70% of “Lovely Runner” Success is Due to Kim Hye-yoon

With only one episode left until the finale, “Lovely Runner” reached its highest ratings in episode 15, which aired on May 27th. According to Nielsen Korea, it achieved a nationwide household rating of 5.3% and a metropolitan area household rating of 6.2%, finally breaking the “5% wall”. It has also maintained its top spot in popularity for 4 consecutive weeks, cementing its dominance. Moreover, the show has succeeded globally, becoming a representative Hallyu production. All of this was possible because of Kim Hye-yoon.

Kim Hye-yoon meticulously portrayed the story of Im Sol, who travels back to 2008 to save her beloved Ryu Seon-jae (Byeon Woo-seok) from the very first episode. Although the screenplay by writer Lee Shi-eun was excellent, it was written with Kim Hye-yoon in mind, making her a perfect fit for the role. She embodied Im Sol without any sense of awkwardness.

Most notably, she differentiated the emotional arcs of Im Sol in her teens, twenties and thirties. Teenage Im Sol was a cute, energetic “vitamin girl”, while Im Sol in her twenties exuded youthful innocence with a hint of femininity, and Im Sol in her thirties displayed mature beauty. Despite sharing the same goal of saving her beloved, her methods of expression and protection differed, with each episode’s poignant emotions resonating deeply with viewers.

Kim Hye-yoon first gained prominence in JTBC’s drama “SKY Castle” as the character Ye-seo, after 7 years of playing minor roles. This breakthrough led to her winning the Best New Actress award in the TV category at the 55th Baeksang Arts Awards. She then secured her first leading role in MBC’s drama “Extraordinary You”, solidifying her position as a leading actress. Despite “Lovely Runner” also involving a youthful, school-based narrative, it distinguished itself with its time-slip theme, requiring Kim Hye-yoon to portray a character ranging from her teens to her thirties. Kim Hye-yoon successfully portrayed even the character in her thirties, adding depth to her emotional performance, earning her the praise “As expected, Kim Hye-yoon”.

During the “Lovely Runner” press conference, director Yoon Jong-ho stated, “When I asked the writer, they said that the role of Sol, who leads the early part of the series, was so important that it was written with Kim Hye-yoon in mind. Without her, this project wouldn’t have been realized. She’s a wonderful actress, not only in her acting but also in her personality.“

Once again, Kim Hye-yoon has exceeded expectations, firmly establishing herself as a trustworthy actress for future projects.