Veterans is a film centered around the theme of "Good triumphing over evil."
The story follows the "righteous detectives" who struggle to arrest the villain Lee Ye-seo.
Most of the lead actors in Veterans played roles that were directly opposed to Ha-eun's character, Lee Ye-seo.
Ha-eun, playing Lee Ye-seo, had to face these actors, who were established names in the industry, in their first script reading.
Maybe that's why...
"I'm Seo Jin-tae, playing the role of Jeon Jae-han."
"I'm Yoo Sung-jae, playing the role of Kang Chan-seong~."
The actors who were playing the main roles of Jeon Jae-han and Kang Chan-seong stood up to introduce themselves, making Ha-eun feel a bit nervous.
Yoo Sung-jae, who had worked with her in The Moonlight That Parts the Clouds, and Seo Jin-tae, a highly respected actor, were both formidable talents.
It wouldn't be easy for Ha-eun to face off against such excellent performances by herself.
‘...Eventually, I'll have to engage in physical fights with them.’
Especially since Jeon Jae-han and Kang Chan-seong were the ones who would directly clash with Lee Ye-seo in the story.
Both of them were key characters in the Veterans drama, working as detectives in the "Gwangsu District" police unit.
‘Their action styles will definitely be different... This will be tough.’
Jeon Jae-han, who would eventually have a physical confrontation with Lee Ye-seo, was a seasoned detective with around 20 years of experience.
He had been arresting criminals on the front lines with his exceptional instincts and skilled fighting abilities.
Though he had grown accustomed to dealing with many crimes over the years, he had a firm belief that all criminals must be punished, no matter what.
Actor Seo Jin-tae, who played Jeon Jae-han, also had a solemn presence.
With an image of a middle-aged man who could be mistaken for someone you’d find in a neighborhood, he still didn’t look weak.
"A few years ago, I played a Yakuza, and now I’m playing a detective. Please take care of me," he said.
He had an atmosphere that demanded respect, not to mention his actual age and experience that surpassed Ha-eun's.
On the other hand, Yoo Sung-jae, who would play Kang Chan-seong, was a so-called "enthusiastic detective."
A younger, fresher police officer compared to Jeon Jae-han, with a shorter career.
"I’m glad I get to work with a respected senior. Please take care of me," he said.
An eager, passionate detective, full of zeal and ready to charge into any situation to uphold justice.
This setting for Kang Chan-seong mirrored Yoo Sung-jae’s real-life personality in some ways, especially his proactive nature.
‘He’s still inexperienced, so he’ll probably struggle a bit.’
Compared to the seasoned Jeon Jae-han, Kang Chan-seong was a rookie.
Still, he perfectly embodied the idea of a righteous detective.
Once the introductions were over, all eyes shifted toward Ha-eun.
‘Hmm, she had a kind image in The Sunshine.’
‘Maybe it’s because she’s been so quiet and neutral. She gives off a different vibe now.’
To be honest, Ha-eun’s casting was a bit questionable.
After all, the roles she had taken on until now were all positive, righteous characters.
Many people still remembered her as the young Han Yoo-hwa from The Star Came From You.
Her portrayal of a young girl dying in solitude had deeply etched itself into people's memories.
Her appearances on variety shows like 2 Days & 1 Night or Infinite Challenge also didn’t align with a villainous image.
Even her overwhelming aura during the Gocheok Sky Dome event was a different kind of aura from a villain.
‘Yoo Sung-jae recommended her, right?’
‘Is there something different when actors work together?’
In truth, Ha-eun’s sharp eyes and serious atmosphere fit the image of a villain perfectly.
However, since her acting style had often emphasized extreme emotions, it was uncertain if she could portray Lee Ye-seo, a character whose emotions rarely changed.
‘The director wouldn't cast her without reason though.’
‘Maybe because she’s the youngest among the actors, there’s a bit of doubt.’
Various discussions and speculations about Ha-eun circulated among the staff and actors of Veterans.
Even after Ha-eun finished her greeting, curiosity and doubt about her performance lingered.
Among those who sensed this the most were three people.
Ha-eun herself, of course, Yoo Sung-jae, who recommended her for the role of Lee Ye-seo, and the director of Veterans, Kim Hong-seong.
After a brief discussion between Yoo Sung-jae and Kim Hong-seong,
they finally decided to move forward.
"How about continuing from S#17 to S#18?"
"Hmm, up to S#18...?"
Ultimately, Yoo Sung-jae's suggestion was not rejected.
Kim Hong-seong believed that S#17 and S#18 were the scenes that would most clearly show Lee Ye-seo's character.
In other words, it was the perfect opportunity to assess whether Ha-eun could portray Lee Ye-seo well.
So, at the director's request, Ha-eun and a few supporting actors stood up and made their way to a space slightly separated from the main table.
As the actors began to position themselves, Ha-eun’s atmosphere started to shift.
Smirk.
"Ah, Director Park. Long time no see."
Ha-eun’s acting began.
The mask-like smile that had been in place for some time appeared on her face.
"This construction order, the chairman is interested. It’s a project that could determine the future of the company."
Her emotions were faintly felt, as if she were forcing the conversation forward.
However, from the perspective of Director Park, who had no idea about Lee Ye-seo’s true identity, this wasn’t strange.
It was completely normal for a wealthy heir to be interested in the company’s matters.
