Jeon Yeo-been

Beginning and breakthrough roles

After graduation, Jeon worked as a staff member for musicals and theatrical productions in Daehangno, taking on roles such as assistant director and ticket agent to learn about theater from the outside. Despite appearing steadily in independent films, she remained largely unknown. While contemplating her future as an actress, she received a fortuitous opportunity when actress Moon So-ri saw her in a trailer for the Seoul International Women's Film Festival and contacted her to appear in the short film she directed, The Running Actress.^[3][4]

Following this, her older brother, a photographer who actively supported her career, took a profile picture of her and posted it on social media. A film executive happened to see the photo and offered Jeon an audition, which led to her commercial film debut in the period drama The Treacherous.^[5][6]

In 2015, seeking representation, she visited Director Jang Jin's production company, "Film Issuda," and boldly proposed, "If you need an actress, think of me." She had already worked on the staff of one of Jang Jin's plays for about six months, making the agency's staff familiar with her. Jeon's confident approach led left a lasting impression on Jang Jin, and Jeon was cast in his TV film The Sea We Wished For (2015).^[7] This was followed by appearances in Kim Soo-hyun's independent film Beaten Black and Blue (2016) and independent films Write or Dance (2017), which premiered at Seoul Independent Film Festival on December 2016.^[3][8]

In the autumn of 2016, Jeon auditioned for and successfully landed a title character in Director Kim Ui-seok's film After My Death. The filming took place in the winter of the same year.^[9] Jeon portrayed Young-hee, who becomes the prime suspect in the presumed suicide of her missing friend, Kyung-min (Jeon So-nee). Facing accusations and relentless bullying without support, Young-hee attempts to find the truth but ultimately chooses to commit suicide herself.^{[10][11][12][13]}

The year 2017 marked a significant turning point in Jeon's career. Having previously planned to retire from acting if she did not achieve success by the age of 29, she saw After My Death as her last chance, which motivated her to dedicate herself intensely to the project.^[3] The film premiered at the 22nd Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) in October 2017, where Jeon immediately won the Actress of the Year Award. Her acclaimed performance continued to earn recognition, including the Independent Star Award at the Seoul Independent Film Festival and Rookie Award at the 2018 Marie Claire Film Festival.^[3]

Even before the BIFF premiere of After My Death, Jeon had already attracted attention from other projects. Independent films Write or Dance (2017) was released in theater on August 3, 2017. She also joined the cast of the television series Save Me, starring Ok Taec-yeon and Seo Yea-ji, which ran on OCN from August 5 to September 24, 2017. Her portrayal of Hong So-rin, a Muji Ilbo reporter who bravely infiltrates the Guseonwon religious cult, garnered significant praise.^[14] Moreover, her prior short film, The Best Director, was re-released as Act 3 of the anthology feature The Running Actress, a collection of three shorts all directed by Moon So-ri, further raising her industry profile after its September 13, 2017, release.^[15][16]

Jeon's career continued to ascend in 2018. She was featured in a music video for ballad singer Yoon Jong-shin, and on July 2, she signed an exclusive contract with J.Wide Company.^[17] Following the general theatrical release of After My Death on September 13, 2018, Jeon secured more accolades, including the Best New Actress Award at the 56th Grand Bell Awards.^[3]

Transition to leading roles

In 2019, Jeon starred in her first main television lead role in the romantic comedy series Be Melodramatic, directed by Lee Byeong-heon. She played Lee Eun-jung, a documentary director who is the CEO and sole employee of her production company. Her character suffers from persistent complex grief disorder following the death of her boyfriend, with whom she often imagines conversing. This situation leads her best friends, Lim Jin-joo (Chun Woo-hee) and Hwang Han-joo (Han Ji-eun), as well as her brother Lee Hyo-bong (Yoon Ji-on), to move into her house. The series aired on the cable network JTBC from August 9 to September 28. Although it received low viewership ratings, it developed a strong cult following.^[18][19]

In 2020, Jeon was cast in Park Hoon-jung's film Night in Paradise. The film premiered at the 77th Venice International Film Festival on September 3, 2020, where it was screened in the "Out of Competition" category. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the film bypassed a theatrical release and instead debuted on Netflix on April 9, 2021.^[20][21] Jeon portrayed Kim Jae-yoon, a terminally ill woman living in Jeju who is drawn into conflict after encountering Tae-goo (portrayed by Uhm Tae-goo), a man pursued by Director Ma (portrayed by Cha Seung-won) of the Bukseong gang.^[22]

In August 2020, Jeon officially confirmed her appearance in mini-series Vincenzo, a project that teamed-up director Kim Hee-won and screenwriter Park Jae-beom. This marked Jeon's second collaboration Ok Taec-yeon, with whom she had previously worked on Save Me (2017). Starring Song Joong-ki as italian mafia of Korean-descent Vincenzo, the series aired on tvN every Saturday and Sunday from February 20 to May 2, 2021. It was also made available for streaming on Netflix.^[23][24] Jeon portrayed Hong Cha-young, a fiercely intelligent lawyer. Seon Hyeon-seon from Top Class noted that Hong Cha-young's intensity was conveyed through her "devil's tongue" and "witch's tenacity."^[25]

On March 15, 2021, Jeon was cast in the Netflix original series Glitch, directed by Roh Deok. She portrayed Hong Ji-hyo, a woman searching for her missing boyfriend, Lee Si-kook (Lee Dong-hwi). As she searches, she attempts to uncover the truth behind a mysterious secret with the help of a community of UFO watchers member Heo Bo-ra (Nana). The series was released on Netflix on October 7, 2022.^[26][27]

On February 11, 2022, it was confirmed that Jeon was cast in Kim Jee-woon's film Cobweb.The film premiered in the non-competitive section at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.^[28] The film was released theatrically on September 27, 2023, coinciding with Korean Chuseok holidays.^[29][30] She portrayed Shin Mi-do, the head of finance at a film production company. For her performance, Jeon received the award for Best Supporting Actress at the 44th Blue Dragon Film Awards, and was also nominated for Best Supporting Actress for the 59th Grand Bell Awards.^[31]

Her next work was A Time Called You, a time-travel mystery romance television series written by Choi Hyo-bi and directed by Kim Jin-won, co-starring Ahn Hyo-seop, and Kang Hoon. The series is based on the Taiwanese television series Someday or One Day. It was released on Netflix on September 8, 2023.^[32][33][34] Jeon played two roles: Han Jun-hee, the girlfriend of the deceased Yeon-jun who mourns his death, and Kwon Min-ju, the girl whose body Han Jun-hee ends up in after traveling back in time.^[35]

Film

Short film

Television series

Web series

Music videos

Awards and nominations

Listicles