Ha Ji-won returns to K-drama after 4 years with ambitious star role in Climax

Actress Ha Ji-won is officially coming back to the small screen for the first time in four years. Newly released still cuts from ENA’s upcoming drama Climax are already building anticipation, teasing a powerful transformation into a character driven by fame, power, and survival.

A top star standing at the center of power and desire

In Climax, Ha Ji-won plays Chu Sang-ah, a once-untouchable A-list actress whose life begins to crack as she faces career failures and the resurfacing of a decade-old murder case.

The drama follows prosecutor Bang Tae-seop (played by Ju Ji-hoon), who dives into a cartel of power to reach the top, and the fierce survival battle of those surrounding him. Within this world, Chu Sang-ah becomes a key figure caught between ambition, reputation, and difficult choices.

Two still cuts that capture her inner conflict

The newly unveiled images highlight both the elegance and tension of the character.

In one still, Chu Sang-ah is seen in front of a dressing table mirror, speaking on the phone, her intense gaze and composed expression hinting at a high-stakes situation.
In another, she watches a monitor on set with a serious, calculating look, signaling that she is more than a glamorous celebrity — she is a strategist navigating a dangerous game.

The visuals emphasize her signature aura while foreshadowing the psychological depth of the role.

A character of glamour, downfall, and ruthless ambition

Chu Sang-ah is described as a figure who once dominated the spotlight with an overwhelming presence. However, consecutive box-office failures and the revived murder scandal begin to shake her status.

Ha Ji-won is expected to portray:

• unstoppable ambition
• emotional conflict
• the instinct to survive at the top

— all at the same time.

First on-screen partnership with Ju Ji-hoon

The drama also marks her first on-screen couple chemistry with Ju Ji-hoon, raising expectations for a high-tension relationship built on power, strategy, and conflicting desires.

Premiere date and global streaming

Climax will premiere on March 16 at 10 PM (KST) on ENA, and will also be available via Genie TV and Disney+, making the series accessible to global viewers.

With a darker tone, political power struggles, and Ha Ji-won’s long-awaited return, Climax is already shaping up to be one of the most anticipated K-dramas of the season.