Actor Kang Hyung-seok has rapidly emerged as viewers' top pick as an un-hateable ambitious lawyer in PROBONO.
In episodes 1 and 2 of the tvN Saturday-Sunday drama PROBONO (written by Moon Yoo-seok, directed by Kim Sung-yoon), which aired on the 6th and 7th, Kang Hyung-seok plays public interest lawyer Hwang Jun-woo, who believes only effort never betrays, and filled the drama with vitality through a three-dimensional charm that oscillates between goofiness and ambition.
PROBONO is a human courtroom drama that unfolds when a social-climbing, materialistic judge who is desperate for promotion unintentionally becomes a public interest lawyer and joins the mega law firm's revenue-zero public interest team. Hwang Jun-woo, played by Kang Hyung-seok, is an ambitious lawyer whose inner thoughts are transparently revealed—appearing sharp-witted yet unable to hide his clumsiness—and he is responsible for the drama's bright tone with his buoyant energy.
Hwang Jun-woo made an eye-catching entrance by fully revealing his status as a true fan of Kang Da-wit (played by Jung Kyung-ho). He instantly believed Kang Da-wit's sweet talk and, shouting "Please help me!" and "I want to work in an office with a sunny aspect, overlooking downtown Seoul!", confessed all his hidden ambitions, a scene that provoked laughter from viewers. Kang Hyung-seok realistically portrayed a character who embodies both materialism and naivety, making Hwang Jun-woo memorable from the first broadcast.
In episode 2, Jun-woo's hidden "true feelings" behind his goofiness were revealed. Although he grumbled at Da-wit's request to find missing evidence, he went so far as to wade into the stream under the bridge and sift through aquatic plants to find clues, faithfully showing Jun-woo's diligence and warm heart. His hands-on execution and honest feelings toward the vulnerable made his character even more three-dimensional.
In this way, Kang Hyung-seok served as a scene-stealer who refreshed the drama's atmosphere by naturally blending the unexpected charms of the clumsy yet un-hateable Hwang Jun-woo into his comic acting. In every scene, his performance, where sincerity and clumsy charm coexist, raised expectations for the character's growth arc and future exploits.
Immediately after the broadcast, viewers reacted enthusiastically with comments such as "Hwang Jun-woo is so cute," "Kang Hyung-seok's acting is spot-on," "He's clumsy but why is he so un-hateable?," "Da-wit–Jun-woo snobby duo chemistry is the best," and "I'm really looking forward to this character, actor Kang."
[Photo] tvN PROBONO broadcast capture
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