Suh Kang-joon captivated viewers with his overwhelming acting transformation in 'Undercover High School.'
In the MBC Friday-Saturday drama 'Undercover High School,' which premiered at 9:50 p.m. on the 21st, Suh Kang-joon portrayed Jung Hae-sung, a National Intelligence Service ace agent who became a high school student in pursuit of the whereabouts of Emperor Gojong's missing gold bullion. He perfectly delivered both intense action and comedic performances that hit the viewers' preferences, capturing the living room audience. Among them, the second episode climbed to the top of the drama ratings for viewers aged 20 to 49 with a 2.8% rating, garnering buzz with the praise that 'Suh Kang-joon was indeed Suh Kang-joon.'
Suh Kang-joon made a strong impression from his first appearance. Hae-sung and four agents chased those trying to illegally export the important cultural asset, the half-joy statue, and engaged in fights during the process. Suh perfectly immersed himself into Hae-sung's situation, having to face multiple opponents, and especially showcased agile movements in the action scenes inside the car, breathing life into the drama. Furthermore, the part where he subdued the delinquent Park Tae-soo (played by Jang Sung-bum) was pure exhilaration. In that scene, Suh's clean movements and appropriate control of intensity robbed viewers' attention, signaling the emergence of a new action king.
Suh Kang-joon's comedic acting was also outstanding. To become a high school student, he was perplexed, looking at new slang and saying, 'Is that Korean?' He also struggled to understand what the classmates were saying after entering school. Additionally, while looking around near the old school, he was caught by Park Tae-soo's group, who were bothering Lee Dong-min (played by Shin Joon-hang). His quick reactions to the words of the bullies to avoid causing any trouble provided a humorous highlight.
The chemistry with Jin Ki-joo became a fun element of the drama. From the beginning, Hae-sung was misinterpreted as a problem student by his homeroom teacher, Oh Soo-ah (played by Jin Ki-joo). While bickering with Soo-ah, he retorted, 'Aren't you also not doing that well?' Moreover, during a moment of escaping Soo-ah's suspicious behavior, he dodged swiftly, making her fall instead, which was a comedic moment. By delivering a stable performance, Suh Kang-joon led to a striking chemistry with his co-actor, maximizing the charm of each character through adjustments in tone, voice, and a variety of expressions.
Through 'Undercover High School,' which is his first project after military service, Suh Kang-joon showcased remarkable acting that makes one inevitably say, 'As expected of Suh Kang-joon.' With solid acting skills, he perfectly depicted the turbulent character's narrative, raising the viewer's engagement to its peak even after just two episodes, increasing anticipation for what lies ahead.
'Undercover High School' airs every Friday and Saturday at 9:50 p.m.
[Photo] Captured from MBC broadcast screen.
[OSEN=Sun Mi-kyung, reporter]