Lee Hee-joon has revealed yet another side of himself in his attempt to rattle Park Hae-soo.
In the hit ENA Monday-Tuesday drama ‘Scarecrow’ (Directed by Park Jun-woo / Written by Lee Ji-hyun), actor Lee Hee-joon is delivering a powerful performance as prosecutor ‘Cha Si-young’, a character who seamlessly switches between a gentle demeanor and a cold, ruthless side.
In the latest episode, Cha Si-young attempted to wrap up the case quickly once Ki-bum (played by Song Geon-hee) emerged as a prime suspect. Even though Tae-joo (played by Park Hae-soo) mentioned Ki-bum’s alibi and asked for more time before the press conference, Si-young refused to budge. The two clashed intensely over the direction of the case, deepening the tension between their cooperation and confrontation.
Later, while interrogating Ki-bum, Si-young pressured him using unfavorable circumstances, eventually securing a statement that seemed to be a confession. While the situation appeared to shift back in Si-young’s favor, his relationship with Tae-joo remained far from a simple partnership. The dynamic of needing each other while remaining wary of one another heightened the drama’s suspense.
Lee Hee-joon effectively portrayed Si-young’s multi-layered personality through a range of emotional temperatures. He meticulously balanced the anxiety hidden behind a relaxed smile, the low and firm tone used to pressure others, and the momentary cracks that appeared in front of Tae-joo. By layering small reactions over a steady expression, he completed the character’s complex inner thoughts.
Furthermore, Lee Hee-joon ensured that the character’s cruelty didn’t come across as simple malice. He created a sense of pressure with a low, suppressed speaking style when pushing others, while showing a completely different side by relaxing his expression during moments of kindness. Through a momentarily stiffened face and subtle changes in tone, he revealed a deep-seated desire for recognition and a sense of inferiority.
Through this approach, Lee Hee-joon has earned high praise for crafting Cha Si-young into a character who cannot be defined by a single face.
Meanwhile, ‘Scarecrow’ has once again broken its own viewership records. It recorded a national average of 7.4% (peak 8.3%) and a metropolitan average of 7.7% (peak 8.5%), ranking first across all channels in its time slot for national households. The target rating for the 2049 demographic also soared to a peak of 3.0% per minute (Nielsen Korea, paid households).
