“After first starring in a Netflix series, I’m excited to star in another and happy to be back on Netflix again.”
South Korean actress Jeon So-nee, known for her roles in Netflix’s sci-fi horror series ‘Parasyte: The Grey,’ is starring in the new Netflix drama, a melo-romance titled ‘Melo Movie.’ This marks her return to the streaming platform with a completely different genre.
In an interview with the Chosun Daily on June 14, Jeon expressed her excitement about the shift from fantasy to a more realistic setting. “I’ve been doing fantasy genres, but this time, I’m doing a more realistic drama. In previous works, I’ve always played characters set in the past or within unrealistic fantasies, not in the present, so I’ve always wanted to play a character who lives in the present that I can relate to a timeline not far from my age,” Jeon said.
The new Netflix series ‘Melo Movie,’ written by Lee Na-eun, writer of the 2021 hit romance drama ‘Our Beloved Summer,’ is currently in production and is slated for release next year.
The series, which explores the journeys of four couples toward happiness and heartbreak, features Jeon, Park Bo-young, Choi Woo-shik, and Lee Jun-young.
Jeon expressed her enthusiasm for the project, saying, “Genre films are so popular these days, and I’ve been waiting for a melodrama that people could watch with more emotion. I’m curious to see what Netflix would do with a romance, and as a big fan of Lee Na-eun’s work, I’m very grateful for this project.”
Jeon and Choi Woo-sik, known for his role in the Oscar-winning film Parasite (2019), are both represented by the same agency. Jeon noted that this project has allowed them to become better acquainted with each other. “Choi Woo-sik and I have been working under the same roof for a long time, but we haven’t had an opportunity to get to know each other because we don’t see each other much. So, we’re getting to know each other through this project,” she said.
Jeon also commented on the dynamics among the cast, sharing, “All four of us have an MBTI personality type that starts with ‘I’ for introversion, so we’re quiet. Other people might think we’re awkward with each other, but in reality, we are very comfortable with each other as we can relate to each other well. We don’t try to approach each other much, and when we have problems, we listen and encourage each other.”
Jeon frequently appears in school uniforms in her films and dramas, including ‘When My Love Blooms’ (2020), ‘Scripting Your Destiny’ (2021), and ‘Soulmate’ (2023). She will wear the school uniform once again in ‘Melo Movie.’
“Coincidentally, three of us, except for Park Bo-young, are high school classmates in this film, so there are school scenes again. I want to wear the uniform as long as possible, as long as it doesn’t make the viewers uncomfortable,” Jeon said.
Jeon has appeared in numerous independent films since she studied at the Seoul Institute of the Arts, where she earned a degree in Film and Media. She debuted her feature film, ‘Write or Dance,’ in 2017 and gained international recognition through Netflix.
Reflecting on her rising global popularity, Jeon said, “I still can’t believe ‘Parasyte: The Grey’ topped the global rank. I haven’t traveled abroad since its release, so I haven’t experienced its global popularity firsthand. Still, my Instagram followers have increased, and I’m grateful for the overseas fans visiting my Instagram.”
Despite the challenges of playing a character with a parasite, which involved keeping her head spinning, Jeon enjoyed the experience. “Director Yeon Sang-ho and the other staff members were worried about my neck, but I was just having fun. It was difficult and awkward at first, but at the same time, it was exhilarating and fun. It’s like a ride,” she said.
Jeon, with a decade’s worth of acting experience, emphasized her dedication to her craft. “I always have a goal when I approach a project, like ‘I shouldn’t be ashamed or sorry for this work,’ and that’s why I try my best in every project,” she said.
Jeon expressed her aspirations: “I want to be an intriguing actor. I want people to say, ‘Oh, Jeon So-nee is doing this,’ and react with curiosity, wondering what I’ll do next. I want to be an actor people want to know more about and see, which drives me to work tirelessly.”
