After 14 Years Since Debut, EXID's Hani Finds a New Agency Built for Actors

Ahn Hee-yeon, the actor known to K-pop fans as EXID's Hani, has signed an exclusive contract with Nexus E&M, the agency announced this week. The move lands while she is still on air as the lead of the KBS 2TV weekend drama Love Is Coming, where she plays Han Gyu-rim.

The timing fits a pattern that has repeated for years among idol-born actors: once acting becomes the main line of work, they tend to leave idol-oriented structures for agencies built around actors. Nexus E&M's roster reads that way. It includes Song Ji-hyo, Soo Ae, Lee Sun-bin, Jung Yu-jin, Lee Ho-won, Oh Kyung-hwa, Park Jung-hwa and Hwang In-sik.

In its statement, the agency said it was pleased to work with Ahn, citing her "diverse charms." It pledged active support so she can "fully showcase her capabilities" as an actor.

Nexus E&M also released new profile photos alongside the announcement. In them Ahn wears a dark jacket and matching set, projecting a calm, composed mood.

From EXID to the screen

Ahn debuted in 2012 as Hani of the girl group EXID, then gradually widened her work into acting. Her television credits include XX, You Raise Me Up, Fantasy G-Spot and Say It's Love. On film she has appeared in Take Off 2 and Adults Don't Know.

Her current role is her most prominent in some time. As the title character's anchor in Love Is Coming, she carries a weekend slot that is traditionally aimed at a broad family audience, and coverage of the series has described her performance favorably.

For an actor, signing mid-broadcast also has a practical logic: attention on a current lead role gives a new agency its strongest opening to line up the next project.