Actor Han Ji-eun, who has appeared in "Ask the Stars" and "Study Group," showed a special attachment to projects that receive mixed reviews.
Han Ji-eun conducted an interview on the afternoon of the 24th at a cafe in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. At this meeting, he spoke with domestic reporters about the recently concluded tvN Saturday-Sunday drama "Ask the Stars" and the TVING original series "Study Group," as well as his recent situation.
First, he noted about the recently concluded "Ask the Stars," which ended a day before the interview, "It's a work created with a lot of effort and a work I love. I thought that 'Ask the Stars' might have some unfamiliar aspects for viewers. However, I believe there's a good medium like OTT, so I think that someday, when time has passed, it could be revisited through Netflix and TVING."
"Ask the Stars" is the new work of writer Seo Suk-hyang, who received acclaim for "Pasta" and "Hwashin," starring actors Gong Hyo-jin and Lee Min-ho. In this, Han Ji-eun played the role of Choi Go-eun, the fiancée of Gongryong (Lee Min-ho). However, despite being a major production boasting a production cost of 50 billion won, the work has drawn sharply divided criticism.
Regarding these reactions, Han Ji-eun said, "In any case, in such a vast theme as space, there are likely some themes people commonly think of. Within a large scale, the story may seem a bit bigger, and hence, we are ultimately focused on telling a simple, primitive story of people living in large places, which may have created a significant gap in perception."
However, even Han Ji-eun admitted regarding Eve (Gong Hyo-jin)'s ending, where she gives birth and dies, "It was upsetting as a human being." He added, "Eve's conclusion is unfortunate for one person, and it's also heart-wrenching to have to let Gongryong go. However, I think it had to be done. Also, regarding the open ending of the character, I think there are points where one can imagine alone."
Regarding the "50 billion won production cost," he explained, "Since we had to build the basic elements of the 'space' setting through devices in the set and fill the rest with CG, I believe the production cost had to be high. Although it required considerable financial resources, it is a different matter acting-wise. I don't think that just because a lot of money went into it, it has to turn out better."
Furthermore, Han Ji-eun shared, "I began with worries and excitement about how viewers would feel about our drama. I found it more enjoyable than I expected. While some parts might appear exaggerated and unfamiliar, if viewed with a slightly positive outlook, one can perceive it delightfully. It felt very cheerful, candid, and unrestrained to me. I thought that if we had tried to take our story too seriously, it would have felt even more out of place. Personally, I appreciated the lighter moments we presented."
He added, "I thought there were parts that might seem somewhat provocative, but I wished people would see those aspects with an open mind. Ultimately, I believe it's about the story of people. What comes together is our genuine story as individuals. By following those points, I believe viewers might have a different impression."
Additionally, regarding the intimate scenes early in the series, he said, "It wasn't as difficult as I thought. The filming went very smoothly. From the director to the set, actor Min-ho and others were considerate in many ways. We were able to film in a comfortable atmosphere naturally. When I was acting, I didn't feel anything was challenging. It wasn't a scene trying to show mere provocation. The only concern was how we could express our points well, so there was no problem."
"Ask the Stars" and "Study Group" were released around the same time, but the responses varied. Han Ji-eun stated, "In the case of 'Study Group,' the director mentioned from the beginning that there would be a very speedy development. I saw a rough edit in the middle. Even then, we had many discussions, and I heard it was fun during the editing process afterward. Though I couldn't see the final version, I was told it turned out entertaining. Nevertheless, I felt grateful for the love it received beyond our expectations."
After the protagonist Hwang Min-hyun enlisted, "Study Group" was released. Han Ji-eun mentioned, "We regularly meet and keep in touch. We watched the last episode together. We feel a bit regretful, and I think Min-hyun will feel the most disappointed and upset. He is a very diligent and hardworking friend, but he had more affection for 'Study Group.' Therefore, feeling the sadness ourselves, we talked about doing our best to post photos of Min-hyun in his place and contribute to promotion."
