Actress Baek Joo-hee Discusses Her Role in 'Your Honor' and Future Aspirations

"The title 'boss' feels too grand (laughs). 'Chief Jo' seems more fitting. I found the concept of an underdog boss very appealing. I was curious about how it would feel for a woman to portray such a role. I really wanted to do it, and I was honored when the opportunity came my way. I did my best to express it well."

Actress Baek Joo-hee, who appeared in the Genie TV original drama 'Your Honor,' shared these thoughts. Her interview took place on the 12th at a café in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Contrary to her strong on-screen persona, Baek exuded a soft and gentle atmosphere as she discussed various topics.

'Your Honor' is a drama about a judge who covers up his son's murder and a crime boss who pursues the son's killer, depicting the paternal instincts of two fathers who turn into monsters for their children. In the drama, Baek Joo-hee plays Jo Mi-yeon, the boss of the second violent organization (Budu Gang) formed around laborers, illegal immigrants, and impoverished workers.

In the latter part of the drama, Baek's character is dragged by the power of the Woo Won Group and is almost buried in cement, creating a rather brutal scene. Baek shared an episode about this scene, saying, "Originally, I was just supposed to be inside a barrel with a few lines. On the day of the shoot, the director suggested that it would be great if Jo Mi-yeon fought back, so we added some action."

She continued, "The scene where I scream and even bite an ear was created just a few hours before the shoot. An action team was brought in to enhance the scene's quality. When I saw the final product, I was satisfied as it captured the character's last desperate struggle."

In a previous interview, Jung Ae-yeon mentioned, "Although there was a scene where Baek Joo-hee's character faces a crisis, there was no scene showing her death. We believe Jo Mi-yeon is still alive." Regarding this, Baek Joo-hee said, "I didn't close my eyes, and the barrel lid wasn't shut. I'm hopeful for a second season. I want to come back alive. Please support me," she joked.

Baek Joo-hee put a lot of effort into both her acting and visual portrayal of Jo Mi-yeon. She wore a wig throughout the filming and shared, "The makeup team worked hard to style the wig to look damaged. Their hands were stained red from the effort."

She added, "We divided the makeup into three stages in consultation with the makeup team. My makeup was the heaviest during my first encounter with Kim Kang-heon (played by Kim Myung-min). It was at level 1 during normal scenes and level 2 when meeting Jung Yi-hwa (played by Choi Moo-sung). We worked hard to express these details meticulously. I wonder if the viewers noticed."

In a previous interview for 'Doctor Cha Jung-sook' last June, Baek Joo-hee mentioned that she wanted to play a crime boss or a character with superpowers in her next role. Regarding achieving her dream through 'Your Honor,' she said, "I'm so honored. Even the company director was pleased. From now on, I'll mention my desired roles in every interview (laughs). Now, I just need to play a character with superpowers." She added, "If there's a new role to add, I'd like to play a chairman."

"The reason I've been acting for so long isn't grand. I love acting the most, and it's the only thing I can do. I never want to stop acting."

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