Queen Woo Actress Oh Ha-nee Discusses K-Drama Controversies Regarding Same-Gender Intimate Scenes

The final four episodes of TVING’s latest period K-drama, Queen Woo, premiered on September 12, 2024. This thrilling series featured a talented cast, including Ji Chang-wook as King Go Nam-mu, Jeon Jong-seo as Queen Woo, Lee Soo-hyuk as Prince Bal-ki, Kim Mu-yeol as Prime Minister Eul Pa-so, and Oh Ha-nee as the royal shaman and counselor, Sabee.

This eight-episode K-drama was split into two parts of four episodes each and stirred discussions due to its intimate scenes and other controversial elements. Notably, the show portrayed several intimate moments involving Ji Chang-wook, Jeon Jong-seo, Lee Soo-hyuk, as well as Oh Ha-nee with Jeong Wu-mi.

Actress Oh Ha-nee addressed her same-gender intimate scene with Jeong Wu-mi, who portrayed Woo-sun (Queen Woo’s sister). In an interview with Wikitree News, she mentioned her comfort with the exposure, emphasizing that it was integral to the storyline. She stressed that her character transcended those intimate scenes.

I wasn’t worried about the exposure. Sabee’s role is significant, so I was more focused on playing the character well. The burden of nudity didn’t weigh heavily on me. All I wanted was to do my best.

Oh Ha-nee further shared her satisfaction when receiving direct messages from netizens who appreciated her acting skills “beyond the nudity.”

However, it’s a bit disappointing that people don’t seem to focus on my acting. It comforts me when I hear comments like ‘Beyond the nudity, your acting left an impression.’

Queen Woo Impresses with Cinematography and Intimate Scenes

Queen Woo follows Woo-hee (Jeon Jong-seo), who fights to take the throne after the death of her husband, King Go Nam-mu (Ji Chang-wook), occurring within just 24 hours. The plot presents the contentious practice of “levirate marriage,”wherein a widowed queen marries her late husband’s brother to preserve the family legacy.

Oh Ha-nee’s portrayal of Sabee, a shaman and trusted advisor to King Go Nam-mu, sparked conversations online due to her daring scenes in episode 2. During this episode, Woo-sun (Jeong Wu-mi), influenced by an elixir, mistakenly identifies Sabee as King Go Nam-mu.

The encounter that follows is both passionate and provocative, lasting over a minute, with both actresses depicted in a state of partial undress. Sabee uses Woo-sun’s yearning to marry King Go Nam-mu to instigate this close interaction.

Additionally, Queen Woo faced scrutiny over historical inaccuracies related to the show’s costume designs; netizens noted that some outfits bore similarities to those seen in Chinese historical dramas.

All eight episodes of Queen Woo are available for streaming on TVING’s official website. For international viewers, the series can also be found on Viu Paramount+ in select regions.

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