A rising star that’s slowly but surely emerging into the film industry both in her native South Korea and internationally isJeon Jong-seo. She made her acting debut in 2018’s South Korean thriller filmBurning. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, where it earned a nomination for the Palme d’Or. This international exposure helped her expand her work beyond South Korea, where she debuted in the 2021 filmMona Lisa and the Blood Moonalongside Kate Hudson and Craig Robinson.
While there’s an abundance of great actors out there, Jeon Jong-seo stands out among the crowd, not just with others early in their careers but also with veteran actors. Her ability to present fascinatingly layered characters with ease means she can keep up with any of her peers. The way her choice of movies bounces between subtle dramas and action-packed thrillers shows just how versatile she is. All of this and more proves why Jeon Jong-seo is one to watch.
Jeon Jong-seo’s Movies and TV Shows
Year Released
Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Area
Park Ju-young
Nothing Serious
Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon
Mona ‘Lisa’ Lee
Young-sook
Shin Hae-mi
Why Jeon Jong-seo Stands Out Among Seasoned Actors
It’s rare to see a first time actor playing a huge role next to veteran actors, yet Jeon Jong-seo made it look easy. Her role inBurningallowed her to act with big name actors well-known both in South Korea and internationally — Yoo Ah-inand Steven Yeun. That makes it even more impressive, as her performance as the movie’s lead actor was just as excellent as the prominent actors. Having to share many scenes with Yoo Ah-in and Steven Yeun, her performance wasn’t overshadowed or unbalanced, she matched their ability perfectly.
Jeon Jong-seo landed her first-ever role inBurningthrough an open audition, which she secured only three days after officially signing with her agency at the time. Evidently, it was perfect timing as her performance was critically acclaimed and awarded. She won Best New Performer in 2019’s Asian Film Critics Association Awards for her breathtaking performance as Hae-Mi. With such a remarkable first performance, it’s safe to assume her talent will only improve with time.
Stream Burning on Prime Video
How Jeon Jong-seo Shows Rather Than Tells
What enables Jeon Jong-seo to stand out so distinctly is the depth of emotion she displays on her face. The director ofBurning, Lee Chang-Dong, nicely sums up the actor’s unique traits, saying in aninterview with The Hollywood Reporterthat she “carried this sense of duality — as if something much bigger was on the other side of that innocence.”
BeyondBurning, you may have seen her from the popular South Korean remake ofMoney Heist, titledMoney Heist: Korea — Joint Economic Areaas Tokyo. As the narrator of the series, Jeon Jong-seo is the key to the show’s success. Tokyo is a mysterious character who escaped North Korea but hasn’t found much luck in her new life, she has been recruited for the heist as a means of lifting herself out of rock bottom.
Having her character, Tokyo, as the main storyteller adds great curiosity to the story — despite her narrating the action, there is still a lot we don’t know about her. There is evidently a lot more to Tokyo than meets the eye, and Jeon Jong-seo’s ability to convey this depth without words is hugely impressive.
StreamMoney Heist: Korea—Joint Economic Areaon Netflix
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Additionally, in October 2023, she starred in Netflix’s thriller filmBallerina, where she played a former bodyguard named Okju, seeking revenge for her friend’s death. There’s also a great contrast and duality in Okju; she’s a mindless robot when it comes to her bodyguard job, while she’s a reserved, emotional person when it comes to her best friend, Min-hee (Park Yu-Rim).
These two distinct aspects of her character are portrayed masterfully, which adds an emotional layer to what could have been a usual revenge story. It’s obvious that she is head over heels for Min-hee, and it strengthens her drive to avenge Min-hee’s death. Jeon Jong-seo portrays this aspect through her subtle but clear facial expressions. Her grieving and mad stare when she finds her dead best friend, as well as her vengeful stare when face to face with the villain, are some examples of great facial work in the thriller.
StreamBallerinaon Netflix
Jeon Jong-seo’s Impressive Physical Acting Ability
Another aspect of Jeon Jong-seo’s performances that make her so intriguing is her body language. Her most prominent performances have been in the thriller genre, and portraying such characters isn’t as simple as it may come across. For a character like Okju where so much of her screen-time involves fight sequences, it’s important to be able to express emotion without words.
The journey she’s on is an uphill battle, and sometimes, she gets consumed by her own grief and takes the wrong step. Her body language during these scenes screams that she realizes she has made a mistake and is trying to make it right. During these action scenes especially, her character’s anger and hatred towards the enemy are free-flowing.
Every Jeon Jong-seo Movie and TV Show, Ranked
One of South Korea’s foremost talents, here is every Jeon Jong-seo movie and TV show, ranked.
InThe Call, there are a handful of action scenes in which Jeon Jong-seo was given the freedom to act in her own style without being directed by the film’s director, Lee Choong-Hyun. The creative freedom allowed her to perform the scenes as she saw fit, which gifted the audience with an outstanding, unrestricted performance. Her creativity and skillful action in the sequences earned her multiple awards, such as winning Best Actress across several film awards: Baeksang Arts Awards, Buil Film Awards, and Director’s Cut Awards in 2021 and 2022.
StreamThe Callon Netflix
Jeon Jong-seo’s comprehensive talent as an actor brings something new to the film industry. Not only can she do a variety of genres, but she can also convey complex depth through her face and body language, rather than just relying on the script. Her upcoming projects include a rom-com drama series titledWedding Impossible,as well as a Korean historical drama titledQueen Woo— both set to be released in 2024. These new ventures are sure to bring out more sides of Jeon Jong-seo’s already brilliant acting.
