AWOL Soap Actress Returns

Actress Han Ye-seul, who went absent without leave from the set of the soap opera "Spy Myeongwol" and headed to the U.S. on Monday, arrived in Incheon International Airport on Wednesday afternoon.

Wearing the same dress she had on when she left Korea, Han emerged from the arrivals gate to face a throng of reporters.

Han apologized using the stock phrase, "I am sorry for the concerns I have caused."

"I want to believe that I did the right thing," Han added. "I will start again. I think the public got to know just how tough working conditions are for us. I hope that there will be no more victims." She maintained that her departure was motivated by chaotic working conditions on set and that her demands were legitimate.

"I apologize for the damage I caused to those involved in the filming, but I felt that change would not be possible unless I did what I did," Han said. "I made my decision under a lot of stress. I believe people will understand what I did many years down the road. I expected a lot of criticism, but I hope that those involved will take another look at conditions on soap opera sets."

She then went to broadcaster KBS and apologized for the things she did and promised to return to the set of the flop on Thursday.