Apink's Son Na-eun discusses the pressure of being an idol and the difficulty of shedding the label

South Korean celebrity Son Na-eun has opened up about the persistent pressure of being known as a "former idol" as she navigates her acting career. While gaining attention for her role in the popular SBS drama "The Police," Son acknowledged that the label has been a significant hurdle.

Appearing on the YouTube channel "YouTube Ha Ji-young," Son confessed to years of internal questioning: "Are people evaluating me?" She explained that this constant self-scrutiny was a source of considerable stress, and it took her a long time to learn how to manage it.

Son, who debuted with the K-pop group Apink in 2011 and began acting the following year, officially focused on her acting career after leaving the group in 2022. She noted that the path from idol to actor is notoriously challenging, with pre-existing notions about "singers turned actors" often leading to heightened scrutiny.

While the burden hasn't entirely disappeared, Son stated that she is much better at handling it now. She actively works to avoid getting caught up in the "evaluation" mindset. Knowing she is being watched and compared motivates her to work harder and improve. To foster a more comfortable atmosphere on set, she makes an effort to be approachable and smile more when interacting with colleagues.