Jung Eun-chae of 'Chaebol X Detective 2' relieved by ratings surpassing Season 1: "Joined with a heavy burden… felt catharsis" [★FULL INTERVIEW]

*This content was translated by AI.

Placing a new spoon on a well-set table is always a heavy task. Actress Jung Eun-chae, who stood at the starting line burdened by the weight of her predecessor's dazzling success, finally shook up the game with her own unique color and achieved a brilliant and dignified conclusion.

Recently, Jung Eun-chae held a round interview at a cafe in Seoul Gangnam-gu, sharing various stories about the SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'Chaebol X Detective 2' (screenplay by Kim Ba-da, directed by Kim Jae-hong), which concluded on the 19th.

'Chaebol X Detective 2' is a refreshing and exhilarating collaborative investigation drama featuring chaebol detective Jin Yi-soo (played by Ahn Bo-hyun), who flips the game with his wealth when investigations hit a dead end, and new team leader Joo Hye-ra (played by Jung Eun-chae).

In the drama, Jung Eun-chae took on the role of Joo Hye-ra, the new face of Season 2 and Lee Kkeu-neun (Team Lead) of the Major Crimes Unit Team 1, engaging in a satisfying collaborative investigation alongside chaebol detective Jin Yi-soo, who flips the game with his wealth when investigations hit a dead end.

Season 1, which aired in 2024, was widely loved, recording a peak viewership rating of 11.0% (Nielsen Korea, nationwide basis). This Season 2 recorded a nationwide viewership rating of 11.8% in the final episode, Episode 14, surpassing the previous season's highest score.

Regarding her thoughts on the series finale, Jung Eun-chae said, "I was curious about how those who watched it received it. Personally, I feel there are always some slightly disappointing parts with each work," while adding, "However, I am very satisfied with the chemistry and interactions I felt with the actors and colleagues on set."

She also candidly shared her feelings about the viewership ratings that far exceeded Season 1. She revealed, "Since it is a work following one that received enormous love from the previous season until its finale, there was pressure involved." She continued, "It is incredibly fortunate that viewers came to like and cherish us more as we progressed toward the latter half of the series. In any case, it has been proven by the numbers, so I feel relieved and grateful," letting out a sigh of relief.

Jung Eun-chae also stated, "The actors and staff all created Season 2 as equal members, so I wonder if their expectations and pressure regarding the ratings were not greater than mine," adding, "I am grateful and happy that it ended well in that regard," not forgetting to express her gratitude toward her colleagues.

Behind her decision to join this new game was a sense of challenge as an actress. Jung Eun-chae recalled the time of casting, saying, "As a character newly introduced in Season 2, I wondered if I could be well absorbed into the already established worldview of Season 1. It was a work I joined carrying that burden myself."

Regarding why she decided to join despite carrying such a burden that she described as a "burden," she said, "The genre of this work itself was something I had not really tried before. So I felt curious." She added, "I was attracted to the character itself. In fact, every work comes with some kind of burden, but there were new challenges, and the work was attractive. It was a work worth trying in terms of acting."

Jung Eun-chae said, "The work itself has received a lot of love, so I felt a strong desire to live up to those expectations and affection, hoping for a certain level of result." She continued, "However, responsibility is something one must carry every time. There was the appeal of catharsis in resolving that burden as I went along."

In the drama, Joo Hye-ra skillfully rides a bike, leaving a strong first impression and sparking buzz. However, Jung Eun-chae revealed a surprising behind-the-scenes fact: she cannot ride a bike at all in real life. She candidly shared, "For full shots of the bike, I received help from an expert. Someone who really rides bikes well domestically served as my stunt double." She added, "It was also a scene that had to be conducted safely, and I simply cannot ride a bike at all."

Nevertheless, she showed affection for the scene. She said, "Still, I wanted Joo Hye-ra's first appearance to have impact. In full shots, the professional actor looked cool, and in tight shots, I expressed the character's emotions. Through editing, they well combined those two parts. As a result, it seems to have become a good entrance scene," expressing satisfaction with the final product.

A major factor in her ability to quickly blend into the new environment was the solid support from her co-star Ahn Bo-hyun. Jung Eun-chae expressed her gratitude, saying, "In (Ahn) Bo-hyun's case, he played a main role in Season 1 and filmed this season two years later. He stayed well in character as Jin Yi-soo on set, which made it easy for me to adapt."

She continued, "I was to the point of confusing the real Ahn Bo-hyun with the character Jin Yi-soo. He helped me a lot so I could adapt quickly." She explained about their chemistry, adding, "He is an actor who performs very flexibly, so he received my reactions well when we acted together. He also did well with ad-lib acting, so we matched up well and had fun acting."

She also mentioned her acting chemistry with Yoo Seung-ho, who left a strong impression as the psychopathic artist and final villain Yoo Sung-won in the drama. Jung Eun-chae reflected, "In Yoo Seung-ho's case, he appeared in our drama as a special guest. As the director also said, it was a special appearance because he is so special." She added, "I met him for the first time in this work. He acted his character with great depth, so it was fun acting with him."

Along with the success of this 'Chaebol X Detective 2,' Jung Eun-chae's previous works such as 'Anna' and 'Your Honor' are once again drawing attention. Regarding this, she said, "I am so happy. They were wonderful works even during filming, and it is amazing that they are still receiving love after time has passed." She added, "In any case, we work hard and put effort into making the works. So I have a strong desire for at least one more person to watch them."

She also shared reactions from those around her. She added, "I don't receive feedback after every broadcast, but I do feel that people are watching a lot and enjoying it since it is a work receiving love."

The solid support from her lover Kim Chong-jae, who has been in a sweet relationship for three years since acknowledging their romance in 2024, was also mentioned. Jung Eun-chae smiled shyly, saying, "Mr. Kim Chong-jae always maintains a relationship where we respect and encourage each other's work, so he said he enjoyed watching this one too."

She also revealed the secret behind her ability to demonstrate a distinct presence in every role she appears in, earning consecutive favorable reviews. Jung Eun-chae said, "There is something that becomes clear when I think, 'If I do this, I can show a different side from my previous work.' In some of the recent works I have done, I intentionally chose different projects and made them different in terms of genre." She added, "I think about these things a lot and make choices. Fortunately, they have received a lot of love, so I am grateful."

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*This content was translated by AI.