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| ▲ This photo of Arin, a member of K-pop group Oh My Girl, is provided by ATRP. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- Arin, a member of K-pop group Oh My Girl, has transformed herself into a deeply wounded and isolated character in the Wavve original drama “S Line,” marking a stark departure from her usual bubbly image.
“S Line” centers on Hyun Heup, a character born with the ability to see red lines — dubbed “S Lines” — that connect people who have had sexual relations. Due to this unique ability, he becomes estranged from society and lives in isolation, without friends or family. As a child, he once drew a red thread between his aunt and father in a family portrait, inadvertently triggering a household breakdown. The trauma led him to become a recluse.
Speaking with reporters at the Post Tower in Yeouido, Seoul, on Monday, Arin said, “Hyun Heup is a lonely and dark character, so I thought I could show a new side of myself. Some people didn’t even recognize me as Oh My Girl’s Arin, and that made me happy — it felt like I truly embodied the role.”
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| ▲ This still, provided by South Korean OTT giant Wavve, shows singer-actress Arin, a member of K-pop group Oh My Girl, playing Hyun Heup, a character born with the ability to see red lines, in the Wavve original series “S Line." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
To fans familiar with Arin’s bright persona in Oh My Girl, the transformation may come as a surprise. In the series, her character is pale, unkempt, and carries an eerie presence, far from her usual vibrant image. Her hairstyle appears as if it were roughly chopped at home with scissors, and blemishes are intentionally left visible to enhance realism.
Arin noted, “The director already had a firm image of Hyun Heup in mind. I didn’t feel it was wasteful to cut my hair like that — it can always grow back.”
“S Line” features bold and unconventional themes, and Arin shared that the experience allowed her to try many new things. “Scenes like the rooftop fight and underwater filming were all firsts for me,” she said. “Through this project, I realized I want to take on more genre roles and explore different types of characters.”
The drama was invited to the Long Form Competition section at this year’s Cannes International Series Festival, where it received the Best Music Award.
“Cannes used to feel like a distant dream,” Arin reflected. “But thanks to this wonderful project, I was able to experience it. I’ll never forget the moment when people applauded after the screening — it truly felt like a dream.”
Currently, Arin is also starring in KBS 2TV’s Wednesday-Thursday series “My Boyfriend Is a Tough Guy,” where she plays a bright and lovable character — a complete contrast to her role in “S Line.”
She expressed her determination to continue pursuing both acting and music. “I plan to keep balancing Oh My Girl activities with acting. I want to become stronger as an individual and as part of the team so our fans won’t have to worry,” she said.
Director Ahn Ju-young, who helmed “S Line,” also shared her thoughts in an interview the same day. As a longtime fan of the original webtoon, she found joy in adapting the unique premise for television.
Known for films such as “Bori and Nokyang” and “Side Rolling,” “S Line” marked Ahn’s first foray into directing a drama series. “Since this is a prequel to the original webtoon, the ending was already predetermined,” she explained. “I’m aware of feedback saying that the pace felt rushed and some explanations were lacking.”
She acknowledged that while episodes 1 through 5 focused on realism, the sudden infusion of fantasy in episode 6 may have caused a disconnect for viewers. Still, she hopes the audience can engage with the story more imaginatively.
“We’re often curious about other people’s private lives but reluctant to reveal our own,” Ahn said. “I hope viewers can imagine for themselves what might happen when personal lives are exposed — that’s part of the fun.”
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