"Scarecrow" heralded the birth of a well-made crime investigation thriller.
The new ENA Monday-Tuesday drama "Scarecrow," directed by Park Joon-woo, written by Lee Ji-hyun, planned by KT Studio Genie and produced by Studio Anzillen, which is scheduled to premiere at 10 p.m. on Monday, April 20, tells the story of a detective who was investigating the real culprit of a serial murder case and unexpectedly forms a cooperative relationship with the man he loathed. Spanning 30 years from 1988 to 2019, the pursuit of truth by two men and an alliance entwined by bad blood and hatred deliver a different level of suspense. Director Park Joon-woo, who maximized genre pleasure with sensuous direction in Taxi Driver and Crash, takes the helm. In particular, he reunites with writer Lee Ji-hyun, with whom he collaborated once on Taxi Driver, ensuring the production's completeness.
Meanwhile, the script reading, announcing the lineup that viewers trust, including director Park Joon-woo, writer Lee Ji-hyun, Park Hae-soo, Lee Heejun, Kwak Sun-young, Song Gun-hee, Seo Ji-hye, Jung Moon-sung, Baek Hyun-jin and Yoo Seung-mok, was revealed and drew attention. From the first script reading, flawless acting and explosive synergy heated up the atmosphere on set.
First, Park Hae-soo led the story as ace detective Kang Tae-Ju, who possesses relentless observational skills and sharp intuition. After being demoted to his hometown of Gangseong, he pursues the real culprit of the Gangseong serial murder case. But after encountering prosecutor Cha Si-young (played by Lee Heejun), he faces the dilemma of having to catch the man he wants to catch to the death alongside the man he has hated to the death. Park Hae-soo meticulously depicted Kang Tae-Ju's confusion, conflict, anguish and change, heightening immersion.
Lee Heejun played Cha Si-young, an elite prosecutor with cool judgment and political savvy, calibrating the tension. He leads the investigation into the Gangseong serial murder case, which is attracting public attention, intending to use it as a springboard for entering politics. On the outside he exudes grace and composure, but internally he hides deficiencies and anxieties, and Lee Heejun's superb control of tempo in portraying this complex character consistently drew admiration.
Kwak Sun-young played Seo Ji-won, a reporter for the Gangseong Daily and an elementary school classmate of Kang Tae-Ju (played by Park Hae-soo). She is a person with a strong sense of mission and upright conviction as a reporter who must record and reveal the truth of the case. Thus, while the Gangseong serial murder investigation proceeds, she watches the police closely and serves as a sentinel. Returning with her characteristic gentle charisma, Kwak Sun-young showed perfect sync with Seo Ji-won, amplifying the character's appeal.
Song Gun-hee took on the role of Lee Ki-beom, the younger brother of Lee Ki-hwan (played by Jung Moon-sung) and the boyfriend of Kang Sun-young (played by Seo Ji-hye). He came down to Gangseong from Seoul while attending university and helps his brother's bookstore. He is someone who leads the way to protect his family and lover, but his life is also shaken in an unexpected direction by the serial murders that rocked Gangseong. Song Gun-hee, who proved his solid acting in Lovely Runner and Joseon Lawyer, once again demonstrated his true value.
Seo Ji-hye played Kang Sun-young, Kang Tae-Ju's sister and the girlfriend of Lee Ki-beom (played by Song Gun-hee). At school she is a kind and gentle teacher who cares for the children, and at home she is Kang Tae-Ju's only family member who constantly nags out of concern for her older brother. She was an ordinary young person living a normal life, but like her lover Lee Ki-beom, she becomes embroiled in an unexpected incident. The rising newcomer Seo Ji-hye, who gained attention for My Perfect Stranger and 493 km Speed to You, hinted at a dramatic transformation in her acting.
Jung Moon-sung took on the role of Lee Ki-hwan, the owner of a neighborhood bookstore and Ki-beom's older brother, emitting a quiet but strong and weighty presence. One of the locals who was born and raised in Gangseong and a classmate of Kang Tae-Ju and Seo Ji-won (played by Kwak Sun-young) from elementary school. Having built solid expertise across drama and musical theater, Jung Moon-sung's realistic acting, which melted into Lee Ki-hwan himself, enhanced the drama's immersion.
The addition of Baek Hyun-jin, who is receiving public love for his distinctive personality and acting, also drew attention. Baek Hyun-jin plays Kim Man-chun, the chief at the Gangseong police station. While solving cases is important, Kim Man-chun prioritizes restoring the organization and public sentiment, portraying a realistic leadership and warm inclusiveness, presenting a new face never seen before.
Veteran actor Yoo Seung-mok, with deep expertise and years of experience, lent weight to the drama as Cha Mu-jin. He is Cha Si-young's father and a former military general turned influential politician, whose authoritative and cold nature influenced Cha Si-young from childhood. Yoo Seung-mok emitted a heavy presence and exceptional aura, perfectly expressing the dignity of an absolute ruler.
Meanwhile, the new ENA Monday-Tuesday drama "Scarecrow" will premiere at 10 p.m. on Monday, April 20, on ENA, and will also be available on KT Genie TV and TVing.
[Photo] KT Studio Genie
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