Actress Han Seung-yeon revealed her goals as an actress.
On the 10th, Han Seung-yeon held a press interview at a cafe in Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, for the ending of the TVING original "Chunhwa Love Story" (scripted by Seo Eun-jeong, directed by Lee Gwang-young).
"Chunhwa Love Story" is a romantic youth historical drama that unfolds as Princess Hwa-ri (Go A-ra), who failed in her first love, declares she will seek her husband herself, leading to a chaotic situation involving the kingdom's top playboy Hwan (Jang Ryul) and the best suitor Jang-won (Kang Chan-hee) amidst the uproar caused by the provocative erotic collection "Chunhwa Love Story."
Han Seung-yeon played the role of the noblewoman Lee Ji-won, depicting another court romance. The character she portrayed, Lee Ji-won, is the sister of the kingdom's best suitor Lee Jang-won and the daughter of the refined and talented Lee Jae-sang, having grown up in a prestigious family. She has a high self-esteem and freely expresses her intentions, but is shy and has many things she wishes to conceal regarding relationships with men, often burning with anxiety.
From the naive college student to the ambitious concubine, Han Seung-yeon has captivated viewers with her charming appeal across genres. She expressed the determined will of her character Ji-won with a firm gaze and tone. Especially in an era where women found it difficult to voice their opinions, she portrayed a proactive female figure flexibly, playing a key role in leading the female narrative.
Having debuted in the group Kara and smoothly transitioning into acting, Han Seung-yeon noted that her boldest moment in life was when she attempted scuba diving. She said, "When I started scuba diving, it was around the time my contract with my previous agency DSP Media was ending, and I found it difficult to even eat with strangers. But since I love water so much, I went out on a boat with strangers for scuba diving, drinking, eating, singing, and dancing. Scuba diving was a departure and a significant challenge for me. Since then, I have experienced many people and situations. I think I was in my late 20s at the time, doing things without a manager, which was a big challenge."
She added, "I felt suffocated by that lifestyle and thought it was foolish. I've traveled a lot overseas, but I never went as a tourist, nor did I ever take a plane alone. I only spent time with people I knew, so I felt trapped. I was at a point where I wanted to do well as an actress, and it made me realize that while others can do certain things easily, I was unable to. I thought I needed to wake up. Since there were no upcoming schedules or companies, I felt like I wanted to be a free person. Nowadays, I've also been hiking. Even while doing something really natural, I'm enjoying it immensely. My heart is opening up a lot, and I've learned a lot. It helps with understanding the script as well. I find it difficult to empathize with experiences I've never had, as there is a subtle difference between understanding superficially and emotionally connecting. I believe there's a nuance in directly experiencing something. I think I have stepped out more from the refined life of an idol."
Stepping out of the mold, Han Seung-yeon is steadily growing as an actress. He said, "I sometimes feel like I'm being overly methodical. There was a time when I faced a lot of criticism for everything I did. I often felt a bit hurt wondering why that was, but these days, I don't feel that way anymore. Many people might have encountered me as Han Seung-yeon, the singer, but every time I see someone react with surprise realizing I'm Han Seung-yeon as an actress, I feel proud. This time was also a historical drama, and I believe I had a wide range from a youthful feel to a more mature presence when reflecting on my character. I feel proud that I finished the project without making unnecessary noise or receiving criticism for it. I think I have gained the ability to blend into the works. Since I have a strong desire to produce, I feel like I'm making steady progress. I've done a work each year, but I have a lot of ambitions regarding my personal capabilities and feel regret about wanting to do better. Watching myself during greetings made me feel quite disappointed. I wonder if I missed those kinds of cues too quickly. I still feel envious when I see those who are skilled and am trying to study hard. I always have the thought that I'm doing it quite systematically, and I hope this accumulation can be useful."
Recently, a new goal has emerged, giving her more reasons to "work hard." Han Seung-yeon said, "I had lost sight of my goals for a long time. I didn't know what direction to take as an actress. Should I aim to win an award or achieve the highest ratings to be considered successful? As a singer, I had clear goals like winning a music show and the Daesang. These days, I've reformulated my goal to want to be in the same frame as senior actor Hwang Jung-min. That is my current goal."
What was the reason for losing sight of her goals? Han Seung-yeon explained, "Until I transitioned to acting, I had set goals since I was young, and though there were ups and downs, I achieved them. I felt like I could make anything happen. After becoming an actress, I felt that the destination I needed to run towards was ambiguous and blurry. What kind of goals should I pursue? It's easy to say that I am a beloved actress, but how much acting is considered good enough, and can I truly achieve it just by wanting to? I lost a lot of direction. While I worked on the pieces in front of me, it felt more like I was working rather than pursuing my dreams. So I wondered what could ignite my motivation, and I ended up focusing on senior actor Hwang Jung-min. Just his presence signifies good scripts, quality, and talent. I was deeply moved after attending a play of his and thought, if I could share the same frame with such a person, wouldn't that mean I have become sufficient myself?"
Han Seung-yeon said, "Though I've been doing this for 10 years, I am still a young actress with a long way to go. I can't say I have produced a lot of works, so I will work hard moving forward and strive to develop my capabilities without holding back. If I stand firmly here without doing anything bad, I believe there will come a day when I meet my seniors. I want to be an actress I can be proud of."
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