Han Ye-seul [10Asia]

Actress Han Ye-seul, who stirred confusion and controversy with her abrupt departure from KBS TV series "Spy Myung-Wol," will resume filming of the show starting tomorrow.

The actress had left the country as well two days ago but upon her return to Korea today afternoon, she apologized to reporters gathered at the airport and then headed straight to KBS's headquarters where she apologized to officials related to the show.

"Our talks went well. Han apologized sincerely to everyone and in particular, resolved the ill feelings she had toward producer Hwang In-hyuk," KBS's director of the drama department Ko Young-tak told 10Asia over the phone.

Ko also said Han will apologize to the crew of "Spy Myung-Wol" as well tomorrow and resume filming of the show immediately after.

An official statement by KBS released later in the day quoted Han as saying, "I wasn't able to give enough of an apology at the airport because I was in a fluster over how many reporters had turned up but I acknowledge the fact that I neglected my responsibilities as the star of the drama and acted too arrogantly."

She also said, "I will gather myself and with the determination of a new actor, will do my best till the show's end so that I may become a loved actress on set."

An official at Han's agency sidusHQ delivered the same news while adding, "I don't think we're in the position to use the term 'reconciled.' Han met with the show's producers and officials at KBS, apologizing to them and asking for their forgiveness."

Accordingly, it is now most likely that the Monday and Tuesday primetime series will go on air regularly starting next week.

This week, Monday's episode of the show got replaced with a special featuring highlights from episodes 1 to 10 while airing a regular episode on Tuesday but with no scenes of Han in the last 15 minutes.

Han, 29, had apparently been in conflict with Hwang over her working conditions and refused to show up on set starting Sunday but her mother and agency sidusHQ managed to convince the actress of returning to both the drama and Korea.

Her failing to change her mind would have jeopardized her full-fledged career in the country -- KBS said they would consider replacing the female lead for "Spy Myung-Wol," the show's production company Lee Kim Productions said they would sue the actress, she is on contract to endorse several products, has a movie set for release in the latter half of this year and is on contract with sidusHQ till January of next year.

However, questions remain as to how the public will respond to Han's actions -- she had been one of Korea's most sought out and loved actresses after starring in MBC's popular sitcom "Nonstop 4” in 2003 but now has left some fans disappointed while others have sympathized with her.

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10 아시아 Reporter : Kim Myung-Hyun eighteen@
10 아시아 Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@
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