Actress Park Ah-in shone with her presence, delivering an impressive performance until the end in Moon River.
On the broadcasts of MBC's Friday-Saturday drama Moon River on the 19th and 20th, episodes 13 and the finale, Park Ah-in portrayed the devoted character Park Hong-nan, who finally finds peace of mind after protecting Park Dal-i (played by Kim Se-jeong), with delicate acting.
When Hong-nan learned that Dal-i and Lee Gang (played by Kang Tae-oh) could freely switch bodies, her immediate decision to take in Binggung Mama without hesitation revealed the character's resolve and integrity. Park Ah-in heightened viewers' immersion by expressing Hong-nan's solemnity and determination to prioritize Dal-i's safety through subtle changes in her gaze and vocal tone.
When Dal-i declared she would not switch bodies, Hong-nan biting her lip tightly showed a willingness to do anything for Dal-i. Park Ah-in organically linked a variety of emotions—anxiety, worry and resolve—adding depth and conviction to the Hong-nan character, and after keeping her promise to Jeong-in, her longing for Jeong-in overwhelmed her, leaving Hong-nan unable to hide her loneliness in the ending, which left a strong impression.
To keep her promise to Jeong-in, Hong-nan devoted her life to raising Kang Yeon-wol (played by Kim Se-jeong) as her niece Dal-i, and Hong-nan's unconditional protective instinct for Dal-i moved viewers with its pathos. Above all, the scene in which Hong-nan displays a "steadfast charisma" during the confrontation with Wang Lee-hee (played by Kim Nam-hee), who had driven Dal-i into a deadly situation, provided a refreshing thrill, and when Dal-i revealed her identity to protect herself and Dal-i's parents, Hong-nan's desperate cries, overwhelmed by the despair of being unable to protect them, touched viewers' hearts.
Park Ah-in delivered a deep impression with a performance that perfectly matched the Hong-nan character down to the soul. Park Ah-in shared a written Q&A expressing her affection for the work and the Hong-nan character as she finished Moon River. The following is the Q&A with Park Ah-in.
Q. Tell us your feelings upon finishing Moon River.
"I finally finished Moon River, which I shared with in 2025. I poured a lot of my heart into it, so I will miss the warm Moon River team."
Q. After Moonshine, you appeared in a historical drama again with Moon River. Was there a decisive reason you decided to take the role?
"I originally like historical dramas. I like the weighty sentiment that historical dramas convey. After reading the script, I fell for the charm of the Hong-nan character and decided to appear. Hong-nan, who devotes her life and protects Jeong-in's family for the promise with Jeong-in, felt attractive to me. I wondered, 'Can I truly understand Hong-nan's magnanimity?' That question weighed on me."
Q. To express the charm of the Hong-nan character and her three-dimensional emotional arc, was there anything you specially prepared?
"I focused on Hong-nan's position as a guardian. I worked hard to understand the heart of protecting and keeping someone safe. I wondered what kind of heart Hong-nan, who devoted her life to the intangible values of 'love' and 'promise,' lived with. While searching, I found a historical gisaeng named Hong-rang, whose name is similar to Hong-nan. She fell in love with poet Choi Kyung-chang despite social status differences, and even after Jeong-in's passing, she endured wars by the grave and preserved Choi Kyung-chang's poems and works. Thanks to that woman, we can read Choi Kyung-chang's works today. I was deeply moved by Hong-rang's great love, and I thought Hong-nan would have a similar heart. I tried with all my strength to protect and love Dal-i."
Q. What is Hong-nan's favorite scene or line in the drama?
"The scene where Dal-i's family is executed in Dal-i's place after being captured is the one. Hong-nan had protected Dal-i her whole life, so although she didn't have many lines, looking at Dal-i broke her heart. It made me realize Hong-nan had loved Dal-i for a very long time and that this child was truly everything to Hong-nan, so the scene stayed with me."
Q. How was the acting chemistry with the Moon River cast?
"It was so warm. Dal-i's family really felt like family. Senior Park Bo-kyung, who played Dal-i's mother role, cared for each person on set and embraced them gently. Senior Im Gi-hong, who played Dal-i's father role, cracked up all the staff with seasoned ad-libs. He made us anticipate how fun the day would be. Our Dal-i Se-jeong was truly like sunshine. Even from far away in the makeup room you could tell when Dal-i was there by her chattering, which brightened the set's atmosphere. She was warm, bright and lovable. I think I'll really miss our family. I love them."
Q. Did you feel growth as an actor through this work?
"The scene meeting Han-seong was very difficult for me. It was our first meeting, and we hadn't built much backstory, so filming the farewell scene brought a heavy emotional burden. It was also an important scene that revealed the reason that runs through Hong-nan's whole life. Thankfully, the director gave a lot of feedback on tone, pacing and Hong-nan's heart, and I felt I learned a lot even in a short time. I also came to believe that the time and effort I put in would somehow accumulate inside me. That belief will be good groundwork for my future acting career."
Q. Are there roles or genres you want to challenge in the future?
"I don't have anything I immediately want to try. You can't do something just because you want to; it approaches like fate. It's about the synergy between who I am at that time and the role I meet then. But I do have a strong desire to try many works and many characters. It may sound funny, but I want to be consumed a lot. I don't want to set limits. I don't even know what version of myself will appear."
Q. What is the ultimate goal you have set as actress Park Ah-in?
"I want to be an acting grandmother. I want to act for my whole life. I hope that as I mature, my acting will mature too. As the world I observe widens, the world I can express and encompass will also widen. I want to be an actor who walks that path without getting tired, enjoying it."
Q. Is there a final message you want to send to Moon River listeners?
"Thank you for watching Moon River during your precious weekend nights. It was a drama full of love. Each character loved in their own way. I hope viewers love passionately, smile and enjoy happy days. Happy new year, and be healthy in body and mind."
[photo] Beyond J
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