Ha Yoon-kyung on 'Miss Hong': Embracing a Drama Without Love Lines

"I was against the idea of a love line. I believed that 'Miss Hong' was better without it. The story we wanted to tell was about human connections, not just romantic ones. While romance is important in life, it wasn't the main theme of our drama. I thought it would be cleaner and more enjoyable without a love line."

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 with the National Theater Company's 'Ballad for Roxanne.' She gained significant recognition in 2022 for her chemistry with Park Eun-bin in ENA's 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo.' Since then, she has steadily built her filmography with works like 'See You in My 19th Life' and 'Gangnam B-Side,' and recently starred alongside Park Shin-hye in 'Miss Hong,' leaving a mark with a 'womance' narrative.

'Miss Hong' is a retro office comedy set in the late 1990s, following elite securities supervisor Hong Geum-bo, who goes undercover as a 20-year-old rookie at a suspicious securities firm. The show started with a 3.5% viewership rating and climbed to 13.1% by its 15th episode, ending on a high note with double-digit ratings. Ha Yoon-kyung played Go Bok-hee, the eldest sister of Room 301 and the dedicated secretary to the president of Hanmin Securities. Her portrayal of a seemingly tough but warm-hearted character was praised for enhancing the drama's immersion.

'Miss Hong' gained popularity for its dramatic female narratives without the typical love lines. Some dramas receive criticism for inserting sudden love lines that disrupt the flow of a story centered on women's independent narratives. In contrast, 'Miss Hong' was praised for maintaining its integrity without unnecessary romance. Ha Yoon-kyung also stated, "'Miss Hong' was cleaner and better without a love line. There are various stories with Geum-bo and relationships with Albut, but they don't necessarily need to continue. Geum-bo's mission is to fulfill her role, and ending it there is more beautiful."

Ha Yoon-kyung expressed concerns about the absence of a love line, wondering if viewers might dislike it. "I sometimes worry if viewers will find it entertaining without a love line. Personally, I think it's better to show a love line clearly when necessary, but it's not needed when it's not. I'm glad to see more diverse works like this emerging," she smiled.

Since her debut, Ha Yoon-kyung has consistently worked without taking breaks. Although she only made a special appearance in 'Hospital Playlist' last year, she has been active this year with 'Undercover Miss Hong,' and upcoming releases like 'God's Marble' and 'Apartment.' She has also been involved in independent films. When asked if she ever wants to take a break, she replied, "Sometimes I do think about taking a break. But whenever I feel that way, interesting projects thankfully come my way."

"Being an actor is a profession where you are chosen by others, and you can't work whenever you want. So, I feel grateful and work hard when I'm called. I try not to think deeply about burnout. I focus on immersing myself in the work when I'm working and resting well on my days off."

When asked about her leisure activities, Ha Yoon-kyung said, "I enjoy watching American dramas or movies at home all day. I love spending time eating delicious food while doing that. Some actors dislike watching dramas or movies because it feels like an extension of work, but for me, it's my only hobby."

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