Actor Jung Il-woo announced his splendid return through "Our Golden Days."
KBS 2TV's weekend drama "Our Golden Days" (directed by Kim Hyung-seok, written by So Hyun-kyung, produced by Studio Coming Soon, Studio Bom, Monster Union) tells that everyone has splendid days. Whether now, in the past, or in the future, it is a family melodrama about generational empathy regarding splendid days met with different meanings. Among a lot of buzz regarding Jung Il-woo's domestic comeback work, he plays the role of Lee Ji-hyuk, a free-spirited yet rational character, showcasing a new face.
In the drama, Lee Ji-hyuk receives a call about a crisis caused by a mistake from a new employee while enjoying his holiday working out, and he moves to resolve it. Without panicking, Lee Ji-hyuk skillfully handles the tasks, showing a firm attitude heading to the company despite his girlfriend's remark, "If you leave now, it's over between us." Lee Ji-hyuk displays a rational and calm demeanor in every situation, garnering the envy of others.
However, Lee Ji-hyuk's inner self was the opposite. Looking at his father who is facing retirement and his family, he couldn't hide his worries as the eldest son. He also couldn't conceal his complicated feelings before informing his parents about his preparation for independence and his status as a single-hood advocate. Moreover, when his father's re-employment unexpectedly falls through, he even shows signs of giving up on independence after a realistic struggle.
In particular, last week's broadcast revealed that the seemingly naive junior is actually the son of the deputy minister and the parachute department head, depicting Ji-hyuk's shock and humiliation. After continuing provocations from the junior, Ji-hyuk submitted his resignation and later faced frustration while preparing for re-employment, hitting the wall of reality. Though he coldly turned away from the genuine feelings of Eun-oh (played by Jung In-sun), he displayed contradictory emotions after receiving a surprise marriage proposal from Boa (played by Go Won-hee).
Ultimately, accepting reality, Ji-hyuk decides to marry Boa and announces to his family that a meeting to discuss their engagement is scheduled, teasing the tense developments ahead.
Through his portrayal of Lee Ji-hyuk in "Our Golden Days," Jung Il-woo depicts the sense of responsibility towards his parents and concerns about marriage, which contrast with his seemingly rational and perfect image, expressing the realistic struggles that a person in their 30s might experience. Although he appears calm outwardly, he intricately depicts the inner conflicts of a character, eliciting viewers' empathy.
He has received praise for effectively capturing the weight of being the eldest son and the human aspects of being frustrated by reality, showcasing a different acting transformation compared to his previous works. While pushing away Eun-oh's feelings, which show his instinct to go straight ahead, he also reveals his gradually growing concern, demonstrating Jung Il-woo's unique "heart-throbbing performance."
Jung Il-woo, who is realistically portraying a multi-dimensional character and leading the early stages of "Our Golden Days," is drawing attention to what kind of life character he will create through this drama, as he has shown diverse faces in every work.
Meanwhile, "Our Golden Days," starring Jung Il-woo, airs every Saturday and Sunday at 8 p.m. on KBS 2TV.
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