Han Seung-yeon (36), a member of the girl group Kara and an actress, showcased a new side of herself through 'Chunhwa Love Story'.
The Tving original series 'Chunhwa Love Story' (written by Seo Eun-jung, directed by Lee Kwang-young) is a romantic youth historical drama that unfolds as the princess Hwari (played by Go Ara), who has failed in her first love, declares her intention to find a husband herself, getting entangled with the kingdom's top playboy Hwan (played by Jang Ryul) and the number one groom candidate Jang-won (played by Kang Chan-hee). It consists of a total of 10 episodes and is currently streaming all episodes on Tving.
In a cafe in Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the 10th, Han Seung-yeon expressed her feelings about the conclusion, saying, "It's been a while since filming ended. I felt it was over back then, but now that it's all released, it really feels like it's over. I was worried about how it would be received, but now that it's done, I feel a bit sad."
In 'Chunhwa Love Story', Han Seung-yeon plays Ji-won, a noblewoman who is open about her feelings and has high self-esteem.
Han Seung-yeon remarked, "I think there are still many people who see me as young. Since I’ve been told I look young since my debut, my image has been built around that," adding, "I felt the need to show my growth, so I tried hard to develop the character."
Like recent Tving original series such as 'Queen Woo' and 'Won-gyeong', 'Chunhwa Love Story' is rated 19+, featuring many high-level scenes.
Han Seung-yeon stated, "Although the title suggests otherwise, we, the actors, thought it was a good piece. From a directorial and production standpoint, there isn’t much that actors can say about such things. I believe my responsibility is to do well in the part assigned to me."
Han Seung-yeon also performed a bed scene in the drama. Regarding this, she said, "I was an adult since my debut, so I don't understand why people were so shocked. If you look at the outfits alone, there's less exposure than Kara's costumes. I think it became a topic because of the atmosphere and the setting of the first night. I accepted it as part of my job, and if that level of acting is difficult and burdensome, I think it would narrow my range. I plan to work hard on good projects in the future," she confidently stated.
Regarding the reactions from her fellow Kara members, she shared, "They were quite interested from the start because of the 19+ rating. My husband (Kim Taek) was teased for being 10 years younger, and my brother (Kang Chan-hee) was teased for being a decade younger. After it aired, they said it was successful because we didn't look like there was a big age difference."
After finishing 'Chunhwa Love Story', a new chapter awaits Han Seung-yeon. She is about to part ways with her current agency, YG Entertainment, as the company has decided to focus solely on music and cease its actor management business.
Han Seung-yeon expressed, "I do feel worried. After all, I've done well in my work, so I think there will be people who recognize that. Since this isn't my first time moving companies, I don't feel too much pressure."
Han Seung-yeon debuted in the entertainment industry as a member of Kara in 2007. Recently, Baby V.O.X made headlines with their full group performance, raising expectations for Kara's full group activities as well.
In this regard, Han Seung-yeon said, "I think there will be full group activities this year as well. I don't know what form it will take. Even during our 15th anniversary, we said it would be the last, but thankfully, there are people who still support us, so I think Kara's full group activities will continue for a while."
Finally, Han Seung-yeon concluded, "I need to become an actress who is needed first and foremost. While it's important to be good at various things, I want to hear people say, 'This character suits Han Seung-yeon. She really does well.' I also want to hear viewers say, 'The works with Han Seung-yeon are not boring.' I believe I am still in a period of building my career as an actress. I will strive to be someone who does my part as much as possible whenever I get the chance."
[Shin Young-eun, Star Today Reporter]
