SBS ‘Shin I-rang Law Office’ broadcast still
Actor Hwang Hyun-jung has emerged as a new talent to watch on the small screen, radiating a singular presence in SBS Friday-Saturday drama ‘Shin I-rang Law Office’ (directed by Shin Jung-hoon, written by Kim Ga-young·Kang Cheol-gyu, produced by Studio S·Mongjakso).
As ‘Shin I-rang Law Office’ continues its strong run, interest from the industry and viewers is surging toward Hwang Hyun-jung, who played the teenage years of Han Na-hyun (played by Lee Som). She portrayed in three dimensions the backstory of why Han Na-hyun came to fixate solely on ‘winning cases’, thereby heightening the persuasiveness of the story.
What stands out is Hwang Hyun-jung’s remarkable variation in character. In her previous work Netflix ‘Juvenile Justice’, she overwhelmed audiences as the true culprit suffering from delusional disorder, and in TVING ‘Pyramid Game’ as a chilling villain; in this project she unveiled a completely different face. Hwang Hyun-jung conveyed with a clear, fresh tone the pure high school days when she took her older sister Han So-hyun (played by Hwang Boreum-byeol), who dreamed of becoming the best lawyer, as a role model. In particular, the scene of playing guitar and singing with her sister delivered the fresh sentiment unique to teenagers and brought smiles to viewers.
When expressing the trauma of losing her sister in an unexpected accident and being left alone, she showed a completely opposite face. Her tearful performance, frozen in despair at the accident scene, suggested the deep wounds Han Na-hyun carries, and this added validity to why the present-day Han Na-hyun experiences panic in certain situations, solidifying the narrative.
Above all, Hwang Hyun-jung interpreted the uniquely cool yet subtle mood that Lee Som possesses in her own color, heightening the unity of the character. Despite a brief appearance, her screen-commanding presence and seasoned pacing translated the firm core of the adult Han Na-hyun into convincing acting, driving immersion to its peak.
Hwang Hyun-jung devours characters with an unmistakable signature regardless of genre. With distinctive interpretation, she bolsters the overall completeness of the drama, and all eyes are on what she will show next.
SBS ‘Shin I-rang Law Office’ airs every Friday and Saturday at 9:50 p.m.
