Han Groo's Controversial Return to Acting: Can She Overcome Her Past?

Han Groo has announced her return to the entertainment industry after a seven-year hiatus. Once known as the beloved youngest daughter of a wealthy family, she is resuming her acting career after marriage and motherhood, now as a single mother. However, public reaction to her comeback remains cold, largely due to past controversies involving her step-siblings.

Next month, Han Groo will return to the small screen as the lead in KBS2's daily drama 'Cinderella Game.' The drama tells the story of a woman used as a fake daughter by her enemies, who seeks revenge but ultimately discovers the true meaning of vengeance, leading to personal growth and healing. Han Groo will portray Goo Ha-na, a strong-willed young woman supporting her family.

Before her drama comeback, Han Groo appeared on KBS2's variety show 'Men Who Do Housework Season 2' on the 23rd, sharing her recent life updates. She revealed she is raising her 8-year-old twins alone and expressed, "I was worried about returning after such a long time, but I'm enjoying it. Parenting is harder." Despite her candidness, viewers' reactions were lukewarm.

Han Groo debuted as a solo singer in 2011, attempting to make waves with the nickname 'Apgujeong Uee' and being touted as Joo Young-hoon's secret weapon. However, she ended her music career without a hit song. She also pursued acting, appearing in dramas like 'Girl K,' 'Just Like Today,' and 'Can We Get Married?' but did not gain significant attention until her lead role in the 2014 drama 'Marriage, Not Dating,' where her stable acting skills were praised.

From the start of her career, Han Groo claimed to have grown up in a wealthy family, highlighting her education in the U.S. and China and her siblings' prestigious university degrees. She portrayed herself as the youngest daughter of a family with a father who was a commercial director and a mother who was a former model. However, in 2015, this image crumbled when her stepsister posted an exposé online. The post alleged that Han Groo's father divorced her biological mother due to an affair and that Han Groo, the daughter of the new wife, only highlighted her step-siblings' academic achievements while hiding her biological siblings' backgrounds.

Han Groo's agency acknowledged the blended family situation and apologized, but their official statement, perceived as sarcastic and demanding forgiveness, fueled the controversy. Despite the backlash, Han Groo married a businessman nine years her senior and halted her entertainment activities.

In 2017, she announced the birth of her twins but did not resume her career due to her negative public image. In September 2022, Han Groo announced her divorce after seven years of marriage, retaining custody of her two children.

Despite the passage of time, public sentiment towards Han Groo remains unfavorable. As a celebrity, whose career relies on public affection, attempting a comeback without overcoming her negative image is seen as overly ambitious. Critics argue that it is ironic for Han Groo, who has been embroiled in significant controversy, to return as a drama lead while many well-liked actors struggle for minor roles. This sentiment underscores why her return is met with skepticism.

Lee So-jung, TenAsia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr