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| Actors Kim Myung-min, left, and Lee Jeong-eun pose for pictures during an online media conference for the series, Wednesday. Courtesy of JTBC |
By Lee Gyu-lee
Actor Kim Myung-min is returning to the small screen as law school professor Yang Jong-hoon in JTBC's new drama, "Law School," three years after starring in the hit fantasy series "The Miracle We Met" in 2018.
The mystery thriller series kicked off Wednesday with a promising viewership rating of 5.1 percent nationwide.
"This series is a legal drama combined with stories about college life. The series is about legal procedures, but at the same time, it also follows a mysterious case that happens on campus," Kim said during an online media conference for the series, Wednesday.
"So, while other whodunit series would have a few lead characters solving the case, our series involves all of the characters working together with the professor."
Directed by Kim Seok-yoon, who directed the "Detective K" film and the TV series, "The Light in Your Eyes," the program revolves around elite professor Jong-hoon and his students at a prestigious law school. After getting involved in a mysterious murder case on campus, the students are put to the test in seeking justice through the law.
The director said the series will show the "naked truth" about law schools. "Law school became the only option to pursue a legal profession. So our series will provide an opportunity for people to take a closer look at the institution."
Kim Myung-min's character is a sharp-witted, self-reliant professor who is skilled in teaching students.
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| A poster for the series / Courtesy of JTBC |
From the first episode, Kim Myung-min leads a fast-paced scene where he holds a model criminal trial court for his class.
The actor expressed that playing this character was harder than any other role. "I couldn't sleep until I shot the model trial scene… I guess that's how much pressure I felt," he said. "I have to say legal jargon and voicing it in Jong-hoon's style was harder than any other role. As an actor, however, playing such a difficult role does feel satisfying."
The actor and director Kim Seok-yoon are reuniting for this series about four years after they worked together on the action crime series, "Detective K: Secret of the Living Dead," the third installment of the film series. The two have worked together on all three "Detective K" films since 2011.
Both the actor and director expressed faith in each other for their latest project.
"Since we've worked together so many times, we would be on the same page even without having to say anything... It was great how we knew what each other wanted or was going to do by just looking in each other's eyes," Kim Seok-yoon said.
Kim Myung-min said he took the part in the series to work with the director. "I said I'll join if the director is leading the series," he said. "Because I know him so well, I really wanted to do well so I won't let him down."
Actress Lee Jeong-eun, known for her compelling performance in Bong Joon-ho's "Parasite," plays fellow law professor, Kim Eun-sook, who is the only person Jong-hoon can confide in. She also has extensive experience working with the director, starring in six of his projects including this one.
"The director assured me that, with this script, he can make a series that will get people to find law interesting and easily relatable to. And that was the biggest reason I took this role," the actress said. "And as I also briefly worked with Kim Myung-min on Detective K, I had a good feeling that we would achieve great synergy together."
"Law School" airs on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 9 p.m.
