Kang Hae-won’s Emotional Growth in Japanese Drama ‘First Love’ – What Makes Her Performance Stand Out?
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Kang Hye-won, the former IZ*ONE member turned actor, showcased a new level of emotional maturity in TV Tokyo’s drama Love at First Bite.
Love at First Bite is a tender romance that traces two people who, despite being unsettled by cultural and value differences between Japan and Korea, find themselves irresistibly drawn to each other. Kang plays Park Rin, a graduate student studying in Japan.
What did Kang Hye-won’s character bring to the story?
Kang anchored the series with a nuanced portrayal of a young woman who pursues her dreams in a foreign country while carrying the fatigue of youth and a palpable loneliness. Viewers praised her for blending the character’s bright energy with a sincere, underlying passion.
How was her chemistry with the Japanese actor?
She generated palpable romantic tension with Taiga Hase (played by Eiji Akaso), a part-time restaurant worker whose dream of becoming a runner had been derailed.
Kang Hye-won said, \”This was my first time working on a Japanese drama. I’m deeply grateful to have worked with such wonderful staff, directors, producers and fellow actors. It was a meaningful experience and a great memory.\” She added, \”I also want to thank all the viewers who watched the show.\”
Jung Se-yoon, TenAsia reporter yoon@tenasia.co.kr
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