Why Han So-hee embraces pressure of remaking Hollywood hit 'The Intern'

Han So-hee said she embraced the pressure of remaking The Intern because she found her character Sun-woo compelling in the script. The film opened on Wednesday and reimagines the Hollywood hit through a Korean workplace story with Choi Min-sik as an older intern at Sun-woo’s fashion startup. Han said the role felt personal, but also demanded a more naturalistic acting style and real leadership presence.

The film is directed by Kim Do-young, who previously made Kim Ji-young, Born 1982 and Once We Were Us.

In the movie, Sun-woo’s company, Woo22, posts 10 billion won in sales within three years.

Han said the role reminded her of times when she chased her dreams relentlessly and that her perfectionist streak shaped how she approached Sun-woo.

Han said working opposite Choi Min-sik taught her the meaning of being a good adult and made her want to treat everyone as equals regardless of age or gender.

Published Sep 16, 2026 5:17 pm KST

Transitioning away from violent genre hits, actor finds personal resonance in latest role

Actor Han So-hee / Courtesy of Warner Bros. Korea

"The Intern" hit theaters on Wednesday, reimagining the Hollywood hit that grossed roughly five times its production budget worldwide through a local lens. High-profile remakes inevitably invite comparisons and pressure, but actress Han So-hee embraced the challenge and trusted her instinctive connection to the project.

The film explores an intergenerational workplace dynamic, unfolding as Gi-ho (Choi Min-sik), an industry veteran of 37 years, joins the fashion startup led by Sun-woo, played by Han. Directed by Kim Do-young, acclaimed for "Kim Ji-young, Born 1982" and "Once We Were Us," the remake drew Han's immediate interest.

"Regardless of the original film, I found Sun-woo compelling in the script," Han said. "She felt grounded, like someone who actually exists out there in the world, and I hoped my interpretation might bring something slightly different."

In the film, Sun-woo propels her fashion company, Woo22, to post 10 billion won ($6.78 million) in sales within three years. While the workaholic founder draws industry attention, she secretly struggles with burnout away from the spotlight before gradually regaining her balance through her interactions with Gi-ho, who joins as an older intern.

"Playing Sun-woo, I recalled the times I ran relentlessly chasing my dreams, and she resonated with me personally," Han said. "I have a perfectionist streak like Sun-woo, but there is always something I miss, as pursuing perfection narrows your perspective. I drew on those personal experiences to shape her life."

Co-star synergy, set leadership

Carrying the central role alongside Choi, a towering figure in Korean film, brought real-world leadership challenges, and Han realized being a CEO is not something to take lightly. During a late scene where Sun-woo addresses her staff, Han blended her scripted dialogue with her genuine gratitude for the cast and crew, triggering an unexpected display of emotion.

"I burst into tears during the take, and when I looked up, everyone was crying too," she said. "I met really good people."

Choi praised Han's commitment, saying she tackled the role with intensity.

"It is natural to give it everything I have in every project, but this film was even more demanding," Han said. "Matching the energy of an industry giant like Choi was my primary duty, and I threw myself into the role to meet his presence."

Han So-hee, left, and Choi Min-sik appear in a scene from "The Intern." Courtesy of Warner Bros. Korea

The on-screen chemistry between the two actors remains a central draw of the film.

"He is warm and boyish, and he never offered unsolicited advice," Han said. "He never treated me like an inexperienced junior, allowing me to inhabit Sun-woo naturally. He jokes around between scenes, but the moment cameras roll, his concentration shifts completely."

Shift to naturalistic acting

Working on the film prompted Han to reflect on what it means to be a mature and decent person.

"Watching how Choi bridged the distance between himself and younger actors, I deeply realized the meaning of a good adult," Han said. "I decided I must become someone who treats everyone as equals, regardless of age or gender."

The project marks a creative departure for Han, who earned international acclaim through physically demanding genre hits such as "My Name," "Gyeongseong Creature" and "Project Y."

"In past projects, I drove the physical action and set events in motion, but this film required building scenes through subtle actions and reactions," she said. "With no single formula to follow, naturalistic acting proved incredibly demanding."

Actor Han So-hee appears in a scene from "The Intern." Courtesy of Warner Bros. Korea

Marking the 10th anniversary of her debut this year after launching her career in the 2017 SBS television series "Reunited Worlds," Han has navigated a relentless schedule while transitioning from her 20s into her 30s.

"In my experience, emotional strain often builds before you realize anything is wrong," she said. "Taking care of myself means understanding how I truly feel. These days, I pay close attention to how I feel, trace the root causes and constantly question myself."

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.

