It is already established and confirmed that tvN’s latest time-travel hit sensation series, Lovely Runner, would not exist without Kim Hye Yoon, who effortlessly nailed the character of Im Sol. Having dedicated over a decade to fulfilling her dream of becoming an actress, 27-year-old Kim’s versatility in the acting industry precedes her debut in show business after her initial modeling stint.
Like her Lovely Runner co-star who slipped under the radar despite appearing in several supporting roles or cameos, Kim Hye Eun has also made a splash in several dramas. Still, fans kept remembering her as an “underrated” afterthought. With the success of Lovely Runner garnering the attention of K-netizens and global fans, her breakout roles from the past have come back into the attention and memories of fans.
In Lovely Runner, with her character caught in the stormy, lonely, time-traveling theme, Hye Yoon proved that the sky is truly the limit for her by portraying a wide range of emotions. Falling head over heels for her like Ryu Sun Jae (Byeon Wook), the internet has finally taken action, “Kim Hye Yoon definitely deserves more recognition.”
If Lovely Runner left you admiring her range, you’ll be shocked beyond comprehension when you see her give up her warm and lovely skin to make way for the character portrayal that catapulted her to stardom in 2018-19. If Im Sol healed your heart, Sky Castle’s Kang Ye Seo won’t make you blink twice before shifting your balance to reach the top.
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Just a few months after forcing an army of K-drama fans to hate his character in 2019, he gained mass recognition with his first leading role in a drama with Extraordinary You. His stunning and ever-shining transformation to play Eun Dan Oh is still alive in the hearts of many, who even compared his magic as “Lovely Runner” with his iconic role in the MBC fantasy series.
Lovely Runner director Yoon Jong Ho reacts harshly to Kim Hye Yoon’s “needs work” comment on her scenes
Following the 16-episode finale on May 28, Lovely Runner director Yoon Jong Ho took part in a roundtable interview, recalling how, due to the show taking place in multiple timelines, “the actors in the story were asked to use different tones of voice to match their ages… the high school versions of Sun Jae and Sol speak in a slightly higher tone than Sun Jae and Sol in their twenties and thirties.”
According to AllKpop, although the lead pair “worked hard” to adapt to these changes, the director suggested that their impeccable acting abilities alone would not help ground their character. He commented, “As the lead female of a romantic comedy, the character must have quality scenes.” Strategizing that the audience should fall in love with Sol at first sight as much as Sun Jae did, Lovely Runner’s director wanted to “bring out the pinnacle of Kim Hye Eun’s beauty.”
During the interview, they admitted that they “often” scolded her as they “requested her to work on her scenes.” When the versatile actress followed their advice and performed according to their preferences, Yoon said, “When we first started the project, she felt like a daughter, but by the end, she had a more lady-like aura. I was proud of her efforts.”
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However, these comments did not go down well with some Korean netizens. They reacted harshly against him, calling out his “judgmental views.”
Here were some reactions to his comments:
- “Are we in the right century..?”
- “No matter how talented they are, female actresses are judged solely on their looks. But if you’re a male actor, you just have to be handsome, and then all is forgiven.”
- “This drama would have failed if it didn’t have Kim Hye Eun’s acting, but they say good acting isn’t enough? Why don’t they talk about how Byun Woo Seok could have improved his acting in some scenes?”
- “It makes me angry to think that talented and hardworking actresses like her have to deal with this nonsense.”
- “Instead of scolding Kim Hye Yoon for her looks, they should have scolded the other male actors for not being able to keep up with her acting.”
Kim Hye Yoon’s promotion shortcoming fixed
Kim Hye Yoon is probably well aware of the industry buzz, as she has been active as an actor for years, having done well with her iconic roles in other shows and movies such as Secret Royal Inspector and Joy, Snowdrop, The Girl on a Bulldozer and more – the list is long.
Even before the Lovely Runner director’s words came out, fans had already begun a fierce debate over the misogyny that prevails in the entertainment industry, as many took aim at his company for its lack of promotions and appearances on variety shows. Meanwhile, announcements of Byeon Woo Seok’s variety shows on Running Man, You Quiz on the Block and other hit shows have been surfacing continuously as his newfound popularity continues to skyrocket. He is also set to grace the stage at several fan meetings across Asia.
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Defending her company from growing hate, Kim Hye Yoon finally revealed the real reason for her limited promotions in an interview. “The thing is, variety shows need to ask me, but no one asked me at that time. We never refused an offer to appear on a show,” Hye Yoon shocked fans with the truth.
The situation has improved since the Extraordinary You star made a joint appearance with her Lovely Runner co-star in Salon Drip 2. She will also be making a guest appearance on SBS’ variety show ‘ Wherever Possible ‘ on June 4.
Netizens praised Kim Hye Yoon
In contrast to their reactions to the show’s director, netizens have only good things to say about Lovely Runner’s writer Lee Se Yoon. She has previously shed light on why she found Kim Hye Yoon to be perfect for Im Sol. Impressed by her stellar performance in the film The Girl on a Bulldozer, the show’s writer claimed that she imagined the character of Im Sol in Hye Yoon’s image, which eventually laid the foundation for the script. This further proves that the show wouldn’t have come alive without Hye Yoon, a sentiment that Lee Se Yoon has repeatedly reiterated.
- “I really hope that Hyun will now get the chance to work with better staff and directors, receiving this kind of treatment when she is only proving her talent more is so unfair. She deserves better than working with people like this.”
- “I love writer Lee Seoun, thank you for everything you did and the nice things you said and the constant praise you gave to Hyun, we need more people like you in this industry.”
- “The world is blessed because she chose to be an actress. My acting talent, my beautiful and extremely hardworking hyun. She will be one of the biggest and brightest stars of this generation. I just know it. She deserves only the best things. 🫶🏻”
- “There can be no beautiful runner without Kim Hyun. Thank you Kim Hyun for bringing Im Sol to life 💛”
Fans showered even more love for her on Instagram:
- “I really wanted to tell you this, most of us watched Lovely Runner only because you were the main lead. You are beautiful, talented, hardworking, cheerful and you make everyone around you and anyone who watches you happy. I hope directors and producers recognize your work and hopefully you get a lot of good shows from now on….you will rule 2024, no one can say otherwise. As a girl I found Sunjae very attractive but without you the show would never have had its charm!”
- “You are beautiful inside and out. Don’t let any harsh words get you down. Even if there is no one left to tell you that you are beautiful, I will be that one person, you are beautiful inside and out. Always remember that💛”
- “Dear Hye Yoon, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for your amazing performance as Sol in “Lovely Runner.” You brought this character to life with so much depth and emotion. Your chemistry with Byeon Woo Seok was amazing, making every moment feel real. Your expressions were incredibly powerful; when you cried, we cried with you, and when you laughed, we cheered. Your portrayal played a key role in making the show so special. Your talent deserves to shine, and we will always support you. Since your debut, you have been giving great performances, and it’s wonderful to see that you are finally getting the recognition you deserve. I can’t wait for your next drama. Rest well, and thank you for your incredible work.”
