ENA’s Monday-Tuesday drama ‘Scarecrow’ continues its hit streak, and one actor is definitely catching the viewers’ attention: Kim Eun-woo, who plays a detective.
In ‘Scarecrow,’ Kim Eun-woo takes on the role of Detective Do Hyung-gu from the Gangseong Police Station.
From his first appearance in episodes 1 and 2, Do Hyung-gu showed his rough side, clashing with the protagonist Kang Tae-joo (played by Park Hae-soo). His blatant violence quickly made him the “representative anger-inducer” of the series. Even in episode 7, when the identity of the elusive serial killer was revealed as Lee Ki-hwan (played by Jung Moon-sung), Detective Do Hyung-gu managed to infuriate viewers just by appearing on screen.
Do Hyung-gu’s “hateability” reached new heights in episodes 7 and 8. He and Jang Myung-do (played by Jeon Jae-hong) were highlighted as key figures involved in the illegal arrest and torture of Lee Ki-beom (played by Song Geon-hee). After pushing Lee Ki-beom to the brink of death, Do Hyung-gu tried to downplay his mistakes during the audit process. He also acted humble before Cha Si-young (played by Lee Hee-jun) to dodge responsibility, pleading that he “only committed the sin of faithfully carrying out what the former prosecutor ordered.” He is the textbook definition of a “strong to the weak, weak to the strong” character.
To make matters worse, Do Hyung-gu was nominated for an exemplary civil servant award for his “contribution” to capturing the culprit of the Gangseong serial murder case. Seeing a torturer be hailed as a hero created a bitter sense of twisted truth and justice. While this was a past event in the story, it resonated with viewers as something that could happen in real life.
The anger Do Hyung-gu evokes is all thanks to Kim Eun-woo’s passionate performance. Kim Eun-woo completed the character of Do Hyung-gu, a mix of violence, cowardice, lies, excuses, and incompetence. From his facial expressions and tone of voice to his violent behavior, he perfectly embodied the despicable detective. The way his gaze shifts instantly depending on whether he’s facing someone powerful or weak solidified the “Do Hyung-gu = Kim Eun-woo” formula. His acting is so realistic that you almost want to avoid him in real life. He has truly become the embodiment of a nuisance.
Thanks to Kim Eun-woo’s “success” in becoming so hateable, ‘Scarecrow’ maintains a high level of tension and makes viewers feel the rage of that era. As a villain who increases immersion, Kim Eun-woo has gone beyond being a “scene stealer” to leave a lasting impression on the audience.
