Kim Ji-hoon from 'The Haunted Palace' completed his unique and distinctive character Lee Jeong, achieving a satisfying conclusion.
On the 7th, the SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'The Haunted Palace' (written by Yoon Soo-jung and directed by Yoon Seong-sik) concluded, with Kim Ji-hoon showcasing a remarkable performance as King Lee Jeong, who dreams of a strong nation, demonstrating a versatile acting range from a capable monarch to a caring father and culminating in the embodiment of the eight-legged ghost. Kim Ji-hoon's solid portrayal of King Lee Jeong, who remains focused to the end, significantly contributed to the sharp rise in ratings for 'The Haunted Palace'.
In the final episode, where Kim Ji-hoon put an end to the long-standing karma between the eight-legged ghost and the royal family, he seamlessly transitioned between the dual roles of the possessed Lee Jeong and the original king, captivating the audience with his emotional range.
Particularly, the possession scene in Episode 15, following Episode 3, served as a truly chilling climax, reinforcing Kim Ji-hoon's presence as the true star of 'The Haunted Palace'. Accolades continued as it was noted that "this was undoubtedly an evil role that only Kim Ji-hoon could pull off," and viewers praised his explosive acting, stating, "I couldn’t afford to relax for a moment," "Kim Ji-hoon’s boundless acting spectrum," and "it was a performance parade of Lee Jeong from start to finish."
The scene where Lee Jeong cries out, begging the eight-legged ghost to save the life of the queen dowager, while suppressing despair and anger with superhuman restraint, only to break down in tears remembering moments with the queen, touched the hearts of viewers. Kim Ji-hoon, who transformed from the righteous King Lee Jeong into a 'tyrant' after being possessed by the eight-legged ghost, revealed a cold and cruel gaze, freezing the living room until the last episode.
In the following celestial ceremony scene, Kim Ji-hoon’s powerful acting, characterized by hot tears and a solemn voice, effectively completed the climax segment. His performance provided a hopeful message to viewers through Lee Jeong’s journey of discovering new happiness. The actor Kim Ji-hoon transformed into Lee Jeong, delivering an unwavering sense of immersion from beginning to end, leaving a profound impression on the hearts of 'The Haunted Palace' viewers.
Kim Ji-hoon captured the complex inner world and narrative of the character Lee Jeong with just a single deep gaze, winning the audience’s empathy and remaining at the center of attention even after the series concluded. His sculptural visuals that captivated attention throughout the broadcast and the charm expressed at pivotal moments combined to etch his name into the legacy of historical portrayals of kings. Right after the final episode aired, viewers reacted enthusiastically with comments such as, "Until the very end, Kim Ji-hoon’s performance gave me chills," "I can only think of Lee Jeong from start to finish," "Kim Ji-hoon was the top contributor to the ratings," "What a diverse king he portrayed," "I want to see another historical drama featuring Kim Ji-hoon," and "Kim Ji-hoon hard-carried with his possession of the eight-legged ghost and dual role performance."
Thus, Kim Ji-hoon, with a character interpretation rate of over 200%, drew emotional engagement from viewers, becoming a leading figure in the 'The Haunted Palace' wave every Friday and Saturday night. The future actions of actor Kim Ji-hoon, who possesses an irreplaceable charm, are also highly anticipated.
[Photo] Capture from the SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'The Haunted Palace'.
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