SON YE-JIN HAS always played submissive characters suffering heartbreak. But a session of flesh baring for the cameras last weekend suggests the 24-year-old is determined to break out of that mould.
Such a change in image mirrors the South Korean star's transformation from squeaky-clean waif to raucous sex kitten in her latest film, The Art of Seduction.
Early in her career, Son was often portrayed as a sickly weakling. Her character died from disease in Lover's Concerto (2002) and was stricken with Alzheimer's in A Moment to Remember (2005). During the past year, however, the actress has ventured into new territory: the risque is no longer off limits, as sex scenes with Korean heartthrob Bae Yong-joon in last year's April Snow showed. Not surprisingly, the on-screen cavorting was promoted as the main draw of the film.
In her latest release, Oh Ki-hwan's The Art of Seduction, Son has cast off what remains of her demure image, playing an empowered, manipulative seductress who takes the lead in flirting with men she desires. She co-stars with Song Il-gook in a story about two skilled players in the game of dating who eventually become real lovers.
For the first time, Son shows that she can do comedy, rather than just play sorrowful figures. Among other things, her character, Ji-yun, deliberately crashes into the vehicle of a man she fancies, creates a scene in hospital and breaks wind rather loudly.
In real life, though, there's still plenty of the angel about Son. The sweet smile and cute expressions that enchanted audiences are still present, despite a whirlwind promotional tour to Hong Kong last week - although there's the occasional glimpse of an aloof actress.