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The Korea Times

By Park Jin-hai
Han Ji-eun is an actress who seamlessly navigates television, streaming platforms and theatre.
After wrapping up roles in two dramas, Netflix series When the Stars Gossip and Viu show Study Group, she now focuses on the play Anna X, based on the true story of Anna Sorokin, a fake heiress who uses social media and her charms to commit fraud.
In Study Group, a webtoon-based drama telling the story of a student in a vocational high school who dreams of attending university but gets entangled in school fights, Han plays Lee Han-kyung, a passionate temporary teacher.

In the space romcom When the Stars Gossip, she gives a strong performance as chaebol heiress Choi Go-eun, betrayed by her fiancé, Gong Ryong (Lee Min-ho).
“I was worried that viewers might be confused because the characters are so different, but I’m also grateful that they were released simultaneously. I was happy that it was a time when I could show many different sides of myself as an actress to many people,” the 37-year-old actor said in an interview.
Despite its stellar cast and significant budget of 50 billion won (US$35 million), When the Stars Gossip struggled with low viewer ratings.
Han cautiously opened up about the series’ underwhelming reception.
“The drama might have felt unfamiliar to viewers who were expecting something more glamorous due to the vastness of space as the backdrop. Instead, the drama focuses on the small, yet essential aspects of human lives. There’s actually some pretty deep, philosophical themes hiding in there,” she said.

“It’s not the kind of show where everything is spelled out for you. Everyone is at different points in their lives, so maybe later on, when things line up, they’ll give it another shot and see it in a whole new light.”
Regarding her role in Study Group, Han revealed that she has no prior experience with school-themed dramas and found the project refreshing.
“I took the part because the script really resonated with me and I felt I could nail portraying my character’s strong side. If I’ve got a goal and a good reason to go for it, I’m just like her. I don’t give up,” she said.
The comedic high-school action drama, premiered in January, has topped TVing’s paid subscriber contribution chart for four consecutive weeks, showing its popularity until the very end.
In the drama, Hwang Min-hyun, formerly of K-pop boy band Nu’Est and currently serving his mandatory military service, portrays Yoon Ga-min, a student who forms a study group to enter university at a vocational high school.

With intense, well-executed action sequences, the series delivered a satisfying mix of high-energy storytelling and emotional depth.
“We filmed for six or seven months and even though Hwang was busy, I heard that he continued to practise at action school on his days off. I could feel how much affection he had for the project.
“That’s why we [cast members] also tried to post a lot of pictures of the drama on his behalf while he was serving in the military,” she shared.
Han, who has returned to the stage for the play Anna X after a gap of nearly 10 years, hopes to grow into a better actress by broadening her spectrum.
“I often turn to theatre when I feel a thirst for something more. I thought that theatre would be a good choice if I were to break away and try something different … it feels like I’m breaking out of my shell,” she said.
Read the full story at The Korea Times.


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The Korean actress talks up space drama When the Stars Gossip’s ‘deep, philosophical themes’, and says making Study Group was ‘refreshing’


The Korean actress talks up space drama When the Stars Gossip’s ‘deep, philosophical themes’, and says making Study Group was ‘refreshing’.
