Lee Honey: "'X-nyeon' Is Not an Insult, but a Symbol of Struggle" [Limelight]

Capturing the Hardships of Actresses in the 1970s and 1980s in "Aema"
Recreating the Voice of Ko Eunjeong, the Era's Iconic Voice Actor
"If You Hold Your Ground and Speak Up, Change Is Possible"

In the Netflix series "Aema," Jeong Heeran (played by Lee Honey) is the top star of the 1970s. She captivated men’s attention on screen with her provocative performances. By 1980, she tries to distance herself from such roles. However, bound by a contract with the production company, she is once again forced to take on a revealing role. She must appear, even in a supporting role, in the erotic film "Madame Aema," which she had previously declined.

Netflix 'Aema' Still Cut

In a recent interview with Asia Economy, actress Lee Honey described Jeong Heeran as "a person who has experienced every possible hardship and battle." She said, "When I debuted, I heard many stories from senior actresses about the difficulties they faced on set. There were many stories I could infer while imagining the character’s backstory."

Jeong Heeran, who dominated the 1970s, can be described as an actress who went through hostess films, which were the flagship genre of Korean cinema at the time. Hostess films were Korea’s first full-fledged adult genre and later became the origin of erotic films. Notable examples include "Heavenly Homecoming to Stars" (1974), "Yeongja’s Heyday" (1975), "A Street Where Only Women Live" (1976), and "The Woman I Abandoned" (1977).

These films mainly portrayed tragic female protagonists who, after drifting through the lowest rungs of society, inevitably became prostitutes due to their circumstances. Although the characters were depicted as sex workers, the films did not primarily focus on sexual content. Due to the strict censorship of the time, nudity and sexual depictions were extremely limited.

Netflix 'Aema' Still Cut

In contrast, erotic films of the 1980s were, in terms of their acceptance, function, and essence, not much different from pornography. Aligned with the Chun Doo-hwan regime’s 3S policy, they served to divert public attention away from political realities. The female leads also shifted from women of humble origins, who reflected the dark side of rapid industrialization, to middle-class married women consumed by desire. In this context, the scene where Jeong Heeran laments, "I just want to stop taking off my clothes," takes on even greater significance.

Lee Honey expressed regret over the reality that actresses in the past were treated as disposable. She said, "I acted with the thought that there must have been so many things they couldn’t even say." She gave special meaning to the curse word "X-nyeon," which appears most frequently in Jeong Heeran’s lines, using it to express the despair and anger of actresses at the time.

This intention is clearly revealed in the scene where Jeong Heeran advises rookie actress Shin Juae (played by Bang Hyorin), who is cast as the lead in "Madame Aema." "This film will inevitably be a hit. There will be many things you’ll have to endure. Grit your teeth and just be an X-nyeon. That’s the only way you’ll survive."

Netflix 'Aema' Still Cut

Lee Honey explained, "When I say 'X-nyeon,' I mean that I want her to become a fighter," adding, "I wanted to condense the voice of women resisting the violent reality of the 1980s into this one word."

This intention is effectively realized by recreating the voices of actresses from the 1970s and 1980s. At the time, the voices of major actresses such as Kim Ji-mi, Yoon Jeonghee, Um Aengran, Moon Hee, and Nam Jeongim were all dubbed by voice actress Ko Eunjeong. Lee Honey carefully imitated Ko Eunjeong’s unique vocalization and intonation to symbolically embody the archetype of the era’s leading actresses.

In fact, this acting approach is a double-edged sword. While it achieves a sense of universality for the era, it can somewhat dilute the unique individuality of each character. As a result, the collective identity of "an actress of the 1980s" may stand out more strongly than Jeong Heeran’s specific inner world.

Netflix 'Aema' Still Cut

However, there is much to be gained from this. Above all, a symbolic approach can broaden the scope of empathy with viewers. Lee Honey said, "Whether the struggle is big or small, I wanted it to be delivered as a firm resolve to hold one’s own ground," adding, "There are still many battles we have to fight around us." She continued, "I wanted to show that if you can hold your ground and raise your voice, you can bring about change. Isn’t that the kind of hope everyone needs, not just actresses, but anyone living in this world?"