"I had to look twice — it really is Ha Ji-won." (Comment on the MBC Kpop YouTube channel)
Interest in actor Ha Ji-won's "Home Run" stage performance shows no sign of cooling.
The video of Ha's performance on MBC's "Show! Music Core," which aired May 30, surpassed 3 million views within 10 days of its release, according to industry sources Wednesday. The clip has spread well beyond the original broadcast, circulating across short-form platforms including YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels, and generating buzz across online communities and social media.
Viewers have praised Ha's looks and stage presence as rivaling those of active idol performers. Comments on the video include "It's different when an actor takes the idol stage" and "This isn't even her main job, but she absolutely owns it."
The performance grew out of a campaign pledge Ha made on the web variety show "26th Entering Class, Ji-won." Appearing alongside Gi An84 and Gangnam on a visit to Kyung Hee University, Ha promised to perform "Home Run" on stage if her video reached 1.2 million views. She set the pledge herself, saying, "If I'm going to do it, I'm going to do it right. I have my pride — I can't show the cheerleading sunbae a sloppy performance."
As the enthusiastic response continued to build, Ha issued a statement through her agency, Hae wa Dal Entertainment, saying she was "truly and deeply grateful for the overwhelming attention and love" she had received.
"It was a one-time event stage I prepared to fulfill my views pledge — I never imagined the public would embrace it this warmly," she said, adding that she would "strive to give my best across a wide range of activities, including my main work in acting as well as variety shows."
balme@heraldcorp.com
