[TF Interview] Jung Eun-chae, a choice that wasn't wrong this time either

Captain Joo Hye-ra of the Violent Crimes Unit 1 at the Seoul Gangha Police Station"A special experience through the work... it remains a good memory."Actress Jung Eun-chae met with to conduct an interview commemorating the finale of SBS's Friday-Saturday drama 'The Atypical Family' Season 2. /Project Hosu[THE FACT | Reporter Moon Chae-young] Actress Jung Eun-chae has successfully completed her role as the heroine in 'The Atypical Family 2'. Despite concerns about the previous season's popularity and the already established world, her decision to take on the role, trusting in the quality of the work, has brought her great joy. Jung Eun-chae has gained much, from reliable fellow actors to the rediscovered fun of action acting.Jung Eun-chae recently met with at a cafe in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, to conduct an interview commemorating the finale of SBS's Friday-Saturday drama 'The Atypical Family' Season 2 (written by Kim Ba-da, directed by Kim Jae-hong, hereinafter referred to as 'The Atypical Family 2'). Playing the role of Joo Hye-ra, the new team leader of the Violent Crimes Unit 1 at the Seoul Gangha Police Station, she shared various stories related to the drama.'The Atypical Family 2' is a thrilling joint investigation drama between the chaebol detective Jin Yi-soo (played by Ahn Bo-hyun), who overturns cases with his wealth when investigations stall, and the new team leader Joo Hye-ra. It is the sequel to Season 1, which aired in 2024 and recorded a peak viewership rating of 11% (based on Nielsen Korea's national household ratings).Season 2, consisting of a total of 14 episodes, concluded its broadcast with the final episode on the 19th. The viewership rating, which started at 6.1% for the first episode, soared to 11.8% in the 14th episode, surpassing the peak viewership rating of the previous season by 0.8%P.Jung Eun-chae is currently feeling the end of the drama through the reactions of those around her. She said, "My acquaintances and family told me they watched the finale intently until the end," adding, "I am just grateful that we were able to finish the work safely."In the drama, Jung Eun-chae's character, Joo Hye-ra, is a team leader detective who possesses skill, leadership, and charisma. Jung Eun-chae described Joo Hye-ra as "a team leader who leads her team members and a character who actively investigates cases," calling her "a charming character with a solid and strong side."Actress Jung Eun-chae played Joo Hye-ra, the new captain of the Violent Crimes Unit 1 at the Seoul Gangha Police Station, in SBS's Friday-Saturday drama 'The Atypical Family' Season 2. /SBSJung Eun-chae completed her portrayal of Joo Hye-ra by recalling the leaders she has encountered throughout her life. She stated, "As far as I feel, charisma is not outwardly expressed," adding, "I think she has a calm and rational personality.""I created Joo Hye-ra by thinking of the leadership figures I've personally observed. I especially wanted to express the charisma they exude subtly, without needing explicit explanation. The strength and experience that come from their background, and so on. The process of completing her piece by piece was enjoyable."She also hoped that Joo Hye-ra's professionalism would be evident externally. Jung Eun-chae said, "I actually hoped the costumes wouldn't be too flashy," and "I tried to maintain consistency in hairstyles and clothing colors." She aimed to minimize makeup, wanting the expressions to come alive from a face close to bare skin.While playing Joo Hye-ra, Jung Eun-chae found greater enjoyment in action filming. She discovered the pleasure of finding new aspects of herself captured by the camera without intention or calculation during action scenes. Jung Eun-chae said, "I felt catharsis watching my own facial movements, which I hadn't seen before."She also cited the sense of accomplishment that follows strenuous filming as a charming point of action acting. Jung Eun-chae, who usually feels a sense of regret on her way home after filming, experienced entirely different emotions with action filming.She explained, "I don't often feel a sense of perfection after filming, but with action scenes, even if they weren't perfect, I felt a sense of release if I had put in 120% effort." She added, "Although my body suffered, the feeling of 'I worked hard. I did my best. I put in the effort' after filming is a great charm.""There were quite a few action scenes. So, I was determined to give it my all without holding back. There were times when it was overwhelming, but I tried to push myself to my maximum potential. I got bruises here and there, but I'm glad the results turned out well. I filmed it diligently and enjoyably."Actress Jung Eun-chae expressed her gratitude to Ahn Bo-hyun, Kang Sang-jun, and Kim Shin-bi, with whom she worked in SBS's Friday-Saturday drama 'The Atypical Family' Season 2, calling them "family." /SBSHowever, playing Joo Hye-ra was not easy from the start. Joo Hye-ra is a new character introduced in Season 2. Therefore, she had concerns about integrating into the world of Season 1, which had already received much love.Jung Eun-chae said, "Season 2 was produced by the same cast and crew from the previous season," adding, "As a new addition, I hoped to be well-absorbed into their group." At the same time, she also pondered how to maintain the freshness unique to the new character, Joo Hye-ra. She explained, "I wanted to bring a new breeze into the drama with a natural flow."During this process, she received significant help from actors Ahn Bo-hyun, Kang Sang-jun, and Kim Shin-bi. Jung Eun-chae and the three actors, as members of the Violent Crimes Unit 1, shared hardships both within and outside the drama, positively influencing each other. Jung Eun-chae mentioned her fellow actors by name, expressing her gratitude to each one.First, she praised Ahn Bo-hyun as an actor who provides immense stability just by his presence. Jung Eun-chae stated, "As a co-star, he was a great support," adding, "Thanks to Ahn Bo-hyun, I was able to immerse myself more deeply in my acting. He played a leadership role on set, always creating a warm and comfortable atmosphere."Regarding Kang Sang-jun, she described him as "a multi-entertainer full of talent." She mentioned that he had the fewest NG takes on set, indicating he was a well-prepared and professional actor. She also called Kim Shin-bi "a talented actor who knows how to perfectly embody her unique color," expressing her desire to "work with her again in another project.""Since we are actors of similar age, it felt like I was with real friends. Being able to feel this way on set is a very special experience. Although I met all three actors for the first time in this project, later on, I could tell what kind of acting or reaction they would give just by looking at their eyes. Now, we are like family outside of the drama. (laughs) Many good memories remain."Actress Jung Eun-chae expressed her desire to act in works of various genres. She said, "I think it's okay to be less cool," hinting at diverse acting transformations. /Project HosuFinally, Jung Eun-chae expressed her determination to meet viewers again with a good project. She said, "Recently, I've come to think that 'authentic works ultimately survive'," adding, "I've always carefully chosen good projects, and it seems I was right, which has given me confidence.""Ultimately, I think the roots of the story are important in a work. And who you work with is also important. I've gained the resolve to continue to make bold choices for good projects without compromise. I'm glad this project also concluded well. With a grateful heart, I'm currently thinking, 'Let's do well again.'"In particular, she revealed a strong desire for her next project to be in various genres. Having consecutively played capable characters in recent works, she expressed a desire to portray ordinary, everyday stories and also expressed her willingness to take on cute and charming genres like romantic comedies."I've taken on cool characters consecutively, so I think it's okay to be less cool in my next project. I also feel like taking off the mantle and showing the face of a woman my age. I'm particularly curious about genres I haven't tried before, like romantic comedies. If I'm called, I'm ready to run anytime. I want to show new faces and acting without fear."mcy21@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]