Joo Ji-hoon Discusses His Role as Ambitious Prosecutor in 'Climax'

Actor Joo Ji-hoon showcases a new side as he takes on the role of prosecutor Bang Tae-seop, who stops at nothing to fulfill his desires. Joo shared, "My liver levels have risen significantly, but I worked hard to create an imperfect body by alternating between exercise and drinking," highlighting his dedication to the role.

On October 7, Joo Ji-hoon discussed his character and the drama 'Climax' during an interview at the ENA conference room in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul.

'Climax' is a drama about prosecutor Bang Tae-seop, who enters a power cartel to reach the top of South Korea, and the intense survival game of those around him. Joo Ji-hoon plays the role of Bang Tae-seop, who stands at the center of power.

Despite its current ratings hovering around 3%, 'Climax' continues to generate buzz. Joo commented, "I've received a lot of feedback. Although I already have a masculine image, people say I appear even stronger in this work," adding, "Personally, I feel like I made a good choice."

"I feel a new sensation with each episode release. Originally planned for a 19+ rating, it aired as 15+ after partnering with ENA. The experience of watching it on a TV channel, rather than in a movie or OTT format, feels different, like eating the same ramen outdoors. I felt like I was learning new things."

Joo explained his reason for choosing the project, saying, "I found it intriguing that characters who could exist in real life are gathered in the story." He continued, "There are many characters, but the story flows very straightforwardly. I chose it because it felt intuitive and direct overall."

"In our society, there are people who are good at banter, those who openly express their desires, and those who speak indirectly. It was interesting to see these characters come together and the story flow intuitively. I felt vicarious satisfaction from watching them seek better environments in an unfair world, and it was fun to see how they pursued their desires under the premise of 'it could happen.'"

When asked how he portrayed Bang Tae-seop, a character with great ambition who uses any means to get what he wants, Joo said, "I tried to see the overall flow from 1 to 10, including scenes I'm not in. I approached it with a sense that has developed over years of work, rather than detailed analysis."

He added, "Although my liver levels rose significantly, I worked hard to create an imperfect body by alternating between exercise and drinking," drawing attention.

In 'Climax,' Ha Ji-won (as Choo Sang-ah) made headlines with a same-sex kiss scene with Yoon Dong-hee (as Han Ji-soo) and Nana (as Hwang Jung-won). When asked if he was aware of this storyline before filming, Joo replied, "I knew," and added, "As an actor, I had no particular questions since it simply depicted something that exists in the world."

Regarding viewers who expected a romance with Ha Ji-won, Joo said, "I think it's understandable to feel that way," with a smile. He continued, "I believe the word 'love' includes emotions like affection, time, and camaraderie. The remaining episodes are really interesting, so please watch from episode 8."

"It's going to get really exciting from now on. I hope viewers watch with the perspective that such characters and events could exist in the world. The upcoming developments might be more shocking than expected, but I hope you find it more interesting by thinking 'it could happen' rather than viewing it too negatively."

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