The alluring actress Ha Yoon Kyung is gaining attention with her character prosecutor Min Seo-jin in the Disney+ series "Gangnam B-side."
Ha is best known early on for playing dark, complex characters — and now she has successfully transitioned to a glamorous, charming, and otherwise inspiring role.
According to Field Movie, Ha appeared in a number of independent films in her early years as an actress, frequently embodying more rebellious characters, such as a high school bully and a juvenile delinquent.
Recently, though, she has been more versatile, and as she's grown, so have her roles. Fans now call her "Spring Sunshine" for her bright and uplifting on-screen presence.
Gangnam B-side, which just finished its run, has achieved surprising international success.
Ha said in an interview: "I'm really excited to do this as a prosecutor." Upon reading the script, she wondered what type of prosecutor Min Seo-jin (her character) would be.
"I really liked the idea of her going through hurdles without knowing where they will take you."
As one would imagine, the ex-school bully becoming a lawyer hasn't gone unnoticed. Some critics have likened the roles Ha played in the past that were shady to her role as a prosecutor now.
"It was like watching some high status bully kid at school become a lawyer and go to fight for justice," was how one critic summed it up.
Ha responded to this change lightheartedly: "I think I've been offered roles a lot with a bit more color and warmth recently."
In both dramas, Ha stands out against solid supporting casts, featuring hot-blooded characters in "Gangnam B-side," played by Jo Woo Jin and Ji Chang Wook.
"Min Seo-jin is an everyday man in a world turned upside down," she noted. "I tried to make her quirks of character prominent," said Ha.
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The actress also elaborated on some of her research for the part, explaining that prosecutors in real life spend more time on paperwork than the character does in the media.
"They are not dressed in flashy clothes or high heels," she said. "I knew exactly what I wanted to bring to the character - but it was also important for me to represent it in an authentic way."
Looking back at her earlier work – which included dark subject matter like digital sex crimes and child abuse, Ha said those experiences changed how she feels about the world.
When asked about the realities of life in the public eye, she added: "I've come across things I wouldn't have even given a thought to if I lived an average life. I have learned more than what to do and what not to do in the workplace from each role and have developed immensely as a person, too."
Min Seo-jin is a more complex lead than what we usually get in legal dramas, and Ha Yoon-kyung, who stars her, is growing out from the juvenile parts of her past into a fully-formed actress.
As fans celebrate the success of "Gangnam B-side," they are excited to see where this talented star is headed next.
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