Despite perfectly portraying the role of Oh Yoon Hee in "The Penthouse: War in Life," Eugene was initially reluctant to play the character.
Released in 2020, the SBS series gained popularity after featuring a makjang series that focuses on revenge, power, and the unrealistic drama of people living at the affluent building known as Hera Palace.
Reigning the time slot with this jaw dropping viewership rating, the thriller mystery K-drama was extended till season 3 and bid goodbye in September 2021.
After three seasons and a slew of deaths and surprising twists, fans are still looking forward to its fourth season with the OG cast reprising their roles.
However, she revealed a surprising insight regarding her "The Penthouse" role.
From Kpop Idol to Sought After Star
The singer-actress appeared in the recent episode of the travel show "I Like Go Doo Shim," hosted by the veteran actress herself.
Eugene spoke about transitioning from being a Kpop star to becoming a K-drama actress in the Channel A entertainment program.
As noted by Osen, the 41-year-old beauty revealed that she really wanted to act but was first given the opportunity to perform as a singer.
As some wouldn't know, Eugene is a former member of the girl group S.E.S formed by SM Entertainment in 1997, making them the first generation Kpop idols. The 3-member South Korean girl group consists of Bada, Shoo, and of course, Eugene.
Unfortunately, after years of wowing the crowd with their impressive talent, S.E.S was officially disbanded in December 2002 following unsuccessful contract renewal negotiations with Eugene and Bada.
Since then, Eugene has focused more on acting, landing her first-ever K-drama appearance and lead role in KBS' "Loving You."
READ MORE: 'Three Dads One Mom' Cast Update 2021: Here's the Current and Upcoming Projects of Eugene, Jo Hyun Jae, Jae Hee and Shin Sung Rok
Her breakthrough performance is probably the rom-com series "Three Dads One Mom," where she worked alongside Jae Hee, Jo Hyun Jae, and Shin Sung Rok as her leading men.
Eugene Confesses Being Hesitant to Play Oh Yoon Hee in 'The Penthouse: War in Life'
As she continued with her conversation with host Go Doo Shim, Eugene was asked about her thoughts playing the revengeful Oh Yoon Hee.
Surprisingly, she admitted that she was reluctant to accept the offer and didn't want to join the cast of "The Penthouse."
The mom-of-two then revealed that she was not a fan of "strong dramas," also known as makjang or the over-the-top dramas that somehow illustrate unrealistic situations.
Moreover, the actress mentioned that she thought that Oh Yoon Hee didn't suit her and revealed that she spoke to the director and screenwriter that she "wasn't confident" to play the character.
However, it seems like the universe conspired to give the role to Eugene after the team made it "slightly different" from the original character description.
Interestingly, after hearing it from the director and screenwriter, she felt "challenged" to play Oh Yoon Hee.
Joining the cast of "The Penthouse" for three seasons earned her multiple recognitions and awards.
In 2020, she bagged the Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Mid-Length Drama at the SBS Drama Awards, and was nominated as Outstanding Korean Actress in Seoul International Drama Awards 2021.
