Actress Ha Yoon-kyung Reflects on Her Role in 'Undercover Miss Hong' and Her Acting Aspirations

"The phrase 'spring sunshine' is one I truly love, so I never want to stop being called that. It's a grateful expression and more of a positive stimulus than a burden. I always try to keep the mindset of becoming closer to such a person. It's been over three years since 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo' ended. I think being overly conscious of that phrase could be excessive self-awareness, so I try not to worry about it. I'm grateful if people call me that, and it's okay if they don't. Even if it naturally fades over time, I believe showing a new side of myself is also meaningful."

Actress Ha Yoon-kyung recently participated in an interview at a cafe in Gangnam, Seoul, to commemorate the conclusion of the tvN weekend drama 'Undercover Miss Hong' (hereafter 'Miss Hong'). A graduate of the Korea National University of Arts, Ha Yoon-kyung debuted as an actress in 2015 through the National Theater's 'Ballad for Roxanne' and gained recognition by starring alongside Park Eun-bin in the 2022 ENA drama 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo' (hereafter 'Woo'). During her appearance in 'Woo,' she became strongly associated with the expression 'spring sunshine.' When asked if there was a new phrase she wanted to hear, Ha Yoon-kyung replied, "If I had to choose, I'd most like to be called a 'talented actress.'"

'Miss Hong,' in which Ha Yoon-kyung starred, is a retro office comedy set in the late 1990s. It follows the story of Hong Geum-bo, an elite securities supervisor in her 30s, who goes undercover as a 20-year-old entry-level employee at a securities firm where suspicious financial activities have been detected. The show started with a 3.5% viewership rating for its first episode and steadily climbed to 13.1% by its 15th episode, achieving a successful run with double-digit ratings. Ha Yoon-kyung played the role of Go Bok-hee, the eldest sister of Room 301 and the dedicated secretary to the president of Hanmin Securities. Her portrayal of a character who appears tough and prickly on the outside but is warm-hearted inside received praise for enhancing the show's immersion.

Ha Yoon-kyung is known for convincingly portraying everyday life in her roles. She commented, "That's the direction I pursue. I prefer acting that naturally blends in rather than being unnatural or excessive. It seems that people who pursue a similar style appreciate my work." She added, "While there are times when I want to explore new worlds on TV due to dopamine, there are also moments when I seek empathy and comfort. Sometimes, I want to see stories about people like me. I enjoy showing such stories. I hope people can relate by thinking, 'I've seen someone like that around me,' 'I've met someone like that,' or 'I've been in that situation.' As an actress, I have a desire to express those emotions."

When asked if she anticipated the high ratings, Ha Yoon-kyung said, "While filming, I had a feeling it would do well. The chemistry on set was great, and the atmosphere was enjoyable. So, I was somewhat confident it would turn out to be fun." She continued, "However, ratings are a matter of fate, so I didn't assume they would be very high. Still, I had some expectations that they would be decent."

"Although 1997 is in the late 1990s, I didn't think it felt too distant from the present. Fashion elements like wide-leg pants and crop tops, which were popular back then, are still in style today, so I believed they could be expressed with a modern sensibility. However, I thought that portraying it too much like the present could dilute the period's atmosphere. The 'seagull eyebrows' were also a trend of that era, so I boldly tried them. I even shaved them for the character. I wanted to emphasize the mood of that time by applying lipstick a bit more boldly."

Ha Yoon-kyung explained, "I wanted to capture the 'big sister' vibe while incorporating a retro mood. I thought it shouldn't lean too much towards the 1980s style, so I tried to find a middle ground. After much consideration, I chose a style with a long skirt and a scarf as a focal point, and I added thick curls to my hair to convey both a retro image and charisma." She continued, "In workplace settings or when dealing with superiors, I aimed to appear completely different by changing my speech and demeanor. I paid a lot of attention to creating Bok-hee's signature style in her manner of speaking and gestures."

Regarding Bok-hee, she said, "Although she has a past of experiencing domestic violence, it's not shown much in the drama. It's mostly conveyed through a few lines or brief flashbacks. It was important to make viewers understand her story. I wanted to convincingly portray how much pain and hardship she endured and how many scars she carried to become who she is now. I hoped that her dual nature, excelling at work with a 'capitalist smile,' would evoke a sense of poignancy. The more adeptly she handled tasks at the company, the more viewers would think about how much she had to endure to become this way."

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