On her first public appearance in 8 years, actress Heo Yi Jae returned to the public eye on November 30 at the rerelease event of the 2006 film "Sunflower."

Remastered and re-released to celebrate its 18th anniversary, the film gathered its original cast to give some thanks to fans who have supported the movie over the years.

Heo and his co-stars Kim Rae Won, Kim Hae Sook, Kim Byung Wook, and Han Jeong Su attended the event at a local theater in Seoul.

During the stage greeting, the actors reflected on Sunflower and expressed their gratitude to the audience for their enduring love for the movie.

Director Kang Seok Beom said, as quoted by Sports Chosun said, "It has been a long time since we met with the actors who exerted themselves in the heat of summer 2006."

The lead actor, Kim Rae Won, added, "I heard it is a rerelease after 18 years. Thank you for going out to the theatres to view the film. It's the year-end, so I hope you save your days in warmness and happiness."

Kim Hae-sook revealed that "it's touching to be having a stage greeting of 'Sunflower' for the first time in 18 years. Thanks for remembering 'Sunflower' I hope you feel sunflowers again."

Appearing a far cry from his past self, Heo Yi Jae expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to get back in the spotlight again. "And I'm rather surprised that it's being re-released after 18 years. I am thankful to be able to stand in front of you all again. Set your hearts forever to continue loving our movie Sunflower," she added.

Heo's public appearance attracted a lot of interest from fans and media, with many commenting on her changed appearance following a near-decade break from acting. Her comeback raised curiosity and wow amongst the netizens as they reacted by looking at changes in her appearance.

The-Sik is the protagonist of "Sunflower," an amateur series about the coming-of-age story that attracted 1.3 million viewers. Since then, its lines and performances have entered the lexicon of South Korean pop culture.

At the end of the day, Heo Yi-jae's surprise visit was especially meaningful to both the audience and the cast, emphasizing the lasting impact of "Sunflower," which has resonated with fans for nearly two decades.