The Haunted Palace's top contributor, Kim Ji-hoon, continues to be in the spotlight even after the series concluded.
On the 7th, Kim Ji-hoon received enthusiastic love from viewers as he left a deep impression until the last episode of the epic SBS Friday-Saturday drama The Haunted Palace (written by Yoon Soo-jung, directed by Yoon Sung-sik).
In The Haunted Palace, Kim Ji-hoon created a trendy character that breaks the mold of typical royal characters in historical dramas. His seasoned acting skills carried the weight of the drama to the end, along with his striking visuals and strong voice, fulfilling the role of a central figure. As it set its own record for the highest ratings until the conclusion, Kim Ji-hoon's performance left a strong impression in every episode.
# Overwhelming presence shown through gaze and acting skills
Kim Ji-hoon, who revealed his unique aura with each appearance, progressively depicted the inner changes of the character Lee Jung, adding deep immersion to the drama. He delicately expressed various faces of Lee Jung, from the ideal monarch dreaming of a strong country, a father worrying about his sick son, to a tyrant revealing madness consumed by the Eight-Feet Demon. His gaze, filled with complex emotions, and stable acting skills were enough to captivate the audience, leading to praise that "Lee Jung cannot be anyone but Kim Ji-hoon."
# Warm or cold
Lee Jung demonstrated the flexible and generous side of a king, even as he faced rebellion from Gang-cheol (played by Yook Sung-jae), instead of getting angry, showing camaraderie. Furthermore, during their playful interactions, he showcased his unique charm, and when looking at the queen (played by Han So-eun), he displayed a warm and human side as a 'lover' with honey in his eyes.
However, at moments when he was possessed by the Eight-Feet Demon and fought fiercely with Gang-cheol or became consumed by rage to eliminate enemies, he transformed into someone more serious and cold, freezing the atmosphere. This natural handling of contrasting temperaments was possible due to the expertise of veteran actor Kim Ji-hoon. He successfully maintained the character's core while navigating both extremes without leaning towards one side.
# King we want to see more of after a 15-year hiatus in historical dramas
Kim Ji-hoon, making his historical drama appearance after 15 years and taking on his first king role since his debut, utilized all his weapons as an actor—visuals, physique, gaze, and voice—to create an unprecedented King Lee Jung. With his eye-catching appearance in every scene and a perfect blend of intense action and clear lines, he maximized the charm of an all-capable monarch. His passionate performance not only contributed to rising viewership ratings but also earned broad support from the primary viewing demographic of the 2049 age group, proving to be a hot topic.
Thus, Kim Ji-hoon was a central figure from the beginning to the end of The Haunted Palace, demonstrating a strong presence even during the climax while managing both popularity and ratings. Attention is now drawn to the future endeavors of actor Kim Ji-hoon, who has shown limitless transformations and expanded his acting spectrum infinitely.
[Photo] OSEN DB, SBS source.
[OSEN]