Actress Ha Yoon-kyung once again proved her acting prowess through the character Go Bok-hee in the tvN weekend drama Undercover Miss Hong. From visuals that evoke nostalgia for the late 1990s to the character’s layered emotional journey, she delivered a performance that earned praise and reinforced her reputation as a master of realistic acting.
Undercover Miss Hong is a retro office comedy set at the end of the 20th century. The story follows Hong Geum-bo (Park Shin-hye), a 30-something elite financial supervisor who goes undercover as a 20-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 irritating and sharp-tongued, but underneath that tough exterior lies a surprisingly warm heart.
The series began with a 3.5% nationwide rating (Nielsen Korea) for its first episode but quickly gained momentum through word of mouth. Eventually, it surpassed the 10% mark and wrapped up its run on a high note.
In a recent interview at a café in Gangnam, Seoul, Ha Yoon-kyung reflected on the drama’s conclusion.
“I don’t have any regrets. The ratings were great, so I’m happy,” she said. “If I had to pick something, it would just be the feeling of ‘I could have done even better.’”
When asked whether she expected the show to succeed, she admitted she had a good feeling during filming.
“While we were shooting, I thought the drama might do well because the chemistry among the actors was so great. But ratings depend on fate, so I didn’t expect them to be this high.”
For the role, Ha Yoon-kyung paid close attention not only to her acting but also to the visual details that would capture the atmosphere of the late 1990s. One of the most memorable choices was Bok-hee’s signature “seagull eyebrows.”
“Fashion in 1997 isn’t drastically different from today, but if you dress too modern it doesn’t feel like the past,” she explained. “Because Bok-hee is a character who could really express that era, I decided to shave my eyebrows to create those ‘seagull eyebrows.’ I also wanted to wear stronger lipstick. For the fashion, I avoided making it look too 1980s, so I used long skirts and scarves to give her both a retro vibe and the feeling of a confident older sister.”
Her efforts also shone through in her facial expressions and body language. At Hanmin Investment & Securities, she embodied the perfect “Secretary Go,” while in Dorm Room 301 she transformed into the 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,” she said. “That’s when I felt her signature traits coming 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 button suddenly smiling 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 inside Bok-hee. This balance made viewers see her as a character they could not truly hate.
“I wanted her to be someone who might seem hateful at first but gradually wins your heart,” she 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 tears up while looking at the lunch her friends prepared, 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—whom she believed to be a 20-year-old high-school graduate employee—is actually Hong Geum-bo, a 35-year-old financial supervisor.
Ha Yoon-kyung emphasized that this storyline was particularly meaningful to her.
“Bok-hee genuinely cared about Geum-bo. Then she suddenly learns that Geum-bo graduated from a prestigious university and is 35 years old, and you see her emotions well up instantly. Through that scene, I wanted to show that Bok-hee is someone with sincerity and warmth.”
She also highlighted the importance of Bok-hee’s painful past in shaping the character.
“Her past was difficult and painful, and I hoped that pain would feel convincing. That’s why when Bok-hee puts on 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 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’re angry at yourself but end up directing that anger at someone else,” she said. “I wanted to show those complicated yet relatable emotions through Bok-hee. She’s a character with many layers, and I believed viewers would understand that she didn’t become this way simply because of money, but because she carried many scars.”
Toward the end of Undercover Miss Hong, Bok-hee’s past crimes including embezzlement and theft from a previous workplace are revealed. She receives punishment and begins a new chapter of her life. However, the drama does not show her finally reaching Santa Monica Beach, a dream she had long cherished.
Ha Yoon-kyung explained the meaning behind that ending.
“For Bok-hee, Santa Monica Beach was a place of escape. But by the end, she no longer needs to escape. She has paid for her past crimes, been reborn in a way, and gained friends who trust her. So she doesn’t need to go there anymore. Some fans said they wanted to see her drinking a cocktail in Santa Monica, but I think this life without a place to run away to 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 the nickname “master of everyday acting.”
“That’s exactly the kind of acting I pursue, and I think I really like it,” she said. “Sometimes we watch TV for excitement and new worlds, but other times we want comfort and stories about people like ourselves. I enjoy showing those moments when viewers can say, ‘I’ve felt that way before.’”
In 2022, Ha Yoon-kyung gained widespread recognition for playing Choi Soo-yeon in the ENA drama Extraordinary Attorney Woo, earning the affectionate nickname “Sunshine of Spring.” The phrase, which originated from a line in the drama, became closely associated with her image.
After transforming into Go Bok-hee in Undercover Miss Hong, she shared her thoughts about that nickname.
“‘Sunshine of Spring’ is a nickname I truly love, and I don’t want to escape from it. It’s a title I’m grateful for and aspire to resemble,” she said. “But it’s been a while since that character ended, so being too conscious of it would feel like overthinking. I’m thankful 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 Extraordinary Attorney Woo or Hospital Playlist, she replied candidly:
“I haven’t heard anything about it yet. But if they call me, of course I’d love to join. Even if it doesn’t happen, though, I won’t dwell on it.”
Sources: Nate