MBC producer Han Seung Hoon, who currently directs Show! Music Core, shared the behind-the-scenes story behind actress Ha Ji Won’s special appearance, which has become one of the most talked-about moments in Korean entertainment this week.
Speaking with OSEN on May 31, Han revealed that the request actually came from Ha Ji Won’s side first. “When we were contacted by Ha Ji Won’s team about appearing on Music Core, our staff members were genuinely shocked. At first, we couldn’t believe it. We were like, ‘What? Who did you say? Ha Ji Won? Are you serious?’ That was honestly our reaction,” he recalled.
On the May 30 broadcast of Show! Music Core, Ha Ji Won performed “Home Run,” the song she originally released in 2003. The performance was part of a promise she made on the web variety show Class of ’26 Ji Won, where she vowed to recreate the stage if the content surpassed 1.2 million views. Thanks to overwhelming fan support, she ultimately fulfilled that promise.
However, the performance became much more than a simple pledge fulfillment. It marked Ha Ji Won’s return to a music show stage after 23 years and drew widespread attention for her seemingly ageless visuals and commanding stage presence.
Han Seung Hoon explained that the production team first learned about the opportunity during one of their regular lineup meetings. “We received the call during our weekly artist lineup discussion. At that point, we didn’t know much about the promise she had made. Everyone was looking at each other wondering what was happening. Then we asked which song she planned to perform, and when we heard it would be ‘Home Run,’ we were even more surprised.”
The producer admitted he immediately sensed that the stage would become something special. “As soon as I heard about it, I thought it would be an incredibly sensational performance. I felt happy, excited, and honestly amazed. May is always packed with comeback promotions, but Ha Ji Won recreating ‘Home Run’ after more than 20 years felt like a legendary stage that could become part of television history. Our entire staff was thrilled to prepare for it.”
Han also highlighted the emotional atmosphere created by Ha Ji Won’s longtime fans during the recording. “Because she isn’t primarily a singer, we prepared the stage as a pre-recorded performance rather than a live broadcast appearance. During Music Core recordings, fans usually fill the audience seats for rehearsals and the actual recording. Ha Ji Won’s fans were there as well, but their energy felt different from a typical idol fandom.”
He continued, “It felt like they had been transported back in time. Since opportunities like this are so rare, they weren’t simply cheering. It felt like they were pouring decades of memories into every shout and every chant.”
Another moment that stood out to the producer was the way fans supported the actress. “As shown during the broadcast, most audiences today enjoy performances while holding official light sticks. But Ha Ji Won’s fans came with handmade banners, just like they did 20 years ago. They carefully wrote messages by hand and held them up for her. That was incredibly memorable.”
Above all, Han could not hide his admiration for Ha Ji Won herself. “Honestly, it felt like time had completely passed her by. You simply couldn’t believe that more than two decades had gone by. She was still Gil Ra Im from Secret Garden, still actress Ha Ji Won. In fact, I even felt that her stage performance was better than it was 20 years ago.”
He added that she grew more relaxed throughout rehearsals and eventually looked completely at home on stage. “During rehearsal, you could see her gradually becoming more comfortable. By the final recording, she was genuinely enjoying herself. There wasn’t a hint of fatigue. She stepped onto that stage and hit a grand slam. She literally owned the performance.”
The producer concluded by expressing gratitude to both Ha Ji Won and her fans for creating such a memorable moment. “Ha Ji Won looked exactly the same as people remember her. Everyone in the control room, including the camera directors, felt excited while filming. Both Ha Ji Won and the fans who attended truly enjoyed the experience, which made our staff feel proud and happy as well.”
Han also took the opportunity to tease Music Core’s upcoming special event. “We’re currently preparing our first-half-of-the-year special in Ulsan this June. We’re working hard on it, so please continue to show us lots of support and interest.”
