim Go-eun held onto that character for six months. Even for me, that is not easy. I thought it was remarkable.”
She added, “It’s not that I feel obligated to offer advice because I’m the senior. Rather, I believe I can receive help too. Kim Go-eun’s single comment can be uplifting. I want us to exchange energy equally—not have a one-sided senior–junior dynamic.”
Jeon Do-yeon also reflected on what she and Kim Go-eun share. “I did ‘Happy End,’ and she did ‘Eungyo.’ We both took on heavy roles at a young age. People’s perceptions could have been hurtful. After that, there were expectations and pressures to stick to ‘intense acting.’ When I was young, I didn’t have many people to talk to about these struggles. So I told Go-eun to choose various roles suited for her age. I couldn’t do that myself at the time.”
As one of the key figures of the 2000s Korean film renaissance, Jeon Do-yeon expressed her deep affection for theatrical films. “I suddenly wondered, ‘What if movies disappear?’ Audiences aren’t going to theaters, and the number of films being produced is decreasing. I heard fewer than 10 films are starting production next year. I was shocked. Dramas are great, but films and dramas should coexist.”
She continued, “I really want to do a theatrical film. My next project is Lee Chang-dong’s ‘Possible Love.’ When I heard it was going to Netflix, I was glad that global audiences could watch it, but I also felt sad that it wouldn’t be shown on the big screen.”
Jeon Do-yeon added, “Whenever a film is released in theaters, I try to watch it whenever I can. I hope things improve.”
Marking her 35th year, Jeon Do-yeon continues to maintain an unmatched presence across genres.
“I don’t look back. Instead of ‘what have I done,’ I think ‘what should I do.’ I try to be more focused on set these days. I feel I’ve grown in a good direction over the years.”
She added, “I never wanted to lose myself just because I’m an actor. What I want—more than what others expect—is what matters. That’s why I worked even harder. I’ve always tried to satisfy myself.”
She continued, “Rather than sticking only to what I’m good at, I want to do better. It doesn’t need to be grand. If I can improve even a little, I’ll work harder.”
When asked what kind of actor she wants to be remembered as, she answered, “I want people to be curious about me, and curious about the works I appear in. I want to remain an actor who sparks curiosity.”
Now in her 50s, Jeon Do-yeon said, “If I weren’t an actor, I probably wouldn’t even register how old I am. But every article puts my age next to my name. They never stop reminding me how important age is for an actress.”
Laughing, she added, “It’s not that I’m hurt and trying to forget my age. You know how, when a birthday cake has too many candles, people just put one? I think I live with the mindset of ‘I still feel young.’”
She continued, “I will continue aging, but if age becomes a barrier when choosing or being chosen for a role, I know there will be painful moments. I hope to remain an actress who is chosen regardless of age.”
Showing her versatility across all genres, she said, “Now that ‘Price of Confession’ is over, I want to do a warm melodrama.”
Meanwhile, Jeon Do-yeon will meet viewers next year through director Lee Chang-dong’s Netflix film “Possible Love.”
Reported by M.J._mj94070777@nc.press
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