Actress Jung Ae-yeon Reflects on Her Role in 'Your Honor': A Journey of Maternal Love and Emotional Depth

"I was genuinely happy to be part of the meaningful project 'Your Honor.' Even though I gave my best during filming, watching the final product on TV and realizing I acted alongside veterans like Son Hyun-joo and Kim Myung-min was surreal. It was truly an honor. Playing a parent who lost a child was emotionally complex and challenging, but I considered it a special opportunity to portray such maternal love."

This was shared by actress Jung Ae-yeon, who starred in Genie TV's original drama 'Your Honor,' during an interview held on the 11th at Simstory's headquarters in Mapo-gu, Seoul.

'Your Honor' is a gripping tale of paternal instincts clashing between a judge who covers up his son's murder and a crime boss chasing his son's killer. Jung Ae-yeon played Ma Ji-young, the wife of crime boss Kim Kang-heon (played by Kim Myung-min), who harbors a sorrowful and fierce maternal love after losing her son.

From the early episodes, Jung Ae-yeon heightened the drama's intensity with her tearful scenes. She admitted, "Playing a character from a powerful family meant the wealthy background was important, but the core was maternal love. When I immersed myself in the character and thought about losing a child, the tears came naturally. Every parent would feel the same."

Jung Ae-yeon married Kim Jin-geun in 2009 and gave birth to a son in May 2010. However, they divorced by mutual agreement in 2021 after 12 years of marriage, with Kim Jin-geun gaining custody of their son.

"There wasn't a single actor without a distinct presence. The combination was perfect. Veterans like Kim Myung-min and Son Hyun-joo anchored the show, while other characters provided solid support. Hearing from insiders that the show was entertaining made me proud. I was particularly satisfied with the ensemble of female actors."

Jung Ae-yeon expressed her affection for her co-stars, saying, "I watched every episode live and actively participated in open chats. Especially yesterday, being the final episode, there was a lot of buzz. Some viewers even expressed their frustration." She added, "Before filming 'Your Honor,' I discussed the ending extensively with the writer. We speculated about Ma Ji-young's fate, even considering the possibility of her ending up in a mental hospital."

In the final episode of 'Your Honor,' Song Pan-ho (played by Son Hyun-joo) loses his son, and Kim Kang-heon loses his daughter, leading to a brutal conclusion. Song Pan-ho tells a devastated Kim Kang-heon, "This is the surest way to make us repent for our sins," as the drama concludes. While some viewers were satisfied with the ending, others were disappointed that Song Ho-young (played by Kim Do-hoon) died and Kim Sang-hyuk (played by Heo Nam-joon) did not receive proper punishment.

When asked about her personal take on the ending, Jung Ae-yeon said, "I believe each character had their own pain. The story focused on paternal love. Each character expressed their pain differently. I wanted to criticize them, but I couldn't. I saw it as a way of healing their wounds." She continued, "I found it very satisfying. Despite the frequent death scenes, the deep wounds made it understandable and didn't break my immersion."

She explained that Ma Ji-young's sorrowful emotions continued until episode 9, which is why she mostly wore dark clothes. In the final episode, she wore bright pink and purple outfits for a dramatic effect. "After Sang-hyun (played by Ye-chan) died, I wanted to express my apology to the neglected family members through colors. It symbolized a desire for the remaining family to unite and live harmoniously," she emphasized.

She also shared her dedication to the role, saying, "I always brought 2-3 outfits to the set. I would try them on and show them to the director to enhance the show's completeness. I wanted to convey Ma Ji-young's emotional arc through her wardrobe."

Reflecting on watching the final episode with the cast and crew on the 10th, Jung Ae-yeon said, "I was very satisfied until the last episode. This project was my 'favorite' because I enjoyed filming it so much. It was an honor to act alongside Kim Myung-min and Son Hyun-joo, but the time spent with all the actors in 'Your Honor' was meaningful and happy."

Lee So-jung, TenAsia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr