Sky's the Limit for Han Ji-min

'Blue Swallow' Costar Set to Take Off After Minor Roles in Hit Dramas, Films

By Kim Tae-jong
Staff Reporter

As an emerging star, Han Ji-min is attractive and talented enough to go far. But what really sets her apart from other ambitious young actresses is her golden touch for picking the right roles.

In the past three years, she starred in such hit television dramas as "All In" and "Jewel in the Palace" (Dae Jang Geum) and finally showed up in a recent film "Blue Swallow".

"I think I've been really lucky", Han said during an interview with The Korea Times. "And I don't rush into new roles. I usually take the time to think about my roles before choosing my next job, which is part of my personality".

Han may find herself even luckier this year as 2006 is the Year of the Dog according to the Chinese zodiac, which runs on a 12-year cycle. The actress was born in 1982, a dog year.

Han started her career in show business while still in high school student, when she starred in a television commercial in 1998. She didn't dream of becoming a serious actress, but changed her mind after starring in "All In" in 2003, where she played the teenage counterpart of the drama's main character, played by popular actress Song Hye-kyo.

Han has played mostly cute and feminine characters in TV dramas, but she challenged herself by playing a cute yet ambitious tomboy who dreams of becoming a pilot in her first movie "Blue Swallow".

"It was really difficult to shoot a film, but I was able to learn new things about acting through `Blue Swallow,' which I find really meaningful", Han said.

However, she thinks it is quite sad that people criticize the film. The critics argue that its main character was pro-Japanese, and participated in many propaganda activities during the Japanese colonial rule.

The blockbuster film is a fictional account of the true story of Park Kyong-won, a female pilot in the 1920s, with the addition of fictional characters.

"I don't think the movie tries to embellish her. It is more about a dream that one tragic woman had during the turbulent period. And actually I'd like to recommend it to all the people with dreams", Han said carefully.

Han is now shooting a coming TV drama "Wolf" (Nukdae), co-starring with Moon Jung-hyuck, also known as Eric Moon from popular boy band "Shinhwa", and Eom Tae-woong. It will be her first starring role.

"I may be a woman that most female audiences hate because I star in a drama with the two heartthrobs", Han joked.

In "Wolf", which will be premiered on Jan. 16 on MBC, Han plays a cheerful woman with fatal genetic disease, but is loved by two men with opposite backgrounds.

"I will not try to show something new and change everything, but instead I'll do my best to show what I can do well", Han said.