Park Hee-soon is boasting an overwhelming presence as the tension maker in The Judge Returns.
In the MBC Fri-Sat drama The Judge Returns (planned by Jang Jae-hoon, written by Kim Kwang-min, directed by Lee Jae-jin and Park Mi-yeon), Park Hee-soon plays Kang Shin-jin, senior presiding judge of the criminal division at the Seoul Central District Court, planting an unforgettable presence in viewers' minds through bold character work that does not hesitate to take any action to achieve what he wants.
From his first appearance exuding a dark aura, Park Hee-soon vividly portrayed a judge who intervenes in the trials of the powerful to induce lighter sentences with intense charisma. In particular, in the scene where he calls Yeon-seon-cheol, representative of Haenal Law Firm (played by Ahn Nae-sang), who is under his command, and subtly urges him to assign the S Group trial to Lee Han-young (played by Jisung), Park Hee-soon's characteristic composure and confidence shone. With atmosphere alone he swallowed the scene and clearly showed viewers the overwhelming power that Kang Shin-jin wields.
Before Lee Han-young returned for a second chance at life, Kang Shin-jin carried out revenge against Lee Han-young, who had ruined his plan, by handing down a heavy sentence to his trial client, S Group chairman Jang Tae-sik (played by Kim Beom-rae). He ordered his subordinate Gwak Soon-won (played by Park Geon Il) to kill Lee Han-young and even appeared at the scene himself, causing chills. Park Hee-soon's cold gaze heightened the noir atmosphere of the scenes while imprinting Kang Shin-jin's identity.
His arrogant attitude toward those he controlled was also striking. At a meal with Yeon-seon-cheol, Kang Shin-jin stirred the hotpot with a spoon, flipped a rice cake with chopsticks that had touched his mouth and gave it to Seon-cheol, revealing the naked face of a ruler intoxicated by the taste of power. Park Hee-soon made his counterpart have no choice but to yield with nothing more than his gaze, and this subtle expression increased the drama's intensity.
Meanwhile, Kang Shin-jin, who had always remained composed, was enraged by the theft of the military service corruption ledger because the son of the person he intended to position as chief justice was included in the ledger. The scene in which Kang Shin-jin explodes in anger, saying "Do you know what will happen if that comes out into the world?" was a moment that highlighted Park Hee-soon's acting, expressing the hot desire hidden behind coldness through a crack in an otherwise unwavering character. Park Hee-soon's performance, which naturally conveyed the character's dimensionality as it moved through emotional extremes, made viewers look forward to his role at the center of future developments.
Such Park Hee-soon's inspired acting has firmly established itself as a pillar responsible for the drama's tension. In The Judge Returns, Kang Shin-jin's unpredictable moves, which fully reveal his "dark charisma" with piercing looks and acting that captivate the audience, are expected to become another key point of interest that enhances the drama's excitement.
[Photo] Provided by MBC
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