In the ENA Monday-Tuesday drama 'Honor: Her Courtroom,' actress Baek Ji-hye's character, Lee Sun-hwa, faces a shocking cliffhanger as she is attacked with a syringe, leaving her fate uncertain.

In the episode aired on the 17th, Lee Sun-hwa, portrayed by Baek Ji-hye, strategically uses her position as the 'mother' of Min-seo's (played by Jeon So-young) runaway group, emphasizing calculation over emotion. She proposes a deal to Yoon Ra-young (played by Lee Na-young) and demands compensation for information even when Hwang Hyun-jin (played by Lee Chung-ah) questions her about Park Je-yeol and Connect in the L&J panic room.

During this process, Lee Sun-hwa attempts another deal by stealing Jun-hyuk's laptop. Initially offered 'three sheets' by Detective Kim Seung-jin, she quickly raises the stakes to 'five sheets,' showcasing her survival instincts despite sensing danger.

However, her calculations take an unexpected turn. Just as she is about to finalize the deal with Jun-hyuk's laptop, she is ambushed in an alley and dragged away after being injected with a syringe, leaving her survival uncertain as the screen fades to black. This cliffhanger amplifies the tension and curiosity for the next episode.

Baek Ji-hye masterfully portrays Lee Sun-hwa's complex emotions of greed, arrogance, anxiety, and survival instincts. She enhances the character's credibility by expressing these emotions in a restrained manner, capturing moments of anger, calmness, calculation, and wavering through subtle facial expressions and rhythmic breathing.

Particularly, the change in her gaze leading up to the syringe attack encapsulates the character's peril and desires, heightening the impact of the shocking ending. Lee Sun-hwa emerges not as a mere villain but as a character making repeated choices to survive extreme situations.

'Honor: Her Courtroom' airs every Monday and Tuesday at 10 PM on ENA and is also available on KT Genie TV and Coupang Play.

Ryu Ye-ji, Ten Asia Reporter, ryuperstar@tenasia.co.kr
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