The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_X_on_2023.svgbt_X_over_2023.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_X_on_2023.svgbt_X_over_2023.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Korea to expand visa benefits to accelerate inbound tourism

  • 3

    'Moon gov't neglected, concealed North's killing of S. Korean official'

  • 5

    Photo of Samsung chief's playful pose goes viral

  • 7

    CJ Olive Young fined 1.89 bil. won for unfair supply contracts

  • 9

    China's Xi warns top EU officials not to engage in 'confrontation'

  • 11

    'Soundtrack #2' tells classic yet realistic love story

  • 13

    Major hospitals struggle to recruit pediatricians

  • 15

    Lawyer of Korean descent selected as chair of Dentons Global Board

  • 17

    Samsung to unveil AI-powered lifestyle vision at CES 2024

  • 19

    LGES, KAIST enable EVs to go 900 km on single charge

  • 2

    Hotels grapple with chronic staff shortages

  • 4

    INTERVIEWMeet the man behind giant rubber ducks that once took over Seoul

  • 6

    Giant panda statue at Everland

  • 8

    Padres' Kim Ha-seong files blackmail complaint against Korean player

  • 10

    K-dramas, beauty, food to maintain popularity on TikTok in 2024

  • 12

    SK reshuffles top management focusing on generational shift

  • 14

    NYT picks President Yoon, NewJeans among 71 'most stylish' people of 2023

  • 16

    Pro-Palestine protests in Seoul concern Israeli ambassador

  • 18

    INTERVIEW'Now is time for Koreans to unlock potential in Africa'

  • 20

    Seoul awards honorary citizenship to outstanding foreign residents

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sat, December 9, 2023 | 15:22
Shows & Dramas
Ji Sung plays dark hero in new tvN series 'The Devil Judge'
Posted : 2021-07-05 16:29
Updated : 2021-07-05 16:32
Lee Gyu-lee
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Actors Kim Min-jung, left, and Ji Sung pose for pictures during a media conference for the tvN series 'The Devil Judge,' Friday. Courtesy of tvN
Actors Kim Min-jung, left, and Ji Sung pose for pictures during a media conference for the tvN series "The Devil Judge," Friday. Courtesy of tvN

By Lee Gyu-lee

TvN's new dark protagonist series "The Devil Judge," starring Ji Sung and Kim Min-jung, has kicked off to a good start with its first two episodes scoring above a 5 percent viewership rating.

The series premiere, aired Saturday, saw a 5.6 percent rating nationwide, followed by a 5.1 percent rating for its second episode, Sunday.

Scripted by former judge, Moon Yoo-seok, who is the creator and scriptwriter behind the JTBC series "Ms. Hammurabi," the new drama is set in a fictional dystopian Korea.

Two years after the country has been swept by a mysterious plague, it implements a new justice system in which court trials are broadcast live to the public. Viewers can access an application to vote whether they think the defendant deserves sentencing or not, for judges to take into consideration in their rulings.

Kang Yo-han (Ji) is the star chief judge of the new system, who is merciless in punishing the "bad." Though many see him as a just, ruthless judge, his true face as a cold-hearted, evil-minded man surfaces when social foundation director Jung Sun-ah (Kim) and rookie judge Kim Ga-on (Jin Young) come into his life.

Actor Ji said he was drawn to the role when he read the script. "Kang Yo-han is a judge who punishes evil with evil. I was fascinated by such concept, and wanted to play the character," he said during a media conference for the series, Friday.

"Writer Moon had been telling me that since he covered stories about good judges in Ms. Hammurabi, he wants to portray an evil judge, acting like a Batman or Joker, set in a fictional world. And he finally made it into a series."

Actors Kim Min-jung, left, and Ji Sung pose for pictures during a media conference for the tvN series 'The Devil Judge,' Friday. Courtesy of tvN
A poster for "The Devil Judge" / Courtesy of tvN

Director Choi Jung-gyu, whose work includes the MBC mystery series "Children of Nobody," noted that the series questions the growing popularity of shows about a dark hero, such as recently wrapped "Taxi Driver" and "Vincenzo."

"Most dark hero series have action and are about fighting bad with bad. But with this series, the writer is making us think, 'Why are people crazy about dark heroes," he said. "The central theme which will be laid out through Ji's character is the biggest difference between our drama and previous series."

Ji said that he had a hard time studying the role at first. "I had trouble understanding the character… (at first) I thought of the character as a good person who embraces evil. But he is just evil," he said. "Depending on the perspective, the evil character wasn't just fascinating but was depressing and agonizing."

Ji and Kim have reunited with this work about 13 years after they co-starred in the romance series "New Heart." The two expressed their chemistry has gotten better than the last time they worked together.

"I've always thought I wanted to work together again," Kim said. "We have grown a lot since the last time. Even with the complex scenes, we would just exchange few words and be good to go, which gives me huge satisfaction."

Ji added: "I was so happy (to work) with her again. It was nice how we could rely on each other throughout the production."

"The Devil Judge" airs on Saturdays and Sundays at 9 p.m.


Emailgyulee@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
wooribank
LG group
Top 10 Stories
1Korea to expand visa benefits to accelerate inbound tourism Korea to expand visa benefits to accelerate inbound tourism
2Seoul awards honorary citizenship to outstanding foreign residentsSeoul awards honorary citizenship to outstanding foreign residents
3Seoul-Moscow ties likely stuck in limbo amid blame game Seoul-Moscow ties likely stuck in limbo amid blame game
4Will Korea avoid hard landing in housing market? Will Korea avoid hard landing in housing market?
5Why Korean shoppers flock to Chinese e-commerce sites Why Korean shoppers flock to Chinese e-commerce sites
6'12.12: The Day' goes strong at box office, attracts younger generation '12.12: The Day' goes strong at box office, attracts younger generation
7K-pop's appeal reflected in global accolades K-pop's appeal reflected in global accolades
8Hyundai Motor hires former US Ambassador to Korea Sung Kim as adviser Hyundai Motor hires former US Ambassador to Korea Sung Kim as adviser
9Justice minister challenges opposition leader in polls for potential next president Justice minister challenges opposition leader in polls for potential next president
10Hanwha signs $2.4 bil. deal to export infantry fighting vehicles to Australia Hanwha signs $2.4 bil. deal to export infantry fighting vehicles to Australia
Top 5 Entertainment News
1'12.12: The Day' goes strong at box office, attracts younger generation '12.12: The Day' goes strong at box office, attracts younger generation
2K-pop's appeal reflected in global accolades K-pop's appeal reflected in global accolades
3[REVIEW] Musical 'Monte Cristo' returns with riveting tale of vengeance, love REVIEWMusical 'Monte Cristo' returns with riveting tale of vengeance, love
4[INTERVIEW] How AmazeVR revolutionizes aespa's LYNK-POP concert INTERVIEWHow AmazeVR revolutionizes aespa's LYNK-POP concert
5[INTERVIEW] Meet the man behind giant rubber ducks that once took over Seoul INTERVIEWMeet the man behind giant rubber ducks that once took over Seoul
DARKROOM
  • It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

    It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

  • 2023 Thanksgiving parade in NYC

    2023 Thanksgiving parade in NYC

  • Appreciation of autumn colors

    Appreciation of autumn colors

  • Our children deserve better

    Our children deserve better

  • Israel-Gaza conflict erupts into war

    Israel-Gaza conflict erupts into war

  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel: 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844
Date of registration: 2020.02.05
Masthead: The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group