Emerging Star Hoi-rin Jeong Shines in 'Pro Bono' with a Powerful Performance

Hoi-rin Jeong, who captured attention with her striking presence in a Samsung Electronics phone commercial last summer, has left a lasting impression with her role in 'Pro Bono.' Transitioning from a dancer to an actress, Jeong expressed her desire to continue growing as an actress.

Recently, we met Hoi-rin Jeong at a café in Jungnim-dong, Seoul, following her appearance in the tvN drama 'Pro Bono,' which concluded on the 11th. The series follows the story of an ambitious judge, Kang Da-wit (played by Jung Kyung-ho), who inadvertently becomes a public defender, finding himself in a zero-revenue public interest team at a major law firm. Jeong played the role of Kaya, a migrant woman from Myanmar.

Despite her brief appearance in episodes 5 and 6 of 'Pro Bono,' Jeong dedicated significant effort to embody her character. She shared, "I met several Myanmar friends through acquaintances and learned about their lifestyle and traditions to understand the character better." She added with a laugh, "I even darkened my skin tone and wore a cheerleading uniform consisting of a tank top and skirt, painting my body in darker shades."

Jeong's efforts paid off, as viewers praised her performance, saying, "I thought she was really from Myanmar," "Her brief appearance was impactful," and "I was curious about the actress's name after watching the show." Jeong expressed her relief and joy, saying, "I was worried about portraying Kaya well, but the positive response exceeded my expectations."

Hoi-rin Jeong made her debut in the 2022 film 'Owners' and has since built her filmography with roles in Netflix series 'The Killer's Shopping List,' 'Eun-jung and Sang-yeon,' and the tvN drama 'First, For Love.' However, acting wasn't her initial dream. Jeong revealed her past aspirations of becoming a dancer, saying, "I danced from middle school until my sophomore year in college." She added, "While watching a movie, I suddenly wanted to try acting, which led me to pursue this dream."

"I moved to Seoul from Jeonju with the ambition of becoming a world-renowned dancer, but now I'm acting. Haha. My dance background helped me approach acting more easily, as both involve expressing emotions, whether through music or a character."

Before fully committing to acting, Jeong worked as a model to support herself, appearing in shopping mall ads, magazine beauty shoots, and online commercials. Even after starting her acting career, she continued modeling for magazines like W and Bazaar and beauty brands such as Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, and Sulwhasoo.

Jeong gained significant attention last summer with her appearance in a Samsung Electronics phone commercial, which led to her role in 'Pro Bono' a few months later. She expressed gratitude for the opportunity, saying, "I was honored to play Kaya and work alongside talented actors like Jung Kyung-ho and So Ju-yeon."

In conclusion, Jeong stated, "I want to keep growing as an actress by working hard and not fearing to break the mold, continuously challenging myself."

Reported by Se-yoon Jeong, TenAsia yoon@tenasia.co.kr