EXID's Hani achieves massive comeback success in drama after 3-year hiatus following postponed wedding

Ahn Hee-yeon, known as Hani from the K-pop group EXID, is receiving overwhelming praise from viewers for her perfect portrayal of a realistic 'K-eldest daughter' character in her first drama return in three years. Her comeback holds even deeper significance as she returns to acting after a long hiatus caused by personal hardships.

In the first two episodes of the new KBS 2TV weekend drama 'Love is Coming', which 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 completed her comeback debut by realistically depicting a character who carries heavy life responsibilities behind a bright and spirited personality.

In the drama, Han Gyu-rim serves as the practical head of the household, taking care of her four younger siblings in place of her parents. She is portrayed as a person who starts her day at dawn to secure the family's livelihood, looks after her siblings' daily lives, and prioritizes her family over her own life. Her sense of justice, which cannot tolerate injustice, and her unparalleled sense of responsibility capture the reality of the 'K-eldest daughter' that many modern viewers can relate to.

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

The romance has also begun in earnest. She formed an unexpected connection with Kim Mu-jin (played by Ha Seok-jin) through a coincidental 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 life, Gyu-rim could not easily accept his heart, evoking sympathy as she chose her family over love.

Furthermore, curiosity about the upcoming plot has increased as she lied to her younger sibling Gyu-young (played by Park Yu-na) that she was on the verge of marriage with Mu-jin. Interest is growing in how these two individuals, who have lived different lives, will continue their relationship.

Above all, from the early stages of the drama, Ahn Hee-yeon firmly imprinted her character's presence by naturally infusing the typical life skills, responsibility, and affection for family characteristic of an eldest daughter. Her acting, which fluctuates between a reliable 'Han Ban-jang' (Leader Han) who is the first to step up to solve family problems and the loneliness of handling emotions alone, has drawn empathy from viewers.

This work holds great meaning for Ahn Hee-yeon. She has returned to domestic screens approximately three years after the Disney+ drama 'Say You Love Me' was released in 2023. During the interval, she was scheduled to marry psychiatrist Yang Jae-woong in September 2024, but the wedding was postponed indefinitely following a patient death incident that occurred at the clinic operated by Yang Jae-woong, leading to a continued hiatus in her activities.

By demonstrating stable acting skills and even deeper emotional expression in her long-awaited comeback work, Ahn Hee-yeon has once again proven her new possibilities as an actress. As she has shown her presence as actress Ahn Hee-yeon rather than just being labeled an 'idol-turned-actress,' expectations are high for her future acting career.