How Seoyeon Jang Brought Her K-Pop Discipline Into Her Performance in Beef
Before Seoyeon Jang became one of the breakout stars of Beef Season 2, she was once training in a completely different world: K-pop.
During her appearance on Once and Always a Fanboy, Seoyeon reflected on how her experience in the K-pop trainee system shaped the way she approaches acting today. While many viewers know her for the subtle and controlled performance she brought to Eunice in Beef, Seoyeon explained that a lot of that discipline was built long before she stepped onto a Hollywood set.
“I learned something very valuable from the system of K-pop training,” Seoyeon shared. “Which is very much, if you can’t do it, then practice until you can do it.”
That mindset followed her directly into Beef. Seoyeon recalled preparing for a stretching scene in Episode 3 after realizing she physically could not do the movement required in the script.
“When I first read it and Eunice was stretching her legs, I knew I had to do it,” she said. “So the first thing I did was sign up for a stretching coach, and I had been practicing for like three months prior to the shoot.”
“The training helps me take everything very seriously to the point where even if I can’t do it, then I will find a way to make it work,” she explained.
At the same time, Seoyeon realized that transitioning into acting meant letting go of some of the habits that came with such a structured environment.
Seoyeon described the K-pop training environment as “very disciplined and strict and rigid,” noting that performers are expected to move collectively and avoid being “out of place.” While she remains grateful for that experience, she realized that acting required a different kind of flexibility.
“I had to relearn how to be flexible,” she said. “That rigidity definitely filtered through my personality and my way of work, so it did take work to loosen that up.”
That balance between discipline and freedom may also explain why her work in Beef feels so controlled without ever feeling mechanical.
Seoyeon’s performance as Eunice reflects both the discipline she gained from years of training and the flexibility she later discovered through acting.
Watch the full Seoyeon Jang interview.
Photo courtesy of Netflix PH.
Chris Cantada is a Filipino musician, content creator, and podcast host. He began his career as the drummer for the rock band Sponge Cola, contributing to their first three albums, two of which went Platinum. He later built a strong online presence with his YouTube channel, Chris Cantada Force, showcasing cosplay fan films and creative storytelling, amassing over 1.6 million subscribers. Today, he hosts the Once and Always a Fanboy podcast, blending his love for music, film, and fandom culture.
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