Actress Choi Hee-jin Shines in Genie TV's 'Idol Eye', Reflects on Her Journey and Future Aspirations

Actress Choi Hee-jin, who first gained attention as a cover model for 'College Tomorrow', has captivated viewers with her performance in the Genie TV original drama 'Idol Eye'. Despite the mysterious narrative, Choi has made her presence known, expressing her ambition to grow further as an actress.

Recently, we met with Choi Hee-jin at the Saram Entertainment building in Mapo-gu, Seoul, to discuss her role in 'Idol Eye'. Throughout the interview, she maintained a bright smile and answered questions diligently.

'Idol Eye', which concluded on the 27th, is a mystery courtroom romance that follows idol Do Ra-ik (played by Kim Jae-young) as he becomes a murder suspect, and star lawyer Maeng Se-na (played by Choi Soo-young) who must prove his innocence while navigating between fandom and suspicion. Choi Hee-jin plays Hong Hye-joo, the daughter of a wealthy family and Do Ra-ik's ex-girlfriend.

Choi revealed that preparing for the role of Hong Hye-joo, the murderer, was challenging. She said, "I felt a lot of pressure as I had to drive the main events from the beginning, and the director's request to not appear like a criminal made it even more difficult." She added, "Although the preparation time was short, the director's meticulous attention to both acting and external settings helped me find my direction."

Choi expressed her happiness over the positive reception of the drama. "I received a lot of messages from people around me while working on this project," she said. "I didn't expect such a warm response. It was gratifying to feel loved through this character and project."

"My friends told me to check TikTok and Twitter, and I was surprised to see videos with over a million views. Reading each comment gave me a lot of strength. Playing Hong Hye-joo wasn't easy, but I'm grateful for the unexpected love."

Choi Hee-jin, a graduate of the Korea National University of Arts, was featured as a cover model for the August 2016 issue of 'College Tomorrow'. When asked about the recent rise of fellow cover models like Go Yoon-jung and Shin Ye-eun to stardom, Choi laughed and said, "I hope to follow in their footsteps."

"I hope to be naturally mentioned among those names someday. Back then, I didn't know anything and just enjoyed taking photos. But after the magazine was published, I remember getting a lot of calls from agencies. Looking back, it was a great opportunity for me."

Choi debuted in the entertainment industry through commercials in 2017 and has built her filmography with appearances in tvN's 'Snowdrop', Netflix's 'D.P. Season 2', MBC's 'Motel California', and JTBC's 'More Beautiful Than Heaven'. Despite taking on minor roles, she has continued to challenge herself with various projects.

'Idol Eye' has become a gift-like project for Choi Hee-jin. She said, "'Idol Eye' came to me like a gift. I was grateful to play an important role and portray a character from start to finish with a long arc."

"Thanks to 'Idol Eye', I feel empowered to take on any role. I believe I can move forward more confidently, step by step. This project will remain a memorable one for me. Although it may be slow, I want to continue growing as an actress."

Reporter Jung Se-yoon, Ten Asia yoon@tenasia.co.kr