Jung Eun-chae Reflects on Her Role in 'Honor: Her Court' and the Impactful Message of Resilience

"When the wind blows, I'll sway. Yet, the flowers still bloom."

Actress Jung Eun-chae highlighted this line as the most memorable from 'Honor: Her Court' (hereafter 'Honor'). In 'Honor', Jung portrays Kang Shin-jae, aiming to convey a message of comfort and hope: "Even if everything collapses, it's okay. We still have the strength to live another day."

On the 13th, Jung Eun-chae was interviewed at a café in Gangnam, Seoul, discussing her role in the ENA Monday-Tuesday drama 'Honor'. The series is a mystery thriller about three female lawyers confronting a massive scandal from their past. Jung plays Kang Shin-jae, the head of L&J (Listen and Join), a law firm specializing in female crime victims, alongside actresses Lee Na-young and Lee Chung-ah, 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. Jung expressed her gratitude, saying, "Starting 2026 with 'Honor' was a delight. Thanks to the viewers who watched every week and showed interest in the finale, we could conclude the drama successfully. I'm truly thankful."

Reflecting on her chemistry with Lee Na-young and Lee Chung-ah, Jung said, "Even though we hadn't known each other long, it felt like a long-standing relationship. Playing friends of 20 years naturally brought us closer, and we shared many similarities in our innate temperaments."

"Being the youngest, the older actresses doted on me. Although we're all quite reserved, which made bonding take some time, filming together naturally brought us closer. We spent our days off dining and chatting, which deepened our bond. Haha."

Jung chose the project because she found the concept of three women at the center intriguing. She added, "I usually don't deliberate long when choosing a project, but this one took time. I realized it couldn't be chosen out of mere curiosity or fun." Despite the lengthy consideration, she felt it was her destined role.

Playing Kang Shin-jae was challenging, Jung admitted. "I found it more difficult while acting than when I first read the script. It led to sleepless nights," she shared. "Initially, I felt pressured to start the character well. As the story progressed, Kang Shin-jae had more to handle, presenting acting challenges."

"Despite the difficulty, the character's complexity made it enjoyable. A flat, simple character might have been boring. I aimed to portray Kang Shin-jae differently in the beginning and end, showing a multifaceted character to make her more human."

When asked about her most memorable line, Jung mentioned, "'When the wind blows, I'll sway. Yet, the flowers still bloom.'" She wanted to convey a message of resilience and hope through Kang Shin-jae, emphasizing that even if everything falls apart, we have the strength to live another day.

The final scene of 'Honor' hinted at the emergence of another massive crime cartel, raising expectations for a potential second season. Jung commented, "The open ending leaves room for viewers to ponder. I think it suits the drama well."

"I believe light and darkness, good and evil coexist. 'Honor' captured this well, and the ending felt very realistic. It naturally made viewers imagine the characters' future paths. I'm happy and grateful for the love the show received."

Reporter Jung Se-yoon, TenAsia yoon@tenasia.co.kr