My Name Is Yom Hye-ran, From Strong Haenyeo to Affectionate Dance Teacher!

The film 〈My Name Is〉 follows the trajectory of mother 'Jeong-soon' trying to reclaim long-forgotten memories of Jeju in 1949 and her 18-year-old son 'Young-ok' who wants to get rid of his awkward name. It portrays the story of two generations moving from their deepest secrets to a brilliant truth. In particular, Yom Hye-ran, who left a strong impression as a strong female diver (or 'haenyeo') in the previous film 〈Poksak Sogassuda〉, delicately crafts a poignant and warm 'mother-son narrative' that differs from her previous role, portraying a mother who single-handedly raises her son while working as a dance teacher.

Yom Hye-ran's portrayal of 'Jeong-soon' depicts a complex character with intricate inner conflicts, experiencing dissociative phenomena due to trauma from her lost past. She faced the forgotten memories of Jeju in 1949 and intricately wove the character's emotions with her unique delicate and deep acting skills. When the film was screened at the Berlin International Film Festival, foreign press praised her performance as an "amazing portrayal that embodied the tragedy of history with her whole being."

The steadfast trust between director Jeong Ji-young, who directed 〈My Name Is〉, captures attention. Jeong directed Yom Hye-ran in the previous film 〈Boys〉, where she made a lasting impression as Seol Gyeong-gu's wife despite a brief appearance. Jeong revealed the casting story by saying, "Without any hesitation, I thought of Yom Hye-ran," and emphasized that, "Yom Hye-ran embodies the unique strength and vitality of Jeju women," asserting that the actor's innate energy perfectly synergized with the character.

The name of a boy he wanted to be ashamed of and the mother who had to protect it with all her might in 1949. Crossing the painful span of 78 years, at the core of the truth that will finally bloom brilliantly, the unparalleled performance of trustable actor Yom Hye-ran in the film 〈My Name Is〉 is set to be released in theaters nationwide on April 15, 2026.