OG oppa of our dreams, Song Joong Ki, is back on the small screen with a brand new K-drama! In tvN's Vincenzo, Joong Ki plays the titular character Vincenzo Cassano, a ruthless lawyer with strong ties to the Italian mafia. He flies to South Korea, his birth country, and is challenged when he comes across the cutthroat and determined lawyer Hong Cha Young, played by newcomer Jeon Yeo Bin. She might not be a household name just yet, but based on the reception of her acting skills from her peers, it seems that Yeo Bin is the rising K-drama actress to watch.
Here's a quick rundown of facts we know about Jeon Yeo Bin, Song Joong Ki's new leading lady in Vincenzo:
Jeon Yeo Bin was born on July 26, 1989!
The 31-year-old actress just got her biggest role to date in Vincenzo.
Jeon Yeo Bin graduated from Dongkuk Women's University.
Jeon Yeo Bin earned a degree in Broadcast Entertainment from Dongkuk Women's University. In an interview with Elle Korea, she spoke about her college life and shared that she took on a variety of extra classes—from applied music to art! "I thought it would be a shame if I missed the opportunity to learn," Yeo Bin shared. "There were plenty of times where I was so busy auditing other classes that I missed out on lunch with my friends due to our different timetables. I think I enjoy having shallow knowledge on a broad variety of subjects."
Although she only started acting five years after graduating from college, Yeo Bin was already serious about it and took on many classes in the arts for her to learn skills in the craft: "It's kind of cringe-worthy, but back then I wanted to become an actress who excelled in all artistic areas. I thought that I had to have various artistic abilities. I always worried about whether or not I should take another part-time job or pick up another class during the week."
You might have seen Jeon Yeo Bin in 2017's Save Me.
Jeon Yeo Bin only has a few drama acting credits under her belt, and in Save Me, played the role of undercover journalist Hang So Rin. The 2017 drama thriller is an adaptation of the webtoon Out Of The World by Jo Geum San. It tackles quite disturbing themes including suicide, brainwashing by religious cults, and violence. Netflix describes Save Me as such: "Four young men come to the rescue of a former classmate whose family has been sucked into the clutches of a religious cult and its charismatic leader." Save Me also stars her Vincenzo co-star Ok Taecyeon.
Jeon Yeo Bin is an award-winning actress.
Jeon Yeo Bin has mostly landed roles in film, and one of her best to date is in 2018's After My Death. Yeo Bin played the role of high school student Young Hee who is wrongly accused of her classmate's disappearance. With her classmates, faculty, and detectives all questioning her innocence, Young Hee seeks a way to end her life. Her gripping performance earned her the following awards: Actress of the Year Award at the 22nd Busan International Film Festival and the Independent Star Award at the 2017 Seoul Independent Film Festival.
Her role in After My Death was so memorable that Vincenzo screenwriter Park Jae Bum sought out to meet Yeo Bin to work with them on the drama: "I was a huge fan of the movie After My Death so I always wanted to meet her. Working with her, I still think, 'This person is crazy, and she is a born to be an actress.'"
Jeon Yeo Bin's acting was also praised by Vincenzo's lead star Song Joong Ki.
Vincenzo is the first project both stars are working on together, but seasoned actor Song Joong Ki only had praises for newcomer Jeon Yeo Bin: "Jeon Yeo Bin is an actress whose acting is not only fun to watch, but a kind of acting that hasn't been seen before. As a fellow actor, I'm envious of many aspects [of her talent], and she's a partner that gives me a lot of motivation."
He also added: "While working together with her on the filming set, I'm having a lot of fun watching Jeon Yeo Bin's acting in person. I think viewers can safely look forward to her charms as well."
Yeo Bin also spoke of how her Vincenzo character Hong Cha Young was a "big challenge" for her, but her seniors helped her in her acting process. "I'm still not a very familiar face among the public, so it would be nice if she could be so memorable that people would say, 'Oh, that's Hong Cha Young!' when they see me," she said.
Jeon Yeo Bin thought of quitting acting if she didn't get her big break by 30.
Well, it's a good thing she earned recognition right before her 30th birthday! "I didn't [have an alternative career], so that made it all the more stressful," she told Elle Korea. "However, the anxiety I felt during that time made me more resilient."
"Even though I'm lacking in many areas now, I believe that I can improve. This bravery of mine is my greatest weapon. In order to have hope, you always have to embrace yourself and believe that you can do better."
She credited her determination and work ethic to her mom, who raised her as a single mother when her father passed away: "My mother told me, 'Do you think a person who doesn't even know the basics can go out and become a great person? Master the basics first.' I didn't like how my mother said to work on the basics while everyone else said to dream big. But at some point, I suddenly realized that I needed to do a proper job in the very spot where my feet were planted. I learned how to gain courage from the smallest things."
Jeon Yeo Bin is on Instagram!
Jeon Yeo Bin is new to the social media platform and only joined Insta in January 2021. In her few posts, we get to see snippets of her life as a lead actress in her biggest role to date! "People probably wouldn't watch my content since it would be really boring. Taking walks, watching movies, reading books—that would be it," she told Elle Korea.
Well, we actually beg to differ, Yeo Bin! Check out some of our fave Yeo Bin Insta content below:
New episodes of Vincenzo are available on Netflix every Saturday and Sunday night.
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