ENA’s new drama 'Climax' has finally premiered today. The series goes beyond a simple story about a married couple, portraying the fierce struggle for survival and the difficult choices of people who plunge into a vortex of power to reach the very top in South Korea.
Anticipation for 'Climax' has already been building. In the first week of March, the drama entered the Top 10 of the TV drama buzz rankings by Good Data Corporation’s Fundex, becoming the first ENA drama to make the list even before its premiere.
The drama has drawn attention from the start for its star-studded cast. Ju Ji Hoon plays star prosecutor Bang Tae Seop, while Ha Ji Won portrays Chu Sang Ah, an actress who was once at the height of her career but drifted away from the public spotlight after marriage. The two actors are working together for the first time in this project. Their collaboration is especially noteworthy as they were previously expected to appear together in the 2019 drama 'Prometheus,' which was ultimately canceled.
At the production presentation, director Lee Ji Won explained why Ju Ji Hoon was chosen for the role of Bang Tae Seop. “When I imagined a character racing toward his desires, Ju Ji Hoon’s face came to mind first. His asymmetrical eyes and sharp nose give him an aura that feels like both a beast and a venomous snake,” she said.
Speaking about Ha Ji Won’s character Chu Sang Ah, Lee added, “While working together on the film Biguang, I realized how professional Ha Ji Won is. I wanted to collaborate with her again on a project that required a longer creative process.”
Nana plays Hwang Jung Won, an informant for Bang Tae Seop. Oh Jung Se takes on the role of Kwon Jong Wook, a man aiming to become the heir to a powerful conglomerate family, while Cha Joo Young portrays Lee Yang Mi, the second wife of the chairman of the WR Group, the third-largest conglomerate in the business world within the story. For Ha Ji Won, the series marks her return to television four years after the KBS drama Curtain Call.
Director Lee praised Nana’s performance, saying, “I’ve always thought Nana has an instinctive, almost animal-like sense as an actress. Hwang Jung Won is the character with the most secrets in the story, and she reveals new sides of herself as the drama progresses. Nana exceeded my expectations.”
Regarding Cha Joo Young’s character Lee Yang Mi, Lee said, “She’s a powerful antagonist who also shows human and comedic sides. It’s a role that could easily lose balance, but Cha Joo Young completed the character with her own elegant yet bold charm.”
Lee also highlighted Oh Jung Se’s role as Kwon Jong Wook. “He might actually be the most human character in the story. Although he hides a blade behind his back, he has the face of a clown you can’t quite hate. Watching the monitor on set, I often thought, ‘This is exactly why he’s Oh Jung Se.’ It’s a character that would have been difficult to complete without him.”
The production team is equally impressive. The script and direction are handled by Lee Ji Won, who won the Best New Director award at the Baeksang Arts Awards for the film 'Miss Baek.' Production is led by Hive Media Corp, the company behind the hit films '12.12: The Day' and 'The Man Standing Next.' Lee Ji Won and Ha Ji Won previously worked together on the upcoming film Biguang.
The production team stated, “Climax centers on a tightly woven narrative created by the intersecting desires and choices of its characters. Director Lee Ji Won’s detailed direction, combined with the actors’ strong presence, will generate powerful synergy.”
At the press conference, Lee Ji Won also drew attention with her confident remarks about the drama’s potential ratings. “Because I have high expectations for the actors, I firmly believe we will achieve the highest ratings in ENA’s history,” she said. “Why wouldn’t we be able to surpass Extraordinary Attorney Woo and its peak rating of 17.5%?”
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