Actor Cheon Ho-jin crafted a portrait of the "K-father" through a deeply realistic performance.
Cheon Ho-jin appeared as Lee Sang-chul, who faces a turbulent life after retirement, in KBS2 weekend drama Our Golden Days (directed by Kim Hyung-seok / written by So Hyun-kyung / produced by Studio Coming Soon, Studio Bom, Monster Union), which aired on Jul. 13-14.
Having even failed to find reemployment, Lee Sang-chul studied for certifications and worked alternate-day part-time jobs, still struggling to provide for his household as the head of the family and showing relentless will to live. Because he did physical labor, he would groan in pain through the night but at the breakfast table he was the father whose primary concern was his children's well-being, delivering a touching moment to home viewers.
Used to office life and sitting at a desk his whole life, Lee Sang-chul soon found himself eating cup noodles and taking on leaflet-distribution part-time work. Drowsy from fatigue during an academy class, Lee Sang-chul scolded himself, "You crazy fool, where are you dozing off? Can't you even handle that?"
Meanwhile, seeing a convenience store part-time job posting and saying "That's perfect for me," Lee Sang-chul's appearance once again highlighted his devotion to his family. In this context, the end of episode 12 teases a scene where Lee Sang-chul meets his eldest son Lee Ji-hyuk (played by Jung Il-woo), heightening curiosity about forthcoming developments.
Through Our Golden Days, Cheon Ho-jin depicts a steadfast "K-father" who does not lose hope even in a harsh reality. He deepens immersion by portraying the layered narrative of a family head who fully bears the relentless weight of life with a vividly realistic performance.
Meanwhile, the KBS2 weekend drama Our Golden Days, in which Cheon Ho-jin appears, airs every Saturday and Sunday at 8 p.m.
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