Actress Han Ji-eun (37) showcased a new side through tvN's weekend drama 'Ask the Stars' and the Tving original 'Study Group'.
In an interview held at a cafe in Gangnam, Seoul on the 24th, Han Ji-eun expressed, "I presented 'Ask the Stars' and 'Study Group' at the same time, and I was concerned that viewers might get confused due to the vastly different characters. I was just grateful to be able to present them simultaneously. I was happy to show my acting to many people for a longer time. I think they viewed me as different characters, which was nice," reflecting on the conclusion of the shows.
'Ask the Stars' is a full-fledged space romantic comedy that depicts the journey between a space station and Earth. It is a grand production that took 5 years of preparation and cost 50 billion won. Han Ji-eun plays the role of Choi Go-eun, a chaebol daughter who secretly loves the dinosaur (played by Lee Min-ho). 'Study Group' is based on a popular webtoon of the same name (written by Shin Hyung-wook, illustrated by Yoo Seung-yeon, produced by Wylab), and it is a comedic high school action story where Yoon Ga-min (played by Hwang Min-hyun), who wants to study well but is only talented in fighting, forms a 'study group' while diving into a bloody entrance exam at the worst school.
Regarding her decision to appear in both works, Han Ji-eun stated, "I always look at the script when choosing a project. I look at the characters given in it. I think I decide to participate when I can empathize with the character. I believe that empathy is necessary for good expression. The reason for choosing both 'Ask the Stars' and 'Study Group' was mainly that. I thought it would be fun since 'Study Group' is my first experience in a school-themed project."
While 'Study Group' achieved the top spot in Tving's paid subscriber count for four consecutive weeks, 'Ask the Stars' garnered much anticipation with star actors like Lee Min-ho and Gong Hyo-jin but started with a disappointing rating of 3.3% (based on Nielsen Korea's nationwide paid households) and ultimately ended on the 23rd with a humiliating rating in the 1% range.
Regarding the harsh criticism of 'Ask the Stars', Han Ji-eun said, "When I read the script and watched the work, I thought the message we wanted to convey was well integrated. From various reactions, I felt that while 'Ask the Stars' is set against the vast universe, it ultimately focuses on human stories, and I wondered if this theme felt unfamiliar. I think that over time, it might receive a different evaluation."
On the popularity of 'Study Group', she remarked, "I didn't expect it to do this well," adding, "As an actor, I always hope that when a work is released, many people will watch, empathize, and love it. I am very grateful that 'Study Group' has been so well received." She also expressed, "On the other hand, I wished that 'Ask the Stars' would have been loved more as well."
Regarding the filming set of 'Ask the Stars', she shared, "Lee Min-ho is my age and a friend. He is very down-to-earth and playful, so I could relax. I have liked Gong Hyo-jin as a fan since I was young. Working together on set made me understand why she has the title 'Gong-blee'. She is always cool, confident, and has a distinct color of her own. I think her ability to encompass the set is impressive. Oh Jung-se is really funny. Among the three actors, he is the most introverted but also the funniest. I enjoyed his acting a lot."
About the filming set of 'Study Group', she said, "It was so much fun. It was a new experience. Previously, I mostly filmed with peers or seniors, but in 'Study Group', I was the oldest. I was worried about whether I could lead well, but fortunately, Hwang Min-hyun took the lead and created a great atmosphere, and the other friends were so pure and bright that the overall vibe was so good, allowing us to naturally bond and get close."
In particular, she praised the lead of 'Study Group', Hwang Min-hyun, saying, "Having experienced it firsthand, I could feel that he truly deserves the good words about him. He is really diligent and a consistent actor who is always present."
Han Ji-eun debuted in 2006 with the film 'The Duelist' and gained recognition through tvN's 'Mr. Queen' (2018), JTBC's 'Melting Me Softly' (2019), MBC's 'The Intern' (2020), and tvN's 'Bad and Crazy' (2021). Her film 'Hitman 2', which was released last month on the 22nd, continues to perform well at the box office. She is currently appearing in the two-person play 'Anna X', which runs until March 16 at LG Arts Center in Seoul.
Han Ji-eun stated, "In theater, there is a lot to express and lead. I approach it with the mindset of my first play in my heart and as a rookie as an actor, with a learning attitude," adding, "I am looking forward to myself in the next project. I don't know to what extent, but I am quenching my thirst and resolving the frustrations I had through 'Anna X'. I want to apply what I learn in the process of building characters and analyzing the work to my next project."
Finally, Han Ji-eun shared her goals as an actress, saying, "I want to constantly seek depth in my acting. My goal is to be an actress who is always curious. That hasn't changed yet. I hope that people will get to know Han Ji-eun and that when they watch my works, they will see the characters. I think my next goal will probably be similar. I want to find deeper emotional lines than now."
[Shin Young-eun, Star Today Reporter]
