Now that the hit drama Beyond the Bar has concluded, lead actress Jung Chae Yeon is candidly addressing the controversies she faced during the show’s run, including early criticism of her acting and rumors about how she was cast.
Despite the show’s success, hitting a peak viewership rating of 9.1% and topping the Netflix charts in Korea, the journey wasn’t entirely smooth. In the early episodes, some viewers criticized Jung Chae Yeon’s “stiff” delivery as the rookie lawyer, Hyomin.
She explained this was a deliberate choice she made with the director to portray her character’s inexperience. “I understood why opinions were divided,” she said in a recent interview. “I even asked the director, ‘Is this the right way to do it?’ and he responded, ‘A rookie professional might actually sound awkward or interject at the wrong time.’ I agreed with his opinion and thought it would be a good way to show her growth later on.”
She also faced baseless accusations of getting a role through connections because she shares an agency with male lead Lee Jin Wook. “Instead of feeling it was unfair, I just thought, ‘I can see why people might think that,'” she admitted. “But I didn’t let it bother me much. It was just one of several projects I was offered, and I simply participated because I liked the script.”
Despite being agency colleagues, she confessed she was “very nervous” to work with Lee Jin Wook for the first time as a co-star. “He made me feel more comfortable than anyone,” she shared. “He was the mood-maker on set, always playing jokes to lighten the atmosphere. I really admire his composure and want to become a senior actor like him.”
Beyond the Bar aired its finale on September 7th.
>> Lee Jin Wook Hints at Blossoming Romance With Jung Chae Yeon Should ‘Beyond the Bar’ Get Season 2
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