Sixteen years after its original broadcast, the pure smile of “nine-tailed fox with dimples” still holds considerable power. In recent days, with surrounding debates No tail to tell escalating, fans of the Korean drama found themselves reminded of a gumiho from a very different era. Quickly tapping into this sentiment, SBS released a short video compilation highlighting Shin Min Ah’s gumiho character’s most iconic scenes from My girlfriend is a Gumihoalso aired on SBS.
When My girlfriend is a Gumiho aired in 2010, Shin Min Ah redefined the portrayal of the nine-tailed fox in Korean dramas. Unlike the disturbing and seductive images seen in works such as Gumiho: The Story of the Fox’s Son or the Hometown of legends In the series, her character Mi Ho appeared innocent and radiant, dressed in a simple white dress with natural flowing hair and charming dimples. This bold change transformed a traditionally fearsome mythical creature into a irresistibly adorable character which won over viewers.
Shin Min Ah’s appeal at the time was not based on flashy visuals, but on his naturally pure aura. Her performance of Mi Ho carried the soul of a naive child curious about the modern world, eager to love and nurture a adorably simple obsession with beef. His sparkling eyes whenever he tasted his favorite food were enough to melt countless hearts.
This blend of ethereal beauty and accessibility transformed Shin Min Ah into an ideal icon of the era, captivating both male and female viewers. The enormous success of the drama even sparked widespread acclaim “white dress mania” across Asia that fall, firmly establishing Mi Ho’s look as a cultural phenomenon.
Fast forward to 2026, expectations have shifted to a new one “dimpled gumiho”Kim Hye Yoon, who stars in No tail to tell. However, unlike his predecessor, Kim Hye Yoon’s gumiho Eun Ho is practical, uninterested in becoming human, extremely playful, and mischievous. While Kim Hye Yoon maintains the lively and agile acting style that has defined her previous works as Extraordinary you AND Lovely runnersome viewers find this approach to be excessively childish when applied to a thousand-year-old fox, lacking the depth and gravitas one expects from such a character.
Despite the emergence of new interpretations, one sentiment remains consistent among viewers: no matter how many gumiho grace Korean screens in the future, the image of Mi Ho played by Shin Min Ah remains irreplaceable. Even now, the mere memory of her character brings to mind echoes of her sweetness “Woong-ah” and the innocent smile that once made an entire generation fall in love with him.
Sources: Netizenbuzz
