Park Sin-hye's 'girl-crush' character a big drawcard

Audiences are in a frenzy over Park Shin-hye’s action scenes and straightforward lines. / Courtesy of SBS

By Choi Ha-young

Actress Park Shin-hye from SBS TV drama “Doctors” has gained popularity for a role that particularly attracts women with its portrayal of a trendy “girl-crush” character.

Park plays charismatic doctor Yoo Hye-jeong, who has overcome being abandoned by her father, and her grandmother’s unexpected death. Yoo became a doctor with the help of her teacher Hong Ji-hong (Kim Rae-won).

Audiences are in a frenzy over Park’s action scenes and straightforward lines. A scene where she fights off five gangsters in a hospital has gone viral on the Internet. “She practiced martial arts at an academy from basic to high-level skills,” her agency said. And she performed the scenes without stand-ins.

“Girl crush,” one of the latest cultural trends, was first sparked by female comedian Kim Sook on a reality show.

It continued with Kim Hye-soo, a veteran actress in her 40s, who played a down-to-earth detective on tvN drama “Signal” that ended in March.

Kim Ji-won also attracted female audiences playing a brave soldier. /Courtesy of KBS

Actress Kim Ji-won from KBS blockbuster mega-hit drama “Descendants of the Sun” also attracted female audiences playing a soldier who did not hide her bravery and honesty in her romance with Sergeant Seo (Jin Goo).

Critics say the trend reflects the desire of women to be independent and active to protect themselves from misogynic crimes.