ENA ‘Scarecrow’
He embodied the era in a worn-out jacket.
Baek Hyun-jin drew attention in ‘Scarecrow’ with the warm image of a ‘squad leader’.
The ENA Monday-Tuesday drama ‘Scarecrow’ (directed by Park Joon-woo, written by Lee Ji-hyun, planned by KT Studio Genie, produced by Studio Anzailen), in which Baek Hyun-jin appears, tells the story of a detective who, while investigating the true culprit behind a serial murder case, enters into an unexpected cooperative relationship with the very person he despised, and what then unfolds. From its first broadcast, word of mouth spread thanks to its unpredictable developments and taut suspense, setting new personal-best ratings and ranking No. 1 among ENA Monday-Tuesday dramas. Within this, actor Baek Hyun-jin's righteous performance left viewers with another lingering resonance.
In the series, Baek Hyun-jin plays ‘Kim Man-chun’, the squad leader at Gangseong Police Station and the superior of Kang Tae-ju (played by Park Hae-soo). As a veteran with long on-site experience, he shows quick responses and responsible action at decisive moments. Earlier, when the suspect's statement ‘I killed five people’ was newly revealed, his urgent tone and expression instantly imprinted the gravity of the situation. In a scene where fear and anger among residents over the serial murders peaked and eggs were thrown, he stepped forward without hesitation, saying, “Please calm down. I am the person in charge” and “We will definitely catch the culprit,” convincingly conveying a personality that is gentle yet resolute.
Above all, Baek Hyun-jin completed a three-dimensional character by treating colleagues in a humane way rather than with authority as a police squad leader. Before Kang Tae-ju had his resignation letter accepted, he bowed his head deeply to plead for leniency, evoking pity. Later, when he was demoted and had to leave Gangseong Police Station, he showed a relieved expression as if accepting everything, stirring regret among his colleagues. He also offered warm advice to Kang Tae-ju in a calm tone: “You are a good detective. But do not try to do everything alone. Work with your colleagues,” which highlighted the strong chemistry between the two characters.
In this way, Baek Hyun-jin exercised his signature witty, realistic acting, transforming into ‘Kim Man-chun’ who breathes within the 1980s setting of ‘Scarecrow’, thereby maximizing immersion. Furthermore, with this project he even came to be affectionately called ‘squad leader’, drawing attention. In response to his performance, netizens showed hot reactions such as, “Squad leader should stay warm; where are you going?”, “We hope the squad leader comes back,” and “The squad leader is a truly kind person.” As such, there is growing curiosity about the next steps of actor Baek Hyun-jin, who receives the public's love with every project.
