Korean actor Kim Ji-hoon showcased breathtaking acting skills that kept viewers glued to the screen.
On 31st last month (Saturday), Kim Ji-hoon stirred the home theater with an unprecedented cliffhanger ending in the SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'The Haunted Palace' (written by Yoon Soo-jung and directed by Yoon Seong-sik).
Lee Jeong-eun was shocked to learn that the grudge of Palcheogwi stemmed from her ancestor, Yeon Jong. Additionally, she felt devastated to discover that her exiled maternal grandfather, Kim Bong-in (played by Son Byeong-ho), had lost his life. However, even in a situation that could easily collapse, Lee Jeong-eun maintained her composure, dryly punishing Choi Won-woo (played by Ahn Nae-sang) involved in all these secrets. A scene where she decided to perform a Cheondo ritual and apologize for the sins of her ancestors highlighted Lee Jeong-eun's strong will to keep moving forward. Kim Ji-hoon's delicate expression captured the character's solidity, drawing admiration from the home theater audience.
While constantly searching for new solutions to defeat Palcheogwi, Kim Ji-hoon skillfully depicted the emotional changes of Lee Jeong-eun, who was tormented by the struggles of being a ruler. He lamented, "I have been proud of my roots and bloodline my whole life. Yet, it was like building a tower on sand," feeling guilt for the mistakes made by his ancestors. However, he was soon moved by the sincere consolation of Gang Cheol (played by Kim Sung-jae). Right before falling into the abyss of despair, Lee Jeong-eun appeared to gain strength as he smiled gently, instantly shifting the atmosphere of the scene and shining a light on the deep "bromance" between the two characters.
Kim Ji-hoon's emotional performance, which showcased intense waves of feeling, was undoubtedly the highlight of episodes 13 and 14. When Lee Jeong-eun's cherished subject, Yoon Gap (played by Yoo Seung-jae), returned to life, he was overjoyed but could not hide his disappointment at the disappearance of his long-time companion, Gang Cheol. Ultimately, when Yoon Gap passed away, Lee Jeong-eun shed hot tears, and Kim Ji-hoon's remarkable acting, conveying his sense of loss with expressions and gestures rather than words, moved the viewers to tears.
A scene where Lee Jeong-eun, a king who cherishes his family more than anyone else, faces a tragedy in an instant delivered a significant shock. Lee Jeong-eun expressed remorse for not being able to play with his son, due to being busy with state affairs, and promised the queen (played by Han So-eun), who is about to give birth, that they would soon spend happy times together. However, during the Cheondo ritual, a horrific incident occurred as Palcheogwi aimed for the queen's life, inflicting fatal injuries, and Lee Jeong-eun's desperate scream while witnessing this turned the ending of episode 14 into horror.
In this way, Kim Ji-hoon is breaking new ground with overwhelming presence and a seamless integration into his character, redefining what it means to give a "legendary" performance. The shocking ending of episode 14 heightened curiosity about the final episode; immediately after the broadcast, viewers reacted enthusiastically, saying, "Kim Ji-hoon is serious, charismatic, and does comedic acting well. I am so looking forward to the last episode," "It's already sad to see Wang Ji-hoon in his final episode next week," "'The Haunted Palace' is a work that has rediscovered the actor Kim Ji-hoon," "Ah, the lasting impression of the ending of episode 14 is profound," and "The tearful acting at the ending was so sad."
[Photo] Captured from the broadcast of 'The Haunted Palace'
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