Actress Ha Yoon-kyung once again proved her acting prowess through the character Go Bok-hee in tvN’s weekend drama Miss Hong undercover. From visuals that evoke nostalgia for the late ’90s to the character’s layered emotional journey, she delivered a performance that earned praise and solidified her reputation as an actress. master of realistic acting.
Miss Hong undercover is a retro office comedy set in the late 20th century. The story follows Hong Geum-bo (Park Shin-hye), a thirty-year-old elite financial supervisor who goes undercover as a twenty-year-old entry-level employee at a suspicious securities firm to investigate unusual money flows.
In the drama, Ha Yoon-kyung plays Go Bok-hee, the secretary to the president of Hanmin Investment & Securities. At first glance, Bok-hee seems abrasive and sharp-tongued, but beneath that tough exterior lies a surprisingly warm heart.
The series began with a 3.5% national rating (Nielsen Korea) for its first episode, but quickly gained momentum through word of mouth. Ultimately, it crossed the 10% mark and ended its run on a positive note.
In a recent interview at a bar in Gangnam, Seoul, Ha Yoon-kyung reflected on the drama’s conclusion.
“I have no regrets. The ratings were great, so I’m happy.” he said. “If I had to pick one thing, it would simply be the feeling of ‘I could have done even better.’”
When asked if she expected the show to be successful, she admitted that she had a good feeling while filming.
“When we were filming, I thought the drama might be good because the chemistry between the actors was really great. But the ratings depend on fate, so I didn’t expect them to be so high.”
For the role, Ha Yoon-kyung paid close attention not only to acting but also to visual details that captured the atmosphere of the late 1990s. One of the most memorable choices was the signing of Bok-hee “seagull eyebrows”.
“The fashion of 1997 isn’t radically different from today, but if you dress too modern it doesn’t look like the past,” he explained. “Since Bok-hee is a character who could really express that era, I decided to shave her eyebrows to create those ‘seagull eyebrows’. I also wanted to wear stronger lipstick. As for fashion, I avoided making her look too ’80s, so I used long skirts and scarves to give her both a retro vibe and the feeling of a confident big sister.”
His efforts also shine through in his facial expressions and body language. At Hanmin Investment & Securities, he embodied perfection “Secretary, go” while in dormitory 301 she transformed into charismatic “big sister” figure.
“I tried to change my tone of voice, gestures and expressions depending on whether Bok-hee was at work or in the dorm,” he said. “That’s when I felt his character traits came together. The ‘capitalist smile’ was written in the character description and I thought a lot about how to portray it. I imagined a character whose smile could appear instantly, like pressing a smile button suddenly and then quickly withdrawing it.”
Despite Bok-hee’s confident and sometimes intimidating exterior, Ha Yoon-kyung made sure not to overlook the loneliness and emotional wounds hidden within Bok-hee. This balance made viewers see her as a character they couldn’t truly hate.
“I wanted it to be someone who might seem obnoxious at first but who gradually wins your heart,” he explained. “Controlling the balance was extremely important. There’s a huge gap between her tough side and her vulnerable side, and I kept thinking about how to portray that. When Bok-hee is left alone and suddenly cries while looking at the lunch her friends make, I wanted to reveal her true self in those moments.”
In the drama, Bok-hee experiences a shocking moment when she discovers that her roommate Hong Jang-mi, who she thought was a 20-year-old college graduate clerk, is actually Hong Geum-bo, a 35-year-old financial supervisor.
Ha Yoon-kyung pointed out that this storyline was especially meaningful to her.
“Bok-hee sincerely cared about Geum-bo. Then suddenly she finds out that Geum-bo graduated from a prestigious university and is 35 years old, and you see her emotions explode instantly. Through that scene, I wanted to show that Bok-hee is a sincere and warm person.”
He also highlighted the importance of Bok-hee’s painful past in shaping the character.
“Her past was difficult and painful, and I hoped the pain was convincing. That’s why when Bok-hee wears that capitalist smile and navigates society so skillfully, it feels a little heartbreaking. As she slowly opens up to her dorm friends, I wanted viewers to realize that she wasn’t a bad person, she was simply someone who had built emotional walls to protect herself.”
One notable moment comes when Bok-hee lashes out at Kang Nora (Choi Ji-soo) over an incident involving Kim Mi-sook (Kang Chae-young).
“Sometimes you get angry at yourself but end up directing that anger at someone else.” he said. “I wanted to show those complicated yet relatable emotions through Bok-hee. She’s a multi-layered character and I believed viewers would understand that she didn’t become that way simply because of money, but because she carried a lot of scars.”
Towards the end of Miss Hong undercoverBok-hee’s past crimes are revealed, including embezzlement and theft from a previous workplace. He receives punishment and begins a new chapter in his life. However, the drama does not show her finally reaching the beach in Santa Monica, a dream she has long had.
Ha Yoon-kyung explained the meaning behind that ending.
“For Bok-hee, Santa Monica Beach was a place of escape. But in the end, she no longer needs to run away. She paid for her past crimes, was reborn in a way, and gained friends who trust her. So she no longer needs to go there. Some fans said they wanted to see her drink a cocktail in Santa Monica, but I think this life without a place to run away might actually be happier for her. That’s why I’m satisfied with the ending.”
Through her vivid portrayal of relatable characters, Ha Yoon-kyung has earned her nickname “master of daily recitation”.
“This is exactly the kind of acting I pursue, and I think I really like it,” he said. “Sometimes we watch TV for excitement and discovery of new worlds, but other times we want comfort and stories about people like us. I like to show those moments when viewers can say, ‘I’ve felt this way before.’”
In 2022, Ha Yoon-kyung gained wide recognition for playing Choi Soo-yeon in the ENA drama Lawyer extraordinaire Wooearning him the affectionate nickname “The spring sun”. The phrase, which originated from a line in the play, has become closely associated with his image.
After transforming into Go Bok-hee in Miss Hong undercovershared his thoughts on that nickname.
“‘Sunshine of Spring’ is a nickname I truly love and don’t want to run from it. It’s a title I’m grateful for and aspire to be like,” he said. “But it’s been a while since that character ended, so being too aware of it would be like thinking too much. I’m grateful if people still call me that, but even if they don’t, I can just show them something new.”
When asked about the possibility of new seasons for Lawyer extraordinaire Woo OR Hospital playlistshe replied candidly:
“I haven’t heard about it yet. But if they call me, obviously I’d like to join. Even if it doesn’t happen, though, I won’t dwell on it.”
Sources: Nate
