A brief flare-up over Son Ye-jin’s “attitude” has been put to rest after the young co-star’s mother stepped in to clarify what really happened.
On the 24th, child actor Choi So-yul’s mother posted on social media that the moment in question was a light, joking anecdote, adding, “The only fact that matters is she was kind.”
She also previously shared that Son found a sold-out “Auroraping” toy for her daughter ― “even Santa couldn’t get it,” she wrote ― calling it the best Christmas present.
The clarification follows chatter sparked by the "No Other Choice" production briefing on the 19th, where Son noted that becoming a mother herself had helped her tap into the role of a mom on screen.
Onstage, co-star Lee Byung-hun teased that the child actress peppered them with questions on set ― and while he kept answering, Son didn’t. He quipped that when he asked her to chime in, she tossed it back to him, only for him to realize after hearing her remarks that she’d been protecting her focus and, by extension, the child’s performance.
Son explained she had to stay locked in because the scene involved heavy emotions and precise direction, so she limited small talk to maintain concentration.
A clip of the exchange made the rounds online and in forums, prompting speculation that Son had “snubbed” the child actor.
Context, however, tells a different story: the room was in good spirits throughout. Lee’s playful “reveal” drew big laughs, and Son ― laughing along ― offered a quick, good-natured explanation of the on-set moment.
There was no intent to stir controversy, but the offhand aside became fodder online, and comments began to turn on Son as the clip spread.
That left both actors in an awkward spot ― and dragged a child performer, who wasn’t even at the event, into the headlines. Ultimately, the young actress’s mother weighed in to describe the set atmosphere and vouch for Son’s kindness.
Did this really need a formal “clarification”? Maybe not. But image matters for stars, and "No Other Choice" ― invited to the Venice International Film Festival’s competition lineup ― is gearing up for release. No one wants off-screen noise overshadowing the film. Consider the blip over.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)