ENA's 'Scarecrow' Aims to Surpass Ratings with Stellar Cast Chemistry

Actress Kwak Sun-young expressed confidence that 'Scarecrow' could surpass ENA's second-highest ratings. With testimonies from actors praising the chemistry between Park Hae-soo and Lee Hee-jun, anticipation builds around their unique dynamic.

On the 13th, a press conference for ENA's Monday-Tuesday drama 'Scarecrow' was held at The Saint in D-Cube City, Guro-gu, Seoul. Attendees included actors Park Hae-soo, Lee Hee-jun, Kwak Sun-young, and director Park Joon-woo.

'Scarecrow' is a crime thriller about a detective investigating a serial murder case who unexpectedly teams up with someone he despises. The series is inspired by the real-life Hwaseong serial murders that occurred from September 15, 1986, to April 3, 1991, in Hwaseong County, Gyeonggi Province.

Park Hae-soo plays Detective Kang Tae-joo, a character driven by truth and justice. Park described Kang as "like a stone, constantly striving to solve cases and often breaking. Despite his flaws, his resilience is his charm."

Regarding the real-life inspiration, Park admitted, "I was scared when I first read the script." He added, "With victims and their families in mind, I felt a responsibility to approach the project seriously. Everyone on set, from staff to actors, prepared with sincerity. While the story carries weight, I hope viewers enjoy unraveling the mystery with us."

Lee Hee-jun portrays Prosecutor Cha Si-young, an ambitious character entangled in complex relationships. "Though fictional, Cha's meticulous nature and intriguing setup drew me to the role," Lee explained.

On working with Park Hae-soo, Lee shared, "I was thrilled to work with a beloved colleague. We had a great time on set, and our close friendship helped us support each other throughout filming." He continued, "Given the serious nature of a murder case, everyone was extra cautious. We approached the project with genuine dedication, so please look forward to it."

Kwak Sun-young plays Seo Ji-won, a journalist with a strong sense of justice. She remarked, "Watching Park Hae-soo and Lee Hee-jun made me want to act with a friend in a project. Their performances were impressive, and I believe viewers will enjoy it."

Kwak also discussed ratings, stating, "We gave our all during filming, so I'm confident viewers will find it entertaining. I believe we can surpass 'Crash,' director Park Joon-woo's previous work, which holds ENA's second-highest ratings."

Director Park Joon-woo revealed, "I wanted to explore why Lee Choon-jae was missed and why the case remained unsolved for 30 years." He added, "I aimed to depict a specific era in Korean society through a crime story, and 'Scarecrow' fulfilled that vision."

Park noted, "The culprit appears in the first and last episodes, portrayed as a character with both good and evil traits. Focusing on 'Who among the villagers is the culprit?' will enhance the viewing experience. It's a different take from the film 'Memories of Murder.' We put much thought into distinguishing our work, so please anticipate it."

'Scarecrow' premieres on the 20th at 10 PM.

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