In April 2021, Son left IST Entertainment and remained a member of Apink until April 8, 2022 before withdrawing from the group. Soon after leaving IST, she joined YG Entertainment as an actress.
Life and career
1994–2010: Early life and career beginnings
Son was born on February 10, 1994, in Gangnam District, Seoul, South Korea.[1][4] She was born into a family lineage with interest in arts. Her mother is an art museum director while her younger sister, named Son Sae-eun, pursues a career in the sports industry as a professional golf player in South Korea.[5] She attended Chungdam High School and later transferred to School of Performing Arts Seoul (SOPA), from which she graduated on February 7, 2013. That same year, she was accepted into Dongguk University's Department of Theatre and Film with a major in acting.[6][7] She was also chosen as an ambassador for the university, alongside Girls' Generation's Yoona and actress Park Ha-sun, in 2014.[8]
Originally dreaming to become a painter, Son coincidentally stumbled upon auditions for South Korean record label JYP Entertainment. She impulsively attended the auditions and performed "It's Not Love" by Wonder Girls. Thereafter, she was notified of passing their audition and subsequently became a trainee under the agency. However, she soon moved to Cube Entertainment and continued as a trainee.[9] In the midst of training, 16-year-old Son appeared in the music videos "Breath" and "Beautiful" by Beast as its female lead.[10][11]
Son was the first Apink member to be announced in February 2011.[12] The group released their debut EP Seven Springs of Apink on April 19 alongside a music video for its lead single "I Don't Know" (몰라요).[13] On April 21, Son officially debuted with Apink under A Cube Entertainment (currently IST Entertainment), an independent label under Cube Entertainment.[12] That same day they began broadcasting promotions on Mnet's M Countdown performing their songs "I Don't Know" (몰라요), and "Wishlist".[14]
In 2012, Son made her acting debut as the teenage Hae-in in the historical drama The Great Seer.[15] She then made her film debut in the fifth installment of comedy series Marrying the Mafia, titled "Return of the Noble Family".[16] Thereafter, Son played supporting roles in family drama Childless Comfort and romantic comedy Second 20s.[17][18] In 2016, she co-starred in tvN's romantic comedy Cinderella with Four Knights.[19]
Throughout 2013 and 2014, Son starred in fourth installment of MBC reality television series We Got Married with Shinee's Taemin as a virtual married couple,[20][21] for which her performance on the show won her the "Star of the Year" award and a nomination for the "Best Couple" award at the 2013 MBC Entertainment Awards.[22][23] The pair were cast as the show's youngest virtual married couple in its history.[24] The virtual married couple bid their farewell to the viewers following the airing of their last episode on January 4, 2014, after 8 months which consisted of 36 aired episodes.[25]
2017–present: Continued solo activities and group departure
In 2017, it was confirmed that Son will star in the horror film The Wrath.[26][27] The same year, she was cast in Noh Hee-kyung's four-episode miniseries The Most Beautiful Goodbye.[28] In 2020, Son starred in MBC's new drama Dinner Mate as a popular social media influencer.[29][30]
In January 2021, Son was announced to be appearing in the drama Lost.[31]
In April 2021, Son departed from Play M Entertainment after 10 years with the label. However, she will still continue as a member of the group and will participate in their 10th anniversary album later in the year.[32] Later in May 2021, Son signed a contract with YG Entertainment as an actress.[33][34]
On April 8, 2022, it was reported that Son would be withdrawing from the group Apink due to difficulty balancing work as both an actress and idol.[35] This was later confirmed by IST Entertainment via the group's fancafe.[36]
Artistry
Influence
Son revealed the moment she was certain she wished to pursue a career in the South Korean music industry was because of veteran singer BoA.[37]
Public image and impact
Among the South Korean commercial industry, Son is often referred to as the "sold-out girl". The nickname originated after all products Son advertised for began to sell out in record time. Photos with any product uploaded on her social media also prompted the items to sell out, including Adidas leggings which were dubbed as "Naeun Leggings" and was viewed as its unofficial model.[38] A liquor brand's product also was in need to produce and re-stock on numerous occasions after a photo was posted on her Instagram account.[39]
Adidas dubbed Son as a MZ generation style icon alongside Mino of Winner.[40]
Other ventures
Endorsements
German sportswear brand, Adidas Korea announced Son was selected as its newest model alongside world-renowned soccer players Gareth Bale and Son Heung-min. She was first revealed through a campaigning video uploaded on January 15, 2018, on their YouTube channel in correlation with the release of their "ZNE 36Hrs Hoodie".[38]
In June 2021, Naeun was selected as the model for global skincare brand Neutrogena.[41] As of June 15, 2021, Naeun has been selected to be the model for the brand OA's sonic toothbrush.[42]
Philanthropy
In celebration of her birthday, Son organized a volunteering event with her fans on February 8, 2018. They commenced with volunteer work at Kkottongnae, a welfare facility located in the North Chungcheong Province. According to her agency, Plan A Entertainment, she once visited the facility during her days in middle school and made up her mind that she would return again in the future. Previously, Son and her fans had also hand-knitted hats for newborns as well as funded wells for impoverished areas overseas.[43]
On February 28, 2020, Son made a donation of 50 million won to the Daegu Community Chest of Korea to help support those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the donation will be used towards quarantine supplies and medical support for low income families residing in Daegu.[44]
^Lee, Han-seon (September 17, 2014). 동국대, 윤아·서현 등 동문 연예인 19명 홍보대사 위촉 [Dongguk University appoints 19 celebrity alumni, including Yoona and Seohyun, as public relations ambassadors]. Aju Economic Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 1, 2024. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
^Lee Min-ji (December 30, 2013). 대박 자신감? MBC 연예대상 13개부문 공동수상 '의미퇴색' [MBC giving out 13 co-awards 'ruins the meaning of the award']. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
^Kim, Jun-seok (April 8, 2022). 손나은, 직접 전한 '에이핑크 탈퇴'..."11년 함께 해온 팀 떠난다"[전문] [Son Na-eun, 'Apink's departure'... "I am leaving the team I have been with for 11 years" [Full text]] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Archived from the original on April 8, 2022. Retrieved April 8, 2022 – via Naver.
