On the 18th, the Netflix original series Mask Girl was released. Mask Girl depicts the story of Kim Mo Mi, an ordinary office worker with insecurities about her appearance, who engages in internet broadcasting as Mask Girl, getting entangled in unintended events, portraying her eventful life.
While renowned actors like Go Hyun Jung, Nana, Lee Han Byeol, and Yeom Hye Ran have showcased surprising character plays, including portraying eccentric characters, Ahn Jae Hong stands out.
Ahn Jae Hong portrays Joo Oh Nam, a co-worker who secretly loves Kim Mo Mi. He makes no moves due to his appearance insecurities. His sole comfort is watching internet broadcasts, but he unexpectedly becomes involved in events with Broadcast Jockey Mo Mi.
Ahn Jae Hong’s appearance in the teaser trailer, even for just one second, with his thinning hair, thick glasses, and blue shirt, exudes an inseparable connection with the character and garnered significant attention.
Ahn Jae Hong underwent two hours of special makeup for each shoot to embody the character entirely. He said,
“People couldn’t recognize me at the filming site, and security stopped me.”
Ahn Jae Hong’s unique styling for Mask Girl is the work of Song Jong Hee, the makeup director who flawlessly transformed Park Hae Il into an elderly man named Lee Juk Yo in the film A Muse. Ahn Jae Hong expressed deep gratitude, saying,
“He’s the director who created legendary characters in Korean cinema. It was an honor to receive such treatment from him.”
Previously, Ahn Jae Hong received praise for his role as Son Beom Soo in the JTBC drama Be Melodramatic, where he formed a sweet romance with Chun Woo Hee’s character. He also demonstrated a high degree of synchronization with the actual coach, Kang Yang Hyun, in the movie Rebound, based on a true story, showcasing both acting and appearance that matched with his character.
In Mask Girl, Ahn Jae Hong not only embodied the appearance but also immersed himself in the character of a Japanese culture-obsessed man in his thirties. In particular, the scene where he confesses to Kim Mo Mi (played by Lee Han Byeol) was considered a highlight of Mask Girl, and his ad-lib where he said “Aishiteru” (Japanese for “I love you”) instead of “Saranghaeyo” (Korean for “I love you”) in that scene surprised many.
Viewers of the drama praised Ahn Jae Hong’s acting, saying, “Is this Ahn Jae Hong’s retirement project?” and “Is he an otaku?” They commended his acting synchronization regarding dialogue, chemistry, and gaze with Joo Oh Nam.
Director Kim Yong Hoon spoke about the character Joo Oh Nam during the Mask Girl press conference, saying,
“In the original work, Joo Oh Nam is a character who embodies all the uncomfortable elements, and I thought the actors should counteract that. Only one person came to mind when considering who could do it.”
He explained, “After casting, the concern was that he’s too likable. As Joo Oh Nam’s interaction with Kim Mo Mi became more significant, the makeup director provided many ideas, and we were able to create a compelling character through the power of special makeup.”
Ahn Jae Hong’s performance in Mask Girl is streaming on Netflix.
