Lee Chung-ah Reflects on Her Role in 'Honor': Embracing Vulnerability and Courage

"Playing Hyun-jin taught me a lot. She's someone who isn't afraid of making mistakes and strives not to be cowardly. Watching Hyun-jin, I realized how endearing it can be to show vulnerability with courage."

Actress Lee Chung-ah shared her insights on portraying Hwang Hyun-jin in the ENA drama 'Honor: The Court of Women' (hereafter 'Honor'). On the 12th, Lee Chung-ah was interviewed at a cafe in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam, Seoul. Her candid thoughts made the hour-long interview feel like less than 30 minutes, and her genuine passion for the project was evident.

'Honor' is a mystery thriller about three female lawyers confronting a scandalous past. Lee Chung-ah plays Hwang Hyun-jin, a proactive lawyer at L&J (Listen and Join), a firm specializing in female crime victims. She stars alongside Lee Na-young and Jung Eun-chae, portraying friends of 20 years.

The final episode of 'Honor,' which aired on the 11th, achieved its highest ratings with 4.9% in the metropolitan area and 4.7% nationwide. Lee Chung-ah expressed her joy, saying, "I was happy to hear from people around me that they enjoyed the show. Many friends asked for spoilers, but I kept it all under wraps. The positive feedback and ratings were very gratifying," she laughed.

'Honor' delves into issues like online exploitation and corruption among the powerful, with a narrative centered on a secretive cartel. While the scenes of the three lawyers taking down evil are satisfying, the show also highlights real-world issues, leaving a bittersweet impression.

Lee Chung-ah cautiously discussed the message of the drama, stating, "I believe 'Honor' has a positive impact if viewers become more aware of similar issues. The show's strength lies in making people ponder, 'What would I have done in that situation?'"

In the drama, Hyun-jin is the most impulsive and action-oriented among her friends. Her character, skilled in various martial arts, had numerous action scenes. When asked about preparing for these scenes, Lee Chung-ah said, "I did a lot of sports when I was young, like Taekwondo, Kendo, Hapkido, and swimming, because I wasn't growing taller. It wasn't too difficult for me. I played many martial arts characters in my 20s, and doing it again made me think, 'I still got it.'"

Lee Chung-ah learned a lot from playing Hyun-jin. She said, "Hyun-jin is someone who isn't afraid of making mistakes and strives not to be cowardly. Watching her, I thought she was amazing, and I realized how endearing it can be to show vulnerability with courage."

Debuting in the 2002 film 'Resurrection of the Little Match Girl,' Lee Chung-ah has appeared in various dramas like SBS's 'VIP,' 'One Dollar Lawyer,' MBC's 'Lovers,' and JTBC's 'Hyde.' Known for her intense roles, she took on a different character in 'Honor.'

On choosing 'Honor,' Lee Chung-ah said, "I wanted to play a character more connected to everyday life." She added, "While 'Honor' is similar in genre to my previous works, the character had a twist. It was the most engaging script I read at the time, and I felt the story had power."

When asked about future roles, Lee Chung-ah replied, "I'm keeping an open mind." She explained, "Acting isn't a profession where you can do everything you want. So, I'm trying to be more open-minded. New genres could be fun, and I'd like to try any character that offers a good performance, even in similar genres, if there's a historical change." She smiled.

Jung Se-yoon, Ten Asia Reporter yoon@tenasia.co.kr