[Sportschosun Reporter Lee Ji-hyun] Ahn Hee-yeon, formerly of EXID and known as Hani, is set to return to the small screen after three years. She shared why she chose the project and what led her to decide on a comeback.
On the 16th, KBS 2TV's new weekend drama "Love Returns" released footage from the cast's script reading. In particular, Ahn Hee-yeon will return as an actress for the first time in three years through this project, and she is also taking on a weekend drama for the first time since her debut.
Ahn Hee-yeon plays Han Gyu-rim, a deli employee who shoulders her family's livelihood and struggles through each demanding day. After her once-comfortable family falls apart overnight, she takes on part-time jobs and housework, becoming a strong character who endures a year-round battle-like routine.
In an interview, she introduced Han Gyu-rim as "an incredibly strong yet loving character. Just watching her brings comfort, and she has a charm that naturally makes you root for her."
She added, "As the story unfolds, Gyu-rim grows. I was very happy to see that process and the direction of her growth." She continued, "I felt that I could truly give my all for a character like Gyu-rim, and that is why I found the courage to return," explaining both her reason for choosing the project and her feelings about coming back.
Earlier, Ahn Hee-yeon announced her marriage to psychiatrist Yang Jaewoong in September 2024. However, after a patient died at the mental health facility where Yang served as director, the wedding was postponed indefinitely. Ahn also stepped down voluntarily from a variety show she had been scheduled to appear on, effectively pausing her activities.
"Love Returns" is a family recipe drama about a man and a woman who gather the broken pieces of a fractured family and prepare the warmest meal of life for the world. Along with Ahn Hee-yeon, the cast includes Ha Seok-jin, Park Yu-na, Bae Jeong-nam, Kwon Hae-hyo, Yoon Yoo-sun, Ryu Seung-soo, Jin Kyung, Min Jin Woong, Bona, Bae Yoon-gyu, and Jung Bo-min. The drama premieres on July 25.
olzllovely@sportschosun.com