"Then, I’ll see you at the executive meeting."
Her tone was both friendly and businesslike.
Neither too familiar nor too distant, but in an ambiguous space.
It wasn’t suspicious, though.
The atmosphere was calm, with no sense of discomfort.
For Director Park, Lee Ye-seo was simply a young person who had inherited her position through family power, nothing more, nothing less.
So there was no reason to probe deeper into Lee Ye-seo’s character.
In other words, Lee Ye-seo’s true identity was still unknown,
and anyone watching Ha-eun’s performance could clearly feel how well she was managing Lee Ye-seo's image.
‘She’s not giving off any awkward vibes.’
‘Seems like she’s doing fine.’
Ha-eun’s performance in this ordinary, uneventful scene continued until the end of S#17.
To everyone else, Lee Ye-seo was just another young company executive, and this was reflected in her acting.
The change came at the beginning of S#18.
"Secretary."
"Yes?"
"I need to step outside for a moment."
For the first time, there was a sense of discomfort in the whispered words.
It felt like her emotions had suddenly become subdued.
Her still, faint smile remained,
but as soon as the supporting actor playing the secretary disappeared from Ha-eun’s view...
Swish.
The slight upward curve of her lips shifted into a perfectly straight line.
Almost simultaneously, her hand slowly swept through her hair.
‘Huh?’
‘The atmosphere...’
Ha-eun’s gaze.
Her expression.
Everything about her suddenly turned cold.
Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that it completely disappeared.
...
In the brief silence that followed, even the slightest sense of familiarity that had been there vanished in an instant.
It felt like she was facing a mannequin, not a person.
The emotions, atmosphere, or feelings that should have been present seemed to vanish like a dimming light.
Nothing felt clear.
A hollow gaze.
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An expression closer to a doll than a person.
Step.
At last, the sound of footsteps softly echoed, pressing down on the surrounding atmosphere.
It was only then that I realized that everything about S#17 had been an act.
In other words, a twist.
The expressions and voices from just moments ago were all revealed to have been artificial, and naturally, an eerie feeling began to creep in.
‘This isn’t just a little bit unsettling.’
‘This is... acting, right?’
The completely empty face.
The blank gaze, devoid of any emotion, remained unchanged.
After walking for a while, I finally came face to face with the supporting actor, who was crouched in the corner, playing the victim.
The supporting actor, whose character was supposedly locked up by Lee Ye-seo, followed Ha-eun's hand with his gaze.
Not even a few seconds passed before Ha-eun’s hand seemed to clutch something.
Immediately, her opposite hand gently swept over what Ha-eun had grasped.
The sensation of touching something sharp, like a kitchen knife, quickly came to mind.
An invisible weapon took shape in Ha-eun’s hand, emerging in the form of imagination.
Then, step by step.
Once again, another step.
When Ha-eun reached the supporting actor’s face, she slowly bent forward.
Finally, their eye level completely matched.
“...You know, mister.”
With that hollow gaze, Ha-eun stared directly into the supporting actor’s eyes and spoke, extending her hand forward.
Almost simultaneously, a dull sensation was felt beneath her chest.
‘She’s stabbed him with a knife.’
The supporting actor, who had already familiarized himself with the S#18 script, immediately realized what Ha-eun had done.
The expression on Ha-eun’s hand, slowly rotating in a clockwise motion, twisted for that reason.
"Don’t make it so hard for me."
Thud. The sound of something like blood splattering seemed to fill the air.
It was the sound of Ha-eun stabbing the supporting actor in the chest with an invisible knife, pulling it out, then stabbing once again and twisting it in the process of committing murder.
Ha-eun flicked her blouse, as if blood had splattered on it, while casting a contemptuous glance at the victim, who was now in a sorry state.
“Still being all clingy and annoying until the end. Damn bastard...”
After turning away from the victim, Ha-eun began undoing the top button of her blouse.
However, just as she was about to undo the second button, a cautious voice interrupted.
“Ye-seo, didn’t you go out for a breath of fresh air? Don’t tell me you—”
“Oh, oppa. Let’s just clean up one more piece of trash.”
She acted as if she were talking to another supporting actor while keeping her disheveled clothes in place.
There was no noticeable shift in her emotions.
As Ha-eun finished the call with a slight sigh, the S#18 scene wrapped up.
However, no one around her, not even Director Kim Hong-seon, was brave enough to speak up.
Not even Yoo Sung-jae, the one who had brought Ha-eun here in the first place.
‘I thought she’d do well, but...’
I didn’t expect it to be like this.
Ha-eun’s ability to naturally perform such a brutal scene, where human life seemed less significant than her own clothes, left everyone speechless.
What was even more surprising was the lack of any joy or guilt over taking a life.
Above all, the meticulous detail of that cruel stabbing.
‘Could she have really... killed someone?’
It wasn’t just stabbing a person.
What stood out was how the knife was twisted inside, disturbing the victim’s organs, a detail that kept gnawing at me.
However, Ha-eun herself couldn’t understand why everyone was looking at her with such trembling gazes.
Then again, the Ha-eun just a moment ago was only mimicking a scene from a famous VR horror game.
‘I tried to imitate it as best I could... was it awkward?’
As the people around Ha-eun looked at her with tense expressions, she couldn’t help but glance at them, her own unease starting to show as well.