‘Gorgeous Days’ broadcast screen capture
Actor Cheon Ho-jin delivered deep emotion to viewers with a seasoned performance.
On the KBS 2TV weekend drama ‘Gorgeous Days’, which aired on the 13th and 14th, Cheon played ‘Lee Sang-cheol’, a man who makes supporting his parents and backing his children the top priority of his life.
As a breadwinner who had always appeared stoic, Lee Sang-cheol collapsed at the sudden news of his mother (played by Ban Hyo-jung) passing. In particular, he slipped away from family and mourners, sat alone on a bench, and cried out, “Mom, I am sorry,” stirring tears from viewers. His childlike inability to hold back tears, imbued with complex emotions such as regret and lingering attachment, heightened immersion.
After the funeral, the process of resolving the long-standing conflict between Lee Sang-cheol and Lee Ji-hyeok unfolded, further amplifying the drama's emotional resonance. All along, Lee Sang-cheol had borne alone the humiliation he received from the father of the bride, so that his son, whose engagement had been broken off, would not be hurt any further. By releasing the complex, long-suppressed emotions that had simmered in his heart for so long, he delivered a poignant impact. He earned praise for a deep portrayal of the life story of a father who has endured countless trials as the head of a family.
In this way, Cheon completed an extreme emotional arc that intertwines the loss of his mother and forgiveness toward his son with a masterful performance steeped in gravitas, showcasing the prowess of a ‘trusted, must-watch actor’. He drew viewers empathy by densely portraying the realistic anguish and emotions of a ‘K-father’.
Netizens who experienced Cheon's acting are responding with comments such as, “It was sad, as if I were looking at my own dad,” “I wish he would go easy with the acting,” “Just seeing his face presses the tear button,” and “Only now do I begin to understand a little what the hearts of parents might be like.”
Meanwhile, KBS 2TV ‘Gorgeous Days’, featuring Cheon Ho-jin, airs every Saturday and Sunday at 8 p.m.
