Jeon So-nee Discusses the Challenges and Liberation in Netflix's 'As You Stood By'

"I wasn't without fear. It's not a refreshing story."

Recently, at a café in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Jeon So-nee, star of the Netflix series 'As You Stood By,' shared her thoughts. The series follows two women who, faced with a life-or-death situation, decide to commit murder and find themselves entangled in unexpected events. Jeon So-nee plays Jo Eun-soo, a character who fights to the end to save her only best friend, Jo Hee-soo, played by Lee You-mi.

Jeon So-nee confessed that she had fears about the project, which deals with domestic violence. She said, "I think many people felt stressed watching the first two episodes. It might have been relatable or difficult to watch. I'm grateful to those who watched it."

Jeon So-nee mentioned that Eun-soo and Hee-soo eventually found their own freedom after a long struggle. She expressed, "I was glad it ended that way. We filmed the last scenes in Vietnam. It felt emptier and stranger than other projects."

In the final scene, Jeon So-nee didn't wear a wig but actually bleached her hair. She explained, "The director wanted to visually show that they found freedom. He suggested changing my hair color, so I went for a daring bright blonde. It was my first time. I wanted to show my friends, but I couldn't meet anyone during that period and returned to black hair after just seven days."

Though her character seems bold and outspoken, Jeon So-nee revealed that she is different from Eun-soo. She said, "When something unfair happens, I just fret and it ends unfairly. I can't immediately speak up, and I think of things to say only after."

She added, "The characters I've played so far are the opposite of me. Maybe I want to express what I can't do in real life through my lines." In the series, Eun-soo is a character who stands up and fights for Hee-soo until the end.

When asked to say something to the perpetrators in the series, she emphasized, "I don't want to say anything. I just wish they could experience it once. Saying something wouldn't bring satisfaction."

However, she noted some similarities with Eun-soo. Jeon So-nee explained, "Past guilt or regret sometimes drives me now. To avoid repeating those experiences, I have to make myself stronger. That intensity is similar."

After completing the somewhat heavy and dark project, Jeon So-nee appeared more contemplative than relieved. She said, "This seems like a very difficult time. When I started acting, I was curious and eager to learn and try everything. I've come this far with that mindset, but it's a very ambiguous period. I wonder if all professions go through this phase. I question if I'm on the right path. At some point, things don't feel satisfying or good. It's a challenging time to manage those feelings."

Jeon So-nee showed a wistful look as if she might cry. When the reporters said, "Don't cry," she jokingly replied, "I won't cry."

By Ryu Ye-ji, TenAsia Reporter ryuperstar@tenasia.co.kr