Ju Ji Hoon is keeping things candid as he returns to the spotlight with ENA’s Climax.
Speaking in Seoul on April 7th, the actor admitted it’s been “nerve-wrecking” to be back in a ratings-driven drama—but also acknowledged the show’s intensity. “There’s political content, and it’s pretty provocative. I even asked the production team, ‘Is this really okay?’”
Originally written as R-rated, the drama was later adjusted to PG-15 (Korean classification), creating an unusual contrast. “The setup is mature, but the expression is toned down—sometimes that makes it feel even more intense,” he said.
He also weighed in on the buzz around his kiss scene with Ha Ji Won. “Since it’s airing on TV rather than a streaming platform, it probably feels more provocative to viewers,” he noted.
Ju Ji Hoon then revealed he was offered a cameo in Perfect Crown, a new drama drawing comparisons to his breakout hit Princess Hours. “I said yes,” he said with a laugh, “but I knew it wouldn’t happen. I’m filming ‘The Remarried Empress’—there’s no way to make it work.”
He then joked, “I’ve still got my own ‘empire’ to handle—I’m not passing the crown anytime soon.”
The actor also playfully mentioned being labeled part of a “talkative trio” alongside Kim Nam Gil and Yoon Kyung Ho on Yoo Jae Suk’s YouTube show “Pinggyego.” “I’m offended,” he said. “I don’t talk unnecessarily.” He added with a laugh, “Nam Gil says anything, Kyung Ho just talks a lot—I mostly stay quiet.”
Looking ahead to his next project, The Remarried Empress, Ju Ji Hoon revealed he initially turned it down. “At first, I didn’t understand it, so I said no. But people I trust explained why I was needed for the role, and that made me curious enough to join.”
Describing himself as an “omnivorous” actor shaped by a wide range of people he’s been surrounded by, Ju Ji Hoon summed up Climax this way: “The world isn’t fair, and this drama lays that out without holding back.”
Climax airs Mondays and Tuesdays at 10 PM KST on ENA and streams on Disney Plus.
>> Ha Ji Won Shocks With First Villain Role: Extreme Weight Loss and Emotional Toll Behind ‘Climax’
In the meantime, watch Ju Ji Hoon in The Naked Kitchen on Amasian TV for free.
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