[Photo&] The world that connects “The Heirs of the Chaebol”… Lee Jun-young makes a startling transformation with “Rookie HR Chairman,” at the production press event

A 20-something youth that swallowed the soul of a 70-something chaebol, 'Lee Jun-young'’s audacious provocation

Actor 'Lee Jun-young' is set to spark a massive shake-up in living-room viewing with an unprecedented two roles played by one person. At the production press conference for JTBC’s new weekend drama 'Rookie HR Chairman', held on the 28th at The Link Hotel in Guro-gu, Seoul, he said, “My weapon is an unflagging challenge mindset,” and delivered a fierce declaration that he would “burn everything.” The daring 'Office Fantasy' premise has the seasoned soul of the chairman of the large conglomerate Choi Sung Group taking root in the body of a 20-something soccer player, Hwang Jun-hyun. For the perfect possessed-acting, he showed meticulousness that even replicated his breathing; even before script reading, he carried out a six-hour alone sit-down with his senior actor, Son Hyun-joo. This is a point where attention is on his acting transformation—one that comes from an instinctive absorption, not forced mimicry.

'Kim Soon-ok' X 'San Kyeong' meet, the birth of a vast universe set to swallow up living-room audiences

'Rookie HR Chairman' is receiving explosive spotlight even before it airs, thanks to the combination of creators whose names alone inspire trust. Writer Kim Soon-ok, the myth behind 'Penthouse', has joined as a creator in a surprise move and helped firm up the skeleton of the script. On top of that, it is also an adaptation of a web novel by writer San Kyeong, who triggered a syndrome with 'The Youngest Son of a Chaebol', which adds even more heft to the work. Director Go Hye-jin, who is in charge of directing, said, “I will gladly enjoy the enormous afterglow of my previous work,” and declared that this new series is a kind of enormous 'universe' that runs alongside 'The Youngest Son of a Chaebol'. Beyond a simple adaptation, it recreates character relationships and detailed settings from the ground up, promising unpredictable suspense.

A complex-genre centerpiece of an office drama about desire and survival, set to take over weekend nights—

Power struggles surrounding Choi Sung Group push the pulse of the drama to its highest point. As 'Lee Ju-myung' takes on the role of Kang Bang-geul, the mysterious youngest daughter hidden behind the veil, 'Jeon Hye-jin' joins as the twin siblings Kang Jae-gyeong, who fight a bloody battle over the succession lineup, and 'Jin Goo' joins as Kang Jae-seong, calibrating a nerve-racking tension. Director Go defined the work, saying, “The warmth of family drama, the catharsis of a coming-of-age story, the satisfying thrill of a hero story, and a brutally intense office survival saga are woven perfectly into a 'comprehensive gift set'.” With genre variations without limits, JTBC’s 'Rookie HR Chairman' will hit viewers’ memories, and it will raise its overwhelming opening curtain on the 30th.