ARIN: A bold transformation, a true actress emerges

ARIN’s daring transformation hits the mark.

On July 11, the first two episodes of Wavve’s original drama “S-Line” were released, marking ARIN‘s appearance in a role completely at odds with her usual bright and refreshing image. The idol fully shed her familiar persona to reveal a completely new face to viewers.

In the drama, ARIN plays Hyun Heup, a high school student with a special ability: she can see a red line, known as the “S-Line,” connecting people who have had sexual relations. Because of this unusual gift, she lives cut off from the world. ARIN fully transforms into Hyun Heup, delivering a subtle and realistic performance that highlights her growth as an actress and draws significant attention.

A bold physical transformation and nuanced emotional acting… ARIN becomes Hyun Heup completely

What first grabs viewers’ attention is ARIN’s striking physical transformation. She appears with a short haircut, breaking away from her trademark long straight hair. Her barely-there makeup and neutral-toned school uniform enhance the dark aura of her character.

Even more notable is the change in her voice and tone. Gone are the cheerful, high-pitched tones, ARIN adopts a deeper, slower, and more detached way of speaking, convincingly portraying Hyun Heup’s emotional disconnection. Her clear, restrained gaze and composed expressions delicately convey the character’s complex inner world, demonstrating a full immersion in the role.

Hyun Heup at the heart of the story… ARIN leads a haunting thriller

“S-Line” is a unique fantasy thriller that unravels forbidden desires and hidden truths through a mysterious and symbolic setup. At its center is Hyun Heup, the pivotal protagonist driving the entire plot.

ARIN carries the emotional weight of this central character with confidence, portraying a wide range of emotions, from internal turmoil and loneliness to wariness of others. Her performance heightens anticipation around how the story will unfold from her perspective.

A praised performance… ARIN emerges as a true actress

ARIN’s complete transformation has been met with praise from viewers, who have recognized her acting potential and genuine growth. After the release of the first two episodes, reactions included:

“She’s completely changed, from her tone of voice to her gaze.”
“I’ve never seen ARIN like this before.”
“The immersion is insane.”

The development of Hyun Heup’s character and her journey are already shaping up to be major focal points for the audience going forward.

ARIN, a true actress in the making, and there’s more to come

With this project, ARIN moves beyond the typical “idol-actress” label and firmly establishes herself as a serious actress. Despite the challenges of the role, she has fully committed to it, heightening expectations for what’s to come in Hyun Heup’s story arc.

For context, “S-Line” is a fantasy thriller where a mysterious red line begins to appear between people who have had sexual relationships, revealing forbidden desires and buried truths. The series, which won an award at the 8th Cannes International Series Festival in 2025, premiered its first two episodes on July 11 at 11 a.m. Episodes 3 and 4 will be released on July 18, followed by episodes 5 and 6 on July 25. The series consists of a total of six episodes.