Yum Hye-ran Takes Her First Leading Role in Mad Dance Office After Venice and Berlin Festival Triumphs

Veteran character actress Yum Hye-ran is stepping into uncharted territory with her first-ever leading role in the upcoming film Mad Dance Office, set to hit theaters on March 4. The movie follows Guk-hee, a perfectionist public servant whose carefully ordered life unravels, leading her to an unexpected encounter with flamenco dancing that sparks a journey of self-discovery and healing.

From Scene-Stealer to Leading Lady

Known for her unforgettable supporting turns in hit series like The Glory, Mask Girl, and Lovely Runner, Yum admitted that carrying an entire film on her shoulders was a daunting experience. In a recent interview, she reflected on the weight of the lead role, saying she had to actively fight against being consumed by the pressure throughout all 27 shooting days.

She credited her longtime colleagues, including actors Park Ho-san and Baek Hyun-jin, with helping her find her footing. The actress also recalled how La Mi-ran, her co-star in Citizen of a Kind, inspired her with her command of the screen as a leading lady.

Dancing Through Liberation

The film draws clear parallels with beloved dance-as-liberation narratives like Shall We Dance and Billy Elliot, which Yum cited as personal favorites. Learning flamenco for the role proved physically demanding, with the actress joking that she nearly lost her ankle during practice. Yet she embraced the challenge, drawn to the story of an ordinary working mother finding empowerment through movement rather than violence.

Director Cho Hyun-jin, making her feature debut after winning the Grand Prize at the Jeonju Short Film Festival, crafted a narrative specifically centered on an everyday woman rather than the fierce characters that have become Yum's trademark. The actress expressed deep enthusiasm for this direction, noting that not every female character needs to be a killer.

A Mother-Daughter Connection on Screen

The film also features former Oh My Girl member Arin in a supporting role, playing Guk-hee's daughter. Yum praised the young actress's composure on set, revealing that Arin impressed everyone from the very first day of shooting. She handled a difficult opening scene with remarkable calm, giving the veteran actress confidence that their on-screen mother-daughter dynamic would work seamlessly. Also joining the cast is Choi Sung-eun, who plays a timid civil servant alongside Yum's exacting department head.

From Venice to Berlin

The timing of Mad Dance Office coincides with another milestone in Yum's rapidly ascending career. Her other leading role, in My Name Is, a film addressing the Jeju April 3 Incident, recently premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival to critical acclaim. This follows her appearance at the Venice Film Festival last year with the film I Can't Help It.

Reflecting on the back-to-back international festival appearances, Yum beamed that she had been thoroughly bitten by the film festival bug. She recalled a memorable moment in Berlin when a foreign actor approached her for a photo, having recognized her from The Glory. As the actress who has turned every recent role into a career-defining performance, Yum Hye-ran described the rising expectations as a crown she must bear, pledging simply to give her best with every new project.