Seohyunwoo, who plays prosecutor Park Jeyul in the ENA Monday-Tuesday drama 'Honor: Her Court,' has captivated audiences with his intense performance. In the recent episodes 5 and 6, it was revealed that Park Jeyul is a key figure in a 20-year-old case and has a deeply intertwined past with the L&J trio: Yoon Rayoung (played by Lee Nayoung), Kang Shinjae (played by Jung Eunchae), and Hwang Hyunjin (played by Lee Cheongah), leaving viewers in shock.
Park Jeyul had kept his true identity hidden, but as the L&J trio's relentless pursuit of the 'Connect' continued, he revealed his true colors. He disclosed that he is 'Park Juhwan,' Yoon Rayoung's past lover who left her with an indelible scar. With the chilling line, “A victim cannot escape hell until the perpetrator is caught,” he pressured Yoon Rayoung under the guise of reopening the investigation, freezing the audience in their seats.
Seohyunwoo's portrayal of Park Jeyul with his signature 'poker face' acting kept viewers on the edge of their seats. Despite Hwang Hyunjin's sharp criticism, he maintained a relaxed smile and countered with, “I don't want to meet a friend as a suspect,” marking the peak of their tense confrontation. In front of Kang Shinjae, he quietly threatened with a sinister smile, saying, “No one will believe that Yoon Rayoung is a victim,” creating a chilling tension.
Park Jeyul's meticulous strategy didn't end there. He boldly instructed Koo Seongyu (played by Choi Youngjun), Hwang Hyunjin's husband and a detective, to investigate the 20-year-old case, using it as leverage to tighten his grip on Hwang Hyunjin. The revelation that Kim Seungjin (played by Jung Heetae), Koo Seongyu's closest colleague, was also an accomplice to Park Jeyul, unleashed an unstoppable storm of shock in the audience.
Seohyunwoo's true talent shone when depicting the stark duality of his character. In front of the L&J trio, he exuded a chilling charisma as a cold-blooded figure, but in front of the powerful figures at the prosecutor's office, he transformed into a subservient underling, bowing his head in deference. The contrast continued at home, where he appeared as a doting father laughing off his daughter's scolding, yet turned into a domineering figure over his wife, Hong Yeonhee (played by Baek Eunhye), showcasing his 'thousand faces' and delivering a spine-chilling immersion.
As both a perpetrator and a victim, Park Jeyul has now transformed into a judge holding the power over life and death. Seohyunwoo intricately crafted this complex character with subtle facial expressions and precise pacing. The audience is eagerly anticipating how his declaration of reopening the investigation will shake the course of the drama and where the end of this cruel reality designed by Seohyunwoo will lead.
Meanwhile, Seohyunwoo's outstanding performance in the ENA Monday-Tuesday drama 'Honor: Her Court' airs every Monday and Tuesday at 10 PM.
Ryu Yeji, TenAsia Reporter ryuperstar@tenasia.co.kr