Park Hae-soo: "Mother of 'Scarecrow' wept after receiving a call from the 'daughter-in-law'... 'I didn't see you as my son'" [Interview ①]

*This content was translated by AI.

Actor Park Hae-soo shared his reflections on receiving great love for his role in "Scarecrow."

Park Hae-soo concluded the ENA Monday-Tuesday drama "Scarecrow" on the 26th with a successful finale after its 12th episode.

"Scarecrow" tells the story of detective Kang Tae-ju (played by Park Hae-soo), who was investigating a serial murder case, unexpectedly forming an alliance with prosecutor Cha Si-young (played by Lee Hee-joon), a man he had despised. The drama was inspired by the 1986 serial murders in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, one of South Korea's three most famous unsolved cases. While Bong Joon-ho's film "Memories of Murder" (2003) highlighted this case that remained unsolved at the time of its release, "Scarecrow" covered the period up to the arrest of the true culprit in September 2019, leaving a meaningful message.

Notably, "Scarecrow" showcased the pinnacle of well-made genre dramas with its flawless acting ensemble, including leads Park Hae-soo, Lee Hee-joon, and Kwak Sun-young, as well as supporting actors Jung Moon-sung, Song Geon-hee, Seo Ji-hye, and Yoo Seung-mok. With the reunion of director Park Jun-woo and writer Lee Ji-hyun, who previously created the groundbreaking SBS drama "Taxi Driver" Season 1 (2021), "Scarecrow" delivered consistent entertainment in every episode. Starting with a 2.9% viewership in its first episode, the drama climbed to over 7% within six episodes, ultimately becoming the highest-rated Monday-Tuesday drama in ENA history. In terms of overall ENA drama viewership, it secured the second-highest record, trailing only "Extraordinary Attorney Woo" (17.5%).

In a recent interview with StarNews, Park Hae-soo expressed his surprise, saying, "I never expected 'Scarecrow' to receive such overwhelming love. I was truly moved by the viewers' support and received many calls even from my relatives."

When asked about the secret to its success, he credited the power of a sincere work. Park Hae-soo stated, "As you know, our drama tackled a heavy theme. Thanks to the excellent writer, director, and fellow actors, we were able to present it well. In fact, when I first received the 'Scarecrow' script, I was scared. The role of Tae-ju I was assigned was larger than my capabilities and depicted a difficult life, so I was afraid of portraying it. However, I trusted the director, and the drama's concept fueled my sense of challenge. With high trust in my fellow actors, I felt that even though we might face difficulties together, we could still succeed."

He also shared a heartwarming anecdote about personally experiencing the drama's popularity. Park Hae-soo said, "After the first broadcast, I went to Starfield in my neighborhood to do some shopping. Even though I was wearing a mask, many people recognized me. I was so grateful." He smiled while recounting the story.

Park Hae-soo then shared his mother's unique reaction, further emphasizing how deeply "Scarecrow" resonated with viewers. He said, "My mother cried so much while watching 'Scarecrow.' It wasn't because of scenes featuring me. She once called my wife while crying instead of calling me directly. As someone who lived through that era, she was frightened by the broadcast at the time and cried because she felt so sorry for the victims and the youth of that generation. She also offered me comfort not for my acting, but for the character Kang Tae-ju who carried that burden. 'Scarecrow' was the only drama among all my works that my mother watched with such deep immersion." He spoke with emotion.

How did he feel about saying goodbye to Kang Tae-ju? Park Hae-soo said, "It's truly strange. Although quite some time has passed since we finished filming 'Scarecrow,' watching the broadcast made me feel like I returned to the past. Now I need to send Tae-ju off on a train, and this thought swirled in my mind throughout the entire broadcast. Memories of conversations at the set, gratitude toward the director, writer, and fellow actors, all came flooding back. I am so thankful. Thanks to them, I lived that moment fully. I also want to become a person who, like Tae-ju, can admit to their own mistakes."

He added, "Although 'Scarecrow' may gradually fade from viewers' memories, I hope it left a small message to remember things that should not be forgotten and provided comfort. Thank you so much for your love."

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.