Actor Kim Seong-o made a strong first appearance as a hot‑headed detective.
Kim Seong-o appeared as Corporal Choi Cheol of Maheon Precinct in episode 2 of tvN's new Mon-Tue drama Shin Sajang Project (written by Ban Giri, directed by Shin Kyung‑soo, planned by Studio Dragon, produced by Two Frame), which aired on the 16th.
That day, Choi Cheol, who first appeared shouting loudly in an APT. hallway, immediately revealed his character and exuded a strong presence. In the scene where he brusquely answered a call from a troublesome complainant at the precinct, realistic lines and his trademark blunt performance delivered a sense of catharsis.
In particular, Kim Seong-o shifted from intense energy to calm breathing the moment he faced Han Seok‑kyu, who plays Shin Sajang, and led the mood. Choi Cheol mentioned a past incident as if he had a long connection with Shin Sajang and gave a bittersweet expression, and he took it upon himself to be an aide by confirming the identity of truck driver Oh Jin‑ho, who had threatened Shin Sajang. That raised curiosity about what hidden story lies between the two characters.
The highlight of Kim Seong-o's performance was undoubtedly the hostage scene. While chasing Oh Jin‑ho, Choi Cheol faced a hostage situation and showed signs of being shaken by trauma from a hostage incident involving a child 15 years earlier. But he soon threw himself at the suspect and subdued him, completing a tense moment. The brief hesitation and resolute action combined to add weight to the character's arc.
Following this, Choi Cheol, who returned from corporal at the precinct to the detective division, drew attention when he again joined hands with Shin Sajang, who was saved in his phone as "Joon's father." He left a meaningful line, saying, "I'm returning. I think there must be a reason Joon's father came to see me after 15 years," adding tension to future developments.
In this way, Kim Seong-o gave viewers laughs with down‑to‑earth lines and physicality while convincingly showing the professional firmness of a detective. Attention is focused on what story might be hidden in the trauma stemming from the hostage incident 15 years ago and what further feats will heighten the drama's immersion and entertainment.
Meanwhile, tvN's Shin Sajang Project, in which Kim Seong-o appears, airs every Monday and Tuesday at 8:50 p.m.
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