‘I felt a thrill’: Aema actress Lee Hanee on Netflix’s provocative K-drama
Korean actress Lee Hanee talks about her role in Netflix’s Aema and reflects on the challenges of bringing 1980s Korean cinema to life
By Park Jin-hai
“Every project holds a special place in my heart, but with Aema I felt a thrill – almost a sense of arrival – that such a work could finally emerge in our era,” says actress Lee Hanee.
“It’s genuinely refreshing to live in a time where stories like this can be told with health, humour and even a touch of comedy, rather than simply confronting violence head-on. That joy is what drew me to the project,” she says.
After Hee-ran boldly declares she will no longer appear in nude scenes, the studio relegates her to a supporting role in the film. Meanwhile, it launches an open audition to discover fresh talent, casting ambitious newcomer Shin Ju-ae (Bang Hyo-rin) as the film’s lead.
The behind-the-scenes reality of the production reveals a brutal era in the Korean film industry, when it was commonplace and expected for actresses to bare themselves, and covert sexual bribes were exchanged with political leaders, VIPs and media heavyweights.