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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 actor 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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Korean actress Han Ji-eun, recently seen in K-drama series When the Stars Gossip, reveals how the space-set show had “deep, philosophical themes”. Photo: Instagram/gram_ent_official

Han Ji-eun as Choi Go-eun, MZ Electronics CEO and fiancée of Gong Ryong, played by Lee Min-ho, in a scene from When the Stars Gossip. Photo: Instagram/when.the.stars.gossip

Lee Min-ho as Gong Ryong and Han Ji-eun as his fiancée Choi Go-eun in a still from When the Stars Gossip. Photo: Instagram/when.the.stars.gossip

Han Ji-eun as vocational teacher Lee Han-kyung in a still from Study Group.

Park Hyung-sik as main character Seo Dong-ju in a still from Disney+ Korean drama series Buried Hearts. Dong is a corporate aide who sees his world fall apart when his private and working lives collide.

Huh Joon-ho as political power broker Yeom Jang-sun in a still from Buried Hearts.

Park Hyung-sik as Seo Dong-ju, the main character, in a still from Buried Hearts.

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Park Hyung-sik as the sharp-suited Seo Dong-ju in a still from Buried Hearts.

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Won Ji-an as Se-mi in a still from Squid Game season two. Photo: No Ju-han/Netflix

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Jo Yu-ri as Kim Jun-hee in Squid Game season two. Photo: No Ju-han/Netflix

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Ha Young in a still from The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call. Photo: Netflix

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Jung Sung-il (right) and Joo Jong-hyuk in a still from Unmasked.

Jung Sung-il in a still from Unmasked.

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Lee Jung-jae in a still from Squid Game season 2, the most anticipated Netflix series of the year and the best K-drama show of 2024. Photo: No Ju-han/Netflix

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The Korean actress reveals how the space-set drama had ‘deep, philosophical themes’, her thoughts on working with Hwang Min-hyun and more


The Korean actress reveals how the space-set drama had ‘deep, philosophical themes’, her thoughts on working with Hwang Min-hyun and more.
