Defendant (Bị Cáo) is a new crime and psychological drama television series by SBS. Two years after his multiple personality role in Kill Me, Heal Me, Ji Sung returns to the screen as a prosecutor who is suspected of killing his entire family. Despite only airing two episodes, the show has already garnered high ratings and has left viewers curious if this will be another iconic drama for Ji Sung.
The battle between two powerhouse actors - Ji Sung and Uhm Ki Joon
The majority of viewers watching Defendant refer to it as "Ji Sung's drama". And rightfully so, the 40-year-old actor completely dominates his role and successfully leads the other supporting actors. With 18 years of experience in the industry, Ji Sung is recognized by the public as a talented actor who excels in complex psychological storylines.
On the other side of the battlefield, actor Uhm Ki Joon shines with his ability to perfectly portray dual roles. Despite being a junior, Uhm Ki Joon makes Ji Sung's fans wary as he brings his experience from participating in 16 television dramas and 4 major films. The moments where Uhm Ki Joon changes his facial expressions to differentiate between the twin brothers are truly chilling and realistic.
Apart from Ji Sung and Uhm Ki Joon, the supporting cast of Defendant is also noteworthy. While Oh Chang Suk and Uhm Hyun Kyung have great chemistry with the two main actors, Kwon Yuri's character as defense attorney Seo Eun Hye is facing a storm of criticism. Although Kwon Yuri's screen time in the first two episodes is limited, her presence among a talented cast seems to be a significant challenge for her.
The level of success reflected in the ratings
Defendant inherited the time slot of Romantic Doctor, Teacher Kim - SBS's highest-rated drama in the last three months of 2016. Initially, the impressive 14.5% rating of Defendant was thought to be due to the lingering popularity of its predecessor. However, Defendant has proven its true appeal as the ratings for the second episode continued to climb. According to AGB Nielsen Korea, the latest episode of Defendant attracted 31.3 million viewers in South Korea and achieved a rating of 14.9%. Even during the intense climax at the end of this episode, when Ji Sung's character reveals a dramatic plot twist, the real-time ratings reached nearly 20%. These figures indicate that Defendant is poised to become another rating champion for SBS.
Engaging and intense storyline
Defendant is not your typical crime investigation drama. In the series, Park Jung Woo (played by Ji Sung) is an outstanding prosecutor with a happy family life. However, one day he wakes up in shock, realizing that he has been arrested for the murder of his own family. At the same time, Jung Woo has lost all memories from the past four months. His fragmented memories only point to a mysterious case involving the twin brothers of the Cha Myung conglomerate.
These twin brothers include Cha Min Ho and Cha Sun Ho (both portrayed by Uhm Ki Joon). Cha Sun Ho is successful and composed, while Cha Min Ho, who resembles his brother, has a completely different personality. After being investigated by Park Jung Woo for murder, Cha Min Ho kills his own brother to assume his identity and escape punishment. Cha Sun Ho dies in agony, while Cha Min Ho lives on calmly in his brother's persona.
Park Jung Woo sees through this cruel scheme and relentlessly tries to expose the truth. The outcome of the case has not been revealed yet, but viewers speculate that Cha Min Ho is somehow connected to the tragedy and critical condition of Park Jung Woo four months later. Being a prosecutor is a respected profession and is frequently portrayed on Korean television. However, this is the first time viewers are left wondering if a person who upholds justice can commit such heinous crimes like Park Jung Woo's situation. And during the investigation, could there be a unique detail like the twin brothers switching identities that can go unnoticed by the law and pose a danger to the innocent?
Up until now, Ji Sung and the other characters have immersed viewers in a maze of unanswered questions about morality, with no clear solutions. The most commendable aspect currently is Ji Sung's acting and his efforts to portray a traumatized Park Jung Woo who still believes in reason and his profession. Ji Sung himself admits to having frequent nightmares during the filming due to the intense script.
If Defendant maintains this momentum, it will soon become the most compelling crime and psychological drama to watch in the first half of this year. You can follow Defendant on SBS every Monday and Tuesday evening.