[ⓓInterview] "If My Heart Races, I Do It No Matter What"…Lee Hee-joon, the Monster of 'Scarecrow'

[Dispatch=Lee Myung-ju Reporter] "I want to play a good character too…" (Lee Hee-joon)

Lee Hee-joon is a "villain collector." From a security chief loyal to a dictator (The Generals' Day) to a deranged murderer (The Murderer), to a contemptible human who orchestrates his father's murder (Bad Connection), he has embodied villains of all kinds.

This time too, another villain. In the ENA series "Scarecrow," he plays prosecutor Cha Si-young. He portrayed a cold-blooded figure who hesitates at nothing—hierarchy, manipulation, cover-ups—to achieve his goals.

"A gym staff member must have watched 'Scarecrow.' They said, 'I'm watching the drama, but you're playing such a bad person—are you okay?' (laughs)."

Dispatch recently met with Lee Hee-joon. He shared the process of playing a villain, different from his previous works. We could also confirm his sincerity toward acting.

◆ A 30-Year Narrative, Not a Search for the Culprit

"Scarecrow" is a work inspired by a serial murder case that occurred in the Hwaseong area of Gyeonggi Province in the 1980s. Set in the fictional village of Gangseong, it begins with a school violence victim and perpetrator each becoming a detective and prosecutor, entering a collaborative relationship.

The actual tragedy is the main material. Episodes based on case records continue to appear. Moreover, director Bong Joon-ho left a strong impact with "Memories of Murder," which dealt with the same subject.

When asked why Lee Hee-joon chose this work, he said, "'Scarecrow' covers the period after (the culprit is caught, unlike 'Memories of Murder'), and everyone knows who the criminal is now. That point interested me."

"It's not just about the criminal. The villagers suffered together (from that incident). There were people who bore false accusations. I wanted to tell the story of how these people endured for 30 years."

Most of all, the power of the story was significant. "I was very shocked when I read the script. I thought I would collaborate emotionally with Kang Tae-ju (played by Park Hae-su), but what came after was shocking," he recalled.

"When I heard the setting that even as the two of them age, they accept their mistakes differently and conflict, I thought, 'I must do this.' It stimulated that spirit of challenge in me as an actor."

◆ The Cycle of Recurring Violence

Cha Si-young, played by Lee Hee-joon, is a prosecutor at Gangseong Branch of an unnamed provincial prosecutor's office. He is portrayed as the son of an influential politician with powerful backing and a person with strong ambition for power.

He is a complex character difficult to pin down with a single label. He is both victim and perpetrator. The domestic violence he experienced from his father in childhood is perpetuated as school violence, and further as violence through state power.

Lee Hee-joon said, "Si-young is a monster of reality," and explained, "Don't we have people around us with emotional deprivation and strong desire for recognition? When that's magnified, I interpreted it as 'he could become such a monster.'"

This monster of reality created victims. He portrayed innocent people as murderers and made them targets of accusation. Because of this, some went to prison, and others lost their lives.

For Si-young, quick case resolution was more important than catching the real culprit—a moment revealing his childhood desire for his father's approval. With detailed narrative added, his acting gained conviction.

"I asked the director, 'This person doesn't care about catching the real criminal, right?' Last week he said 'I caught the criminal,' and without apologizing, he pointed at another suspect saying 'This time I'm sure.' When the (family environment) layer was added, it became easier to act."

◆ Acting Prowess Exploded

Most striking is the acting chemistry between Lee Hee-joon and Park Hae-su. The two portrayed the process from friendship to "visceral hatred," from collaboration to extreme confrontation with tension.

The relationship they had built over a long time helped. Lee Hee-joon said, "Park Hae-su and I have worked together since theater days, so there was no hesitation during rehearsals. We could practice anytime, saying 'let's try that line.'"

"'Scarecrow' is our fourth project together. We exchanged texts saying 'it was so good, I was happy, let's grow old together.' That real chemistry seems to show in the drama."

Child actors cannot be overlooked either. Moon Woo-jin, who played Si-young's childhood, expressed the same character through acting despite having an opposite appearance from Lee Hee-joon.

Particularly striking is the scene in episode one where adult Si-young and young Si-young overlap. With a distinctive laugh continuing, it freezes Tae-ju. Lee Hee-joon's acting prowess completed it.

"There's a scene at the end where he says, 'Tae-ju. It's been a while.' I told Woo-jin, 'It would be good if the laughter sounded similar.' I remember trying to laugh in the same way."

◆ "Scarecrow" and Beyond

"Scarecrow" succeeded despite heavy subject matter and channel limitations. According to Nielsen Korea, the work started with a 2.9% viewership rating (national average) in episode one and showed an upward trajectory each episode, ending at 8.1% in the finale.

This corresponds to the second-highest viewership rating in ENA history. Following "Extraordinary Attorney Woo" (17.5%), it ranks as the second most-watched content.

Lee Hee-joon laughed, saying, "I paid attention to viewership ratings for the first time in 10 years since 'Yuna's Street.'" He said, "I can't believe it. I think it's the power of the director and Park Hae-su."

"'Scarecrow' isn't a story where the culprit is caught coolly like other dramas. I didn't think it would do well. We decided to be serious and hardworking, not to fake it, and I'm grateful."

He is simultaneously preparing several upcoming projects and performances. Confirmed projects total four. "Moving 2" and "Koreans" have begun filming. He is also practicing theater and musical performances.

Lee Hee-joon confessed, "I'm greedy. If my heart races (watching a work), I absolutely want to do it. I sometimes wonder, 'Why do I overextend myself,' but I think I'd make the same choice if the moment came again."

He also shared why he keeps returning to the stage. "It's so fun. I wonder what I would have done without being in this place," he smiled, adding, "The moment of talking about my initial heart for acting is precious."