EXID's Hani Achieves Major Success with Return to K-Dramas After 3-Year Hiatus and Personal Struggles

Ahn Hee-yeon, the actress formerly known as Hani from the K-pop group EXID, is receiving widespread acclaim from viewers for her perfect portrayal of a realistic 'K-eldest daughter' character in her first drama following a three-year hiatus. Her return to the small screen carries even deeper significance as she returns to acting after enduring a prolonged period of inactivity due to personal hardships.

On the first and second episodes of the new KBS 2TV weekend drama 'Love is Coming,' aired on the 25th and 26th, Ahn Hee-yeon made her debut as Han Gyu-rim, the eldest daughter responsible for her family's livelihood. She successfully marked her comeback by realistically depicting a character who carries the heavy burdens of life behind a bright and resilient personality.

In the drama, Han Gyu-rim serves as the practical head of the household, looking after her four younger siblings in place of her parents. She is depicted as a character who starts her day at dawn to secure the family's livelihood and prioritizes her family's daily needs over her own life. Her strong sense of justice and unparalleled responsibility reflect the reality of the 'K-eldest daughter' (K-jangnyeon) that many modern viewers deeply empathize with.

Ahn Hee-yeon utilized her signature natural acting style to persuasively express the multi-layered emotions of Gyu-rim. While she is a dependable eldest daughter who leads her family with positive energy, she heightened the drama's immersion by delicately conveying deep emotional lines in scenes where she suppresses her feelings and swallows her tears alone.

The romantic subplot has also begun in earnest. She first met Kim Mu-jin (played by Ha Seok-jin) through an unexpected 'couple look' mishap, and their relationship entered a new phase after Mu-jin offered a sincere confession. However, due to the heavy weight of her realistic circumstances, Gyu-rim could not easily accept his heart, creating a sense of poignancy as she chose her family over love.

The plot tension increased further when she lied to her younger sibling, Gyu-yeong (played by Park Yu-na), claiming she was about to marry Mu-jin. Interest is mounting as to how these two individuals, who have lived very different lives, will continue their relationship.

Above all, from the early stages of the series, Ahn Hee-yeon has firmly established her presence by naturally weaving in the characteristic resilience, responsibility, and affection for family typical of an eldest daughter. Her acting, which oscillates between the reliability of a 'Han Ban-jang' (a nickname implying a dependable leader) who steps up first to solve household problems and the loneliness of handling emotions alone, has drawn significant empathy from the audience.

This project holds great meaning for Ahn Hee-yeon. She has returned to television approximately three years after her Disney+ drama 'Say You Love Me' was released in 2023. During the intervening period, although she was set to marry psychiatrist Yang Jae-woong in September 2024, her activities were halted as the wedding was indefinitely postponed following a patient death incident that occurred at the clinic operated by Yang Jae-woong.

With this comeback project, Ahn Hee-yeon has once again proven her potential as an actress by showcasing stable acting skills and even deeper emotional expression. As she has demonstrated a presence as the actress Ahn Hee-yeon rather than merely being defined by her identity as an idol, expectations are high for her future acting endeavors.