[Dispatch=Reporter Lee A-jin] "I thought I needed to create a new wave."

For Jung Eun-chae, SBS-TV's 'Chaebol X Detective 2' was a challenge. It was her first season-based work, and she was being brought in starting from season 2.

She had to show her presence while entering a world that was already firmly established, while also blending naturally with existing characters.

"I was grateful just to be joining a work that had received so much love. On the other hand, there was also the burden of having to blend into a solid team dynamic."

Jung Eun-chae set several goals. The first was to blend in. "Making myself naturally blend into the set and the work was the top priority," she said.

Next, she thought about the character. She filled out a character note with questions about what kind of relationship to form with Jin Yi-soo, and what differences to make compared to the detective she had played in the past.

◆ Familiar Detective, Unfamiliar Position

'Chaebol X Detective 2' is a collaborative investigation drama between chaebol detective Jin Yi-soo (played by Ahn Bo-hyun) and the violent crimes unit. Jung Eun-chae took on the role of Ju Hae-ra, the newly appearing head of the violent crimes unit in season 2. She is a character who leads the team through cool judgment and experience.

The burden was considerable. Season 1 had been greatly beloved, and she had to enter an already complete team as a new character. She had to show Ju Hae-ra's own color without disrupting the existing chemistry. Still, she was drawn to the character's "quiet charisma."

"Ju Hae-ra moves the team with her own choices and words, but before that, she has the capacity to trust her team members and listen to them one more time. Her human depth felt most appealing to me."

Playing a detective wasn't new. But this time was different. Unlike the passionate youngest detective in the past, she was in a position to lead the violent crimes unit. She had to approach cases differently and embrace people differently.

"In the previous work 'The Guest' (2018), I was the youngest detective. I collided roughly enough to feel physical limits. On the other hand, Ju Hae-ra is a team leader. I thought composure and experience should shine through."

Jung Eun-chae continued to think about ways to create waves. She noted, "While refreshing the atmosphere, I hoped that through my chemistry, the existing characters would appear more multifaceted than before."

◆ Charisma and Inner Resentment

She wanted to make a difference starting with the relationship with Jin Yi-soo. If Lee Gang-hyun was a partner who clashed with Jin Yi-soo and gradually grew closer, Ju Hae-ra emphasized her position as a direct superior.

She defined Ju Hae-ra's nature as the complete opposite of Jin Yi-soo. Unlike Jin Yi-soo, who is free-spirited and moves intuitively, she led with cool and rational judgment.

"Lee Gang-hyun and Ju Hae-ra initially have an unfamiliar and awkward relationship with each other's methods. But as they solve cases, they come to understand each other. So I wanted it to be visually clear that the two complement each other's shortcomings."

Ju Hae-ra is not a character whose past and inner self are explained in detail. Instead, she had to suggest her background through actions and atmosphere that emerge throughout. Jung Eun-chae particularly drew hints from Ju Hae-ra's apartment set.

"When I first went to Ju Hae-ra's apartment set, the character became clearer to me. On the surface, everything was organized, but one wall was filled with case files. The moment I saw that wall, I felt the issues and inner self that Ju Hae-ra carries."

So she chose to press the energy inward rather than raise her voice or express emotions strongly. She reflected this quality in styling as well. Jung Eun-chae revealed, "I wanted the character herself to stand out rather than the styling. So I kept the clothes and makeup as minimal as possible."

◆ Meeting Myself at the End of the Wave

That's how Jung Eun-chae created a proper wave in season 2. She added changes to the existing team's relationships and completed another kind of collaboration with Jin Yi-soo. The drama wrapped up with its highest viewership rating of 11.8%. It even left momentum for the next season.

The wave didn't stop within the work. Jung Eun-chae had frequently taken on particularly independent and solid characters. After going through Ju Hae-ra this time, she began to see herself differently.

"At first, I was also puzzled about why I kept being cast in strong roles. I didn't think I was that kind of strong person. But after continuously playing similar characters, I thought, 'Maybe I have this side of me too.'"

In particular, the attitude of trusting her own judgment and pushing forward resonated deeply. It was the courage to say "yes" alone when everyone else says no. Jung Eun-chae recalled, "I don't usually speak my opinions strongly," and "Through Ju Hae-ra, I learned and experienced vicarious satisfaction."

The impact also touched her attitude toward the set. In the warm atmosphere of the 'Chaebol X Detective 2' filming location, she could feel the chemistry of the actors built up since season 1. Jung Eun-chae also wanted to do her part within that flow and remain a good team member.

"The temperature of the set was really warm. Bo-hyun was holding the center of the set well. I thought what I could do was keep my promises and show sincerity. Even if it doesn't show, I wanted to do my part and be remembered as someone who left good memories with the people I worked with."

◆ "I Look Forward to New Faces"

Following Gang Shin-jae in 'Honor,' Jung Eun-chae played Ju Hae-ra in 'Chaebol X Detective 2,' consecutively taking on solid and charismatic characters. As she did so, her eyes naturally began to turn toward the opposite side of herself.

"I want to try playing a cute character. I often hear that I'm bright and cute in private. I also want to challenge works like romantic comedies where I could show that side of me."

Specifically, she preferred roles that are grounded in reality rather than characters with strong settings like detectives or chaebol. She said, "The desire to act with a bare face, removing the handsome, pretty, and good-looking filter, grows as I get older."

However, she doesn't intend to pursue only desired characters. Her standard remains work quality. She wants to naturally encounter the face she's been waiting for within a good story.

It seemed she wasn't rushing to choose her next project either. Yet her passion for acting seemed like something she couldn't easily suppress.

"I want to continue showing the public new faces. Actually, I think works come to you like destiny. I don't know what project I'll meet, but as I imagine my next work, I feel the urge to get back to the set soon."

<Photos provided by Project Housewater>