Regarding primarily working with newcomers in "Study Group," Han Ji-eun stated, "They worked hard and did well. The director trusted them and they showed up. I can't assume that I know everything about those friends. There were many points I learned while working with them. It's all about blending well together. Since I am a senior, when someone like Doyu, who is shy, treats me with great respect, I think that it may hinder their freedom in acting, so I aimed to alleviate that by showing that I'm also someone learning to act and that I was just slightly ahead in starting out."
Besides "Ask the Stars" and "Study Group," Han Ji-eun has appeared in the play "Anaex," managing a whirlwind schedule. During this time, her agency also changed, drawing attention.
Han Ji-eun remained calm. He stated, "In doing theater, I took on a new challenge. It seems that doing theater resolved a frustration that can come from being accustomed to screen acting. I want to keep this sense of resolution well so that when I take on the next media project, I can demonstrate a more depthful and evolved acting performance."
In particular, he emphasized, "It matched the timing well, but the reason I challenged myself with theater was that I felt I was in a slump. I've always wanted to challenge myself to theater at some point. Without realizing it, I fell into a mannerism. Wondering whether I was unable to improve performatively, or if I was trapped in a routine, I needed a new stimulus."
Above all, he pointed out the period of mannerism following the drama "Ants Are Riding" and said, "I think it's something everyone inevitably faces as an actor, not due to problems in the work. Everyone experiences slumps in their own way, and that was just the time when it happened to me."
He continued, "'Ants Are Riding' was one of my new works. Prior to that, I participated in projects as a leading actor title, but this was the first work I fully led. During that time, I realized and learned a lot in new areas. I worked very hard. It's one of my favorite works."
Having overcome a mannerism phase, Han Ji-eun has now celebrated his 20th anniversary since debut. He stated, "I don't think all time can flow as one wishes. But one thing I believe is that I've steadily advanced step by step in my career while consistently performing well. I think that to this day, it has served as my driving force, with a sincere desire for acting. I hope that these experiences will continue to build up well in the future."
Recently, I've come to realize how attractive being an actor is. We can only be actors when we perform, but I think every moment and person I've lived essentially seeps into my acting. So, in a way, I hope that all the experiences I've had, and everything I've felt and accumulated, can eventually be expressed deeply through my acting. I've come to think recently that it's a bigger charm of the acting profession that this doesn't merely lead to personal growth but also relates to growing as an actor."
Moreover, Han Ji-eun expressed, "I want to do a romance drama. I truly want to experience love. I haven't experienced that kind of love before." He mentioned that he wishes to take on works where emotions can be exchanged more vividly, like in a romance drama. He had many unrequited loves. However, when asked about the possibility of romance with Hwang Min-hyun in the second season of "Study Group," he shook his head and remarked, "Not at all," drawing laughter.
Rather, Han Ji-eun expressed, "I want a Cinderella setting. It's all a romantic dream. I've acted in many assertive roles. When I try to be assertive, it hasn't worked out, leaving only pain. Just like in 'Melody Is My Nature,' I've played many strong female characters. Now, I want to play a character that receives love. Kang Soo gave love, but I could not love."
Since "Ask the Stars" helped solidify these determinations and resolve, Han Ji-eun hoped that the mixed evaluations of the drama would ease after its conclusion.
He stated, "I think 'Ask the Stars' can be viewed as an expression of the primal human message to some extent. It can represent instinctual and essential aspects. Depending on the perspective, it may be felt differently, which can result in ambiguous expressions. Therefore, there might be difficulties in observing it intuitively. I hope viewers can focus on the essence and emotional lines of humanity with an honest mindset, following their hearts to understand it better."
Also, regarding writer Seo Suk-hyang's comment, he recalled, "I remember the saying, 'In this vast universe, we ultimately want to tell small stories of people, stories of living individuals.' When focusing on that point, I hope that viewers will look at it from the perspective of honest inner stories. Ultimately, life and existence do not have to follow a happy ending, and I believe that each of those frameworks eventually breaks in 'Ask the Stars.'"
[Photo] Gram Entertainment, provided by tvN.