^Lee, Seung-rok (June 1, 2021). "YG 간 손나은, 스킨케어브랜드 모델 발탁". My Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 12, 2015. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
^Kim So-yeon (November 26, 2020). '여곡성' 서영희X손나은, 죽음의 저택...숨겨진 기이한 진실은?. Daily Economy Star Today (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 20, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
^Choi Doo-sun (February 17, 2012). 태민 '도롱뇽' 카메오, 에이핑크 손나은 위해 노인분장. My Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 20, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
^Choi Ji-ye (September 26, 2012). 손나은, '무자식 상팔자' 캐스팅...정은지 넘어설까. My Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 20, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
^Yoo Su-kyung (September 17, 2015). '두번째 스무살' 손나은·김민재, 시청률 공약 이행. News 1 (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 20, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
^Go Hong-joo (February 21, 2020). 이지훈X손나은, '저녁 같이 드실래요?' 캐스팅..송승헌·서지혜와 호흡[공식] [Lee Ji-hoon X Son Na-eun, 'Would you like to have dinner together?' Casting..Song Seung-heon, Seo Ji-hye and breathing [Official]]. enews24 (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 25, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
^Jeong Ga-young (January 12, 2021). 손나은, 차기작은 '인간실격'...전도연·류준열과 호흡 [Na-eun Son, 'Disqualification of Humanity' for her next project... Breathing with Jeon Do-yeon and Ryu Jun-yeol]. Sports World (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 12, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
^Lee Ji-eun (July 2, 2021). "YG行' 손나은, '고스트 닥터' 출연 확정...연기 행보 박차[공식]" [Na-eun Son of 'YG行' confirmed to appear in 'Ghost Doctor'... Accelerates her acting career [Official]]. Sports Seoul (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on July 2, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
^Kim Myung-mi (June 10, 2022). 이보영-조성하-손나은-한준우-전혜진, JTBC '대행사' 캐스팅[공식] [Bo-young Lee - Seong-ha Jo - Na-eun Son - Jun-woo Han - Hye-jin Jeon, JTBC 'Agency' Casting [Official]] (in Korean). Newsen. Archived from the original on November 12, 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2022 – via Naver.
^Hong, Se-young (October 30, 2024). "[단독] 손나은, '옥씨부인전' 출연…임지연 못지않은 존재감" [[Exclusive] Son Na-eun, Appearing in 'Madam Ok'... Presence No Less Than Lim Ji-yeon]. Donga.com (in Korean) – via Naver.
^Kim Kyung-hee (September 30, 2022). 두데' DJ 뮤지, 안영미 3주년 맞이 휴가... 박소담부터 송은이까지 초호화 스페셜DJ 출격 ['Dude' DJ Musi, Ahn Young-mi's 3rd anniversary vacation... Super luxurious special DJ scramble from Park So-dam to Song Eun-i] (in Korean). iMBC. Archived from the original on September 30, 2022. Retrieved September 30, 2022 – via Naver.
^Park Yong-woong (December 21, 2012). 스피드, 뮤비도 영화처럼..박보영 포스터 공개. StarNews (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 2, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
^Hwang Ji-young (May 11, 2017). 싸이, 17살 연하 손나은과 자연스런 어깨동무. HeraldCorp (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 3, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
^Lee Nam-kyung (August 18, 2022). 손나은 홍보대사 위촉, '2022 부산국제광고제' 알린다(공식) [Na-eun Son appointed as a goodwill ambassador to announce '2022 Busan International Advertising Festival' (official)] (in Korean). Maeil Broadcasting Network. Archived from the original on August 18, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2022 – via Naver.
^Kim, Min-soo (April 23, 2019). 파워 셀럽 40인은 누구? [Who are the 40 power celebrities?]. JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 2, 2019. Retrieved May 21, 2021 – via Joins.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Son Na-eun.