Ha Ji-won Redefines Villainy in 'Climax' with Unstoppable Performance

Actress Ha Ji-won continues to redefine villainy with her relentless performance in the drama 'Climax'.

In the sixth episode of ENA's 'Climax', aired on March 31, Ha Ji-won portrayed Choo Sang-ah, a character pushed to the edge, using her life as a tool to cover up pressing truths. The previous episode shocked viewers with the revelation of her character's homosexuality.

In this episode, Choo Sang-ah (played by Ha Ji-won) confronts former bodyguard Park Jae-sang (Lee Ga-seop), who intends to expose entertainment producer Oh Kwang-jae's (Seo Hyun-woo) murder solicitation. When persuasion fails, Choo Sang-ah shifts her demeanor, taunting, "Did you really think things would work out with me? Did you think we would get married?" In a tense moment, as Park Jae-sang strangles her, she cunningly maneuvers to ensure her face is captured by bystanders' cameras, adding to the chilling atmosphere.

Despite these efforts, she fails to garner sympathy and faces a massive penalty lawsuit and impending exposé. In a desperate move, Choo Sang-ah stages a suicide attempt to sway public opinion. She then orchestrates an emergency press conference with her husband Bang Tae-seop (Joo Ji-hoon), appearing on stage with exaggerated dark circles and special makeup to emphasize her haggard appearance. During the conference, she sheds fake tears, claiming, "I just wanted to prove my innocence," successfully manipulating public sentiment.

Following the news of Park Jae-sang's death by suicide, Ha Ji-won's character collapses from hyperventilation when questioned by reporters about the possibility of foul play, maintaining the intense drama. Ha Ji-won masterfully embodies the 'villain' Choo Sang-ah, elevating the show's tension and excitement to new heights.

On March 31, Ha Ji-won ranked second in the Good Data Corporation's weekly buzzworthy actor survey for the fourth week of March. 'Climax' also secured the second spot in the TV-OTT drama buzz rankings.

By You-Na Tae, TenAsia Reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr