Son Ye-jin Speaks Out on Hidden Cameras Targeting Her 4-Year-Old Son

Actress Son Ye-jin says she personally asks strangers to delete photos they take of her young son in public. Her comments have drawn mixed reactions online, with some fans defending her privacy concerns and others pointing to her own frequent remarks about the child.

In a recent interview tied to the Netflix series "The Scandal," Son Ye-jin said the level of public interest in her husband, actor Hyun Bin, and their four-year-old son has become a source of stress. When the family goes out together, she said, people who recognize them sometimes take photos without permission.

"People really do take a lot of photos in secret," she said. "So I go up to them and ask them to delete the pictures." She added, "My husband and I can't help it, but having our child's face exposed is a different matter. There will come a time when he moves around on his own without us, and if people recognize him, that could clearly create limits for him. That's why I've become sensitive about it."

Son Ye-jin and Hyun Bin have never publicly revealed their son's face. They have shown phone photos to fellow celebrities during broadcasts or YouTube shoots, but nothing has been shared directly with the public.

Even so, comments about their son have made headlines in recent weeks. On an episode of JTBC's "Please Take Care of My Refrigerator" that aired on the 13th, Son Ye-jin was asked how she would feel if her son wanted to become an actor. "I know I sound like a doting parent, but with a face like his, it would be hard for him not to become an actor, right?" she answered.

After the episode aired and the line ran in multiple headlines, Son Ye-jin reflected on her own words. "Saying something on a variety show and then seeing it in print feels different," she said in the recent interview. "I thought, 'That could come across as really obnoxious,' so I walked it back a bit."

Curiosity about the child's appearance has also grown thanks to posts about sightings from overseas. In July, an account of the family being spotted at Disneyland in California drew attention online. The person who posted said Hyun Bin was holding his son's hand throughout the visit. A separate online post from someone who said they saw the family in Okinawa, Japan, described the child as "so beautiful he looked like an AI composite."

Against that backdrop, Son Ye-jin's remarks about secret photography prompted a split response. Some argued that her repeated mentions of her son's looks and personality over time may have fueled the very interest she now finds difficult. Comments online included, "She could just talk about her son a little less," and, "When the child grows up, even his parents' comments could become a burden to him."

Others pushed back. They noted that Son Ye-jin does not bring up her son on her own but usually responds to questions asked during broadcasts or interviews.

"People should just stop asking Son Ye-jin about her son," one online user wrote. "She only answers because she's asked. She doesn't bring it up on her own," said another. A third comment read, "How is it excessive for her to talk about her own son? The people taking and sharing photos without permission are the ones being excessive."

Even in interviews meant to promote a new project, questions about her marriage, Hyun Bin, and their son are almost never left out. Some fans have therefore argued that it is unfair to criticize Son Ye-jin for "talking too much about her son" when she is responding to questions she is asked.

Talking about her son on a broadcast and having his face secretly photographed are also separate issues. Son Ye-jin herself did not take issue with public interest in her child. Rather, she said her concern was that if his face becomes public, it could disrupt his ordinary life as he gets older.

Son Ye-jin and Hyun Bin married in March 2022 and welcomed their son in November of the same year. Both have continued to work actively since the wedding, and their son's face remains private.