Shin Ye Eun Dishes On Her Recent Drama "Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born," Her Hopes For 2025, And More

Nov 22, 2024

Shin Ye Eun has joined Allure Korea for a pictorial and interview!

During the interview, Shin Ye Eun revealed that she divides her diary into sections based on emotions to help her remember specific feelings and access them for her acting. She keeps one diary for sad emotions and another for happy ones.

When asked if writing in her diary helps with her acting, she commented, “Absolutely. That’s why I record even the smallest details. I write everything down, even if it’s just a fleeting emotion, because I think it could be used in my acting one day.”

When asked what parts of her diary she referred to while preparing for the character of Heo Yeong Seo in her most recent drama “Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born,” she shared, “I hadn’t been keeping a diary for a while. But while preparing for Yeong Seo, I revisited my old entries. Most were from 2023 and 2020, times when I was deeply pondering how I could grow as a person. There were moments of both joy and sadness during that period.”

Regarding the similarities between her and Heo Yeong Seo, Shin Ye Eun revealed, “We are both perfectionists. Striving for perfection can sometimes be exhausting, right? Like Yeong Seo, I often feel the need to achieve the goals I’ve set, no matter how small. We also share the trait of never giving up. I, too, try to acknowledge my shortcomings, accept them, and work hard to overcome them.”

When asked if playing a character she shares similarities with comforted her, she responded, “Yes, it did. I realized once again that while I aspire to be perfect, it’s impossible to achieve perfection. I also confronted the desire to be recognized while simultaneously yearning for freedom from that recognition. I think Yeong Seo is an amazing person with unlimited potential, but she’s afraid of being confined. Of course, only she knows why. Seeing her overcome her limitations and grow through the support of others gave me courage.”

Regarding the charm of Korean classical opera, Shin Ye Eun remarked, “Its charm lies in its diverse expressions—through makeup, costumes, and sound. For example, in ‘The Tale of Chunhyang,’ the melodies sung by Jeong Nyeon (Kim Tae Ri) and Yeong Seo are completely different. Unlike other genres of music, Korean opera doesn’t have specific musical notes, so the songs can vary depending on who performs them. I found that fascinating.”

When asked if she is proud that the Korean opera stages in the drama became a hot topic among viewers, she commented, “I was really worried, but the positive response from viewers gave me confidence. Watching the stage as a viewer, I found it incredibly beautiful. While filming, I was too busy focusing on all the preparations to fully appreciate it.”

On how much preparation went into the Korean opera stages, she shared, “We practiced every single day without fail. There were days when I told myself, ‘Don’t go home until you get it right,’ and stayed up all night rehearsing. I knew I had to accept that I couldn’t be perfect, but it wasn’t easy. I think I put myself under a lot of stress and pressure. Instead of planning meticulously, I just kept pushing through, hoping it would eventually work out. On days I had dance lessons, I sought advice from senior dancers. When I struggled with vocal techniques, I went back to my old acting or vocal coaches to rebuild my basics.”

Regarding the performance in the drama that stood out to her the most, Shin Ye Eun remarked, “The final performance, ‘The Legend of the Twin Pagodas.’ The story mirrors Jung Nyeon and Yeong Seo’s relationship. By then, I had grown closer to the opera troupe, so I felt more comfortable compared to ‘The Tale of Chunhyang.’ At the start of filming, I was so eager to do well. But by then, I was more at ease with singing, acting, dancing, and performing on stage.”

On the new goals she would like to achieve, she revealed, “While working on ‘Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born,’ I learned that there’s no need to be afraid anymore. I feel ready to face challenges head-on with confidence. Although I’ve always wanted to try roles I’ve never experienced before, I used to doubt whether I’d truly enjoy them. Now, I believe I can. My mindset has shifted from ‘I have to do this perfectly’ to ‘Let’s give it a try!’”

Regarding her hopes for 2025, she shared, “I want to graduate from college. Returning to school this year was my goal, and I achieved it. Next year, I hope to wear my graduation cap! One more thing—I’d love for a project to do well so we can go on a reward vacation. As for myself, I hope things remain as peaceful as they are now.”