Kwon Han Sol Is A Romance Novel’s Original Lead Who Gets Sidelined In “The First Night With The Duke”

May 19, 2025

KBS2’s upcoming drama “The First Night With the Duke” has shared the first look at Kwon Han Sol’s character!

“The First Night with the Duke” is a fantasy romance drama about an ordinary college student (Girls’ Generation’s Seohyun) whose soul is transferred into a minor character of a romance novel. After she wakes up inside the world of the novel, she winds up spending the night with the obsessive male lead Yi Beon (2PM’s Taecyeon).

Kwon Han Sol plays Jo Eun Ae, the original female lead of the novel set in the Joseon era. Orphaned at a young age, Jo Eun Ae becomes the adopted daughter of a wealthy merchant by chance. Jo Eun Ae is a classic romantic heroine who eventually becomes entangled with the male lead Yi Beon, placing her at the center of the story’s original narrative.

But when the once-minor character Cha Sun Chaek (Seohyun) unexpectedly takes center stage, Jo Eun Ae is gradually pushed out of the main plot. As the narrative shifts, she gradually breaks free from her stereotypical mold and reveals a new side of herself that will bring an intriguing change to the narrative.

Newly released stills show Kwon Han Sol embodying Jo Eun Ae. From her serene expression beneath falling flower petals to her soft smile under a sky of glowing lanterns, she exudes the delicate emotion of a storybook heroine. In another shot, facing someone across a table with a drink in front of her, her resolute gaze reveals the unshakable strength within.

Reflecting on playing the character, Kwon Han Sol shared, “The original web novel was hugely popular, and there was a lot of attention from its fans, so I did feel some pressure—but I really wanted to do well.”

Speaking about Jo Eun Ae’s character, she added, “In the beginning, she appears composed and graceful as the merchant’s adopted daughter, but as her inner voids come to light, she begins to radiate a powerful presence. She’s a single character, yet at times it feels like I’m playing two different people—that reversal is her greatest charm.”