韩素希表示，她欣然接受了翻拍《实习生》的压力，因为她觉得剧本中的角色善宇非常吸引人。这部电影于周三上映，以韩国职场故事为背景，重新演绎了这部好莱坞热门影片。崔岷植饰演善宇时尚创业公司里的一位资深实习生。韩素希说，这个角色对她来说意义非凡，但也要求她展现更自然流畅的表演风格和真正的领导力。

该片由金道英执导，他之前曾执导过《金智英》、《生于1982年》和《我们曾经是彼此》。

电影中，善宇的公司 Woo22 在三年内实现了 100 亿韩元的销售额。

韩表示，这个角色让她想起了自己当年不懈追逐梦想的时光，而她追求完美的性格也影响了她诠释善宇的方式。

韩表示，与崔岷植合作让她明白了做一个好成年人的意义，也让她想要平等对待所有人，无论年龄或性别。

发布于2026年9月16日下午5:17（韩国标准时间）

这位演员从暴力题材的热门影片转型，在新角色中找到了个人共鸣。

演员韩素希 / 图片由华纳兄弟韩国公司提供

《实习生》于周三上映，这部影片以本土视角重新演绎了好莱坞热门电影，原版电影的全球票房约为其制作成本的五倍。备受瞩目的翻拍作品不可避免地会面临比较和压力，但女演员韩素希欣然接受了挑战，并相信自己与这部电影的直觉联系。

这部电影探讨了职场中的代际冲突，讲述了拥有37年从业经验的资深人士基浩（崔岷植饰）加入由韩饰饰演的善宇领导的时尚创业公司后发生的故事。该片由曾执导过《82年生的金智英》和《我们曾经是》等佳作的金道英执导，翻拍版立刻引起了韩的关注。

“撇开原版电影不谈，我觉得剧本里的善宇这个角色很有吸引力，”韩说。“她感觉很接地气，就像一个真实存在于现实世界中的人，我希望我的诠释能带来一些不同的东西。”

影片中，善宇在短短三年内就将她的时尚公司Woo22的销售额提升至100亿韩元（约合678万美元）。这位工作狂创始人吸引了业界的广泛关注，但与此同时，在聚光灯之外，她却默默承受着职业倦怠的折磨。直到与加入公司担任实习生的年长学生基浩相遇，她才逐渐找回了生活的平衡。

“饰演善宇这个角色时，我想起了自己当年为了追逐梦想而不懈奔跑的时光，她与我产生了强烈的共鸣，”韩说道。“我和善宇一样，都有一种完美主义倾向，但总觉得有所缺失，因为追求完美会限制你的视野。我将这些个人经历​​融入到角色塑造中。”

搭档协同效应，设定领导力

与韩国影坛巨星崔岷植共同担纲主演，韩秀贤面临着现实生活中的领导挑战，她也意识到担任CEO绝非儿戏。在影片后段，善宇向员工讲话时，韩秀贤将台词与对剧组人员的真挚感激之情巧妙融合，令人动容。

“拍摄过程中我突然哭了起来，抬头一看，发现大家都在哭，”她说。“我遇到了很多很棒的人。”

崔女士称赞韩女士敬业，表示她以饱满的热情投入到角色中。

“我自然会在每个项目中都全力以赴，但这部电影的要求更高，”韩说道。“我的首要任务是跟上崔胜弘这样一位行业巨擘的气场，我全身心投入到角色中，以应对他的存在。”

韩素希（左）和崔岷植在电影《实习生》中的剧照。图片由华纳兄弟韩国公司提供。

两位演员在银幕上的化学反应仍然是这部电影的一大亮点。

“他既热情又孩子气，从不主动给人提建议，”韩说道。“他从不把我当成没经验的新人，让我能够自然地融入善宇这个角色。拍摄间隙他会跟我开玩笑，但一旦开拍，他的注意力就会完全集中到工作上。”

转向自然主义表演

拍摄这部电影让韩开始思考，做一个成熟正直的人意味着什么。

“看到崔东熙如何拉近自己与年轻演员之间的距离，我深刻地领悟到了一个优秀成年人的意义，”韩说道。“我决定自己也要成为一个平等对待所有人的人，无论年龄或性别。”

该项目标志着韩的创作转型，他曾凭借《我的名字。》、《京城生物》和《Y计划》等对体能要求极高的类型片而获得国际赞誉。

“在以往的项目中，我主导动作场面，推动剧情发展，但这部电影需要通过微妙的动作和反应来构建场景，”她说。“没有固定的模式可以遵循，自然主义的表演难度极大。”

演员韩素希在电影《实习生》中的剧照。图片由华纳兄弟韩国公司提供。

今年是韩在2017年凭借SBS电视剧《重逢的世界》出道10周年，在从20多岁过渡到30多岁的过程中，她一直保持着忙碌的工作节奏。

“以我的经验来看，情绪压力往往会在你意识到问题之前就已经累积起来了，”她说。“照顾好自己意味着了解自己真实的感受。这些日子，我密切关注自己的感受，追溯根源，并不断地反思自己。”

本文来自《韩国日报》（《韩国时报》的姊妹报），由人工智能生成系统翻译，并由《韩国时报》编辑。