Ha Ji-won has been one of Korea's most recognizable actresses for over two decades. "Secret Garden," "Empress Ki," "Hospital Ship" — she has a career that doesn't need introduction. Then she went quiet for four years. No projects, no announcements, just absence. When she finally came back, she chose a political thriller called "Climax" opposite Ju Ji-hoon, airing on ENA — the same cable network that gave the world "Extraordinary Attorney Woo."
The timing alone made it news.
"Climax" follows prosecutor Tae-sup, played by Ju Ji-hoon, who becomes entangled with a cartel while chasing political power. His wife Sang-ah, played by Ha, is a former top actress fighting her way back to the top of the industry. Two people with massive ambitions, complicated methods, and a marriage caught somewhere in the middle. The show doesn't reveal much more than that — plot details are deliberately tight — but the setup is enough.
Director Lee Ji-won is making her scripted television debut with this series, after building her reputation through gritty female-led films including "Miss Baek" and "Blesser." She described her approach simply: every episode is structured like a film, with a full dramatic arc and a strong ending. "Since the title is 'Climax,' we put a lot of effort into making sure each episode lives up to that name," she said at a Seoul press conference.
Ju Ji-hoon said the script's appeal was how directly it tackles human ambition. "It boldly expresses the ambitions we all harbor but rarely admit to out loud," he said. The director had him in mind from the beginning — she described the character as a Doberman and said Ju was the first actor she pictured when developing the role.
For Ha, the pull was the character itself. "I was fascinated by Sang-ah because she's someone I had never portrayed before," she said. Playing an actress navigating an industry that had moved on without her apparently triggered real reflection. "I've long wondered what it means to live as an actress. Through 'Climax,' while playing another actress, I found myself reflecting even more deeply on that question."
Four years away, and she comes back playing someone clawing their way back in. That's either a coincidence or a very deliberate choice. Either way, it's a good story before the show even begins.
"Climax" airs on ENA. No premiere date has been officially confirmed yet.