Will Kim Ji-yeon, without a fencing sword, save MBC’s Friday-Saturday drama?

Cosmic Girls' Bona and actress Kim Ji-yeon is attempting her first historical drama. His return comes about a year after his previous work, ‘Twenty-Five Twenty-One’.

The work Jiyeon Kim chose was MBC’s ‘Joseon Lawyer’. 'The Joseon Lawyer' is the story of a lawyer from the Joseon Dynasty who takes revenge through a trial against the enemy who killed his parents. It is a delightful and exhilarating Joseon Dynasty legal revenge action drama that shows that true revenge is valuable when doing righteous things and grows into a real lawyer who serves the people.

Jiyeon Kim plays the role of Princess Lee Yeonju, the daughter of the late King. Her father, the previous king, lost his life without being able to complete the compilation of the law code, which he had worked hard on. As a result, Lee Yeon-ju understands her father's revenge and seeks to drive out the ministers of the Hungu faction from the government.

Lee Yeon-ju is a true noblesse oblige character who believes that revenge is only truly valuable if it is ultimately done for the good of the country and people.

His co-star, Woo Do-hwan, plays the role of Kang Han-soo, a foreigner who is completely independent of the world, who deceives people with all kinds of tricks and will do anything to win the lawsuit. Cha Hak-yeon plays Yu Ji-seon, the highest official in the Hanseongbu, and shows off the charm of a tough-as-nails child with everything from character to ability.

Kim Ji-yeon used her stage name Bona until her previous work, tvN's 'Twenty-Five Twenty-One', but she used her real name from 'Chosun Lawyer'. He appears to be starting his full-fledged acting career.

For him, ‘Twenty-Five Twenty-One’ was like a blessing. Playing the role of Go Yu-rim, the national fencing team, she did not feel inadequate while competing with Kim Tae-ri in acting. It captured both fun and emotion by depicting Ko Yu-rim's unique sensitivity and delicacy and her womanance with Kim Tae-ri.

Meanwhile, 'The Best One Shot', 'Lingerie Girls' Generation', 'Radio Romance', 'Your House Helper', and 'Oh! This is a part that shows that the acting experience accumulated through projects such as ‘Samkwang Villa’ was not easy. Thanks to this, Kim Ji-yeon was able to make a lasting impression on the public.

Kim Ji-yeon is planning to take the test as an idol-turned-actor with this work, as she is putting her life and death in her acting career. Although his skills were proven once in his previous work, this time around, it is a ‘historical drama’ with a different texture. It feels different from a period drama.

Kim Ji-yeon said at the production presentation on the 31st, "When I first read the script, I really liked the female protagonist's character, who is not passive but just and active. After reading the script smoothly until Part 4, I told the director that I would appear in it." If she had played a character with an external appearance and an internal attitude in her previous work, what kind of 'daunted' Joseon princess would Kim Ji-yeon show?

Attention is focused on whether Kim Ji-yeon will be able to break down the preconceptions of idol-turned-actresses in historical dramas as well. Kim Ji-yeon's challenge to shed the super rookie title and stand tall as a top actress begins now.

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