Lee Ju-myung & Kim Ji-seok: Dating vs. Career Contrast

Actors Lee Joo-myung and Kim Ji-seok are receiving mixed reviews for their respective projects. Although the two are publicly dating, they are being evaluated strictly as actors in front of the camera. While Lee Joo-myung is growing her presence as a lead actress on the small screen, Kim Ji-seok could not avoid disappointing reviews for his work on a global platform.

Lee Joo-myung is steadily expanding her position as a lead actress. JTBC's Saturday-Sunday drama 'Chief Detective 1958,' in which she plays the title role, recently recorded a viewership rating of 11.1%, continuing its box office success. It is significant that Lee Joo-myung, who has shown potential in various projects, is achieving results with a work that prominently features her name.

Lee Joo-myung first made an impression on the public with her role as the sharp, top-ranked student Ji Seung-wan in tvN's 'Twenty-Five Twenty-One.' However, at the time, she was closer to a supporting character who bolstered the central narrative. Afterward, she took on lead roles consecutively in 'When the Flowers Bloom, I Think of the Moon' and 'My Youth,' but as the projects' success fell short of expectations, questions arose about her competitiveness as a lead actress. However, the atmosphere has changed in 'Chief Detective 1958.' She naturally portrayed the cunning comedic performance of a character who lives as an ordinary employee while hiding her identity as the youngest daughter of a conglomerate chairman. In scenes expressing complex emotions such as resentment, longing, and affection towards her father, she controlled the emotional pacing and anchored the drama. Her precise diction and flexible acting tension also enhanced the character's believability. She is being praised for taking a step forward as a lead actress after meeting a character that suits her.

On the other hand, Kim Ji-seok is receiving a disappointing response for the Netflix film 'The Husband.' As 'The Husband' was released through a global OTT platform, it had advantageous conditions in terms of accessibility. While the ranking indicators showed some level of success, viewer reactions and perceived evaluations of the film are mixed.

Regarding the film itself, reactions included ">the story is cliché" and ">the comedy lacks fun." The character Ma Do-joon, played by Kim Ji-seok, also left something to be desired. Although Ma Do-joon is set up as the leader of a drug cartel, he had limitations in leaving a strong impression within a conventional structure and predictable plot. Kim Ji-seok also received criticism for not fully meshing with the character. The lack of appeal in the character's setup and the low synchronization rate between the actor and the character were pointed out as factors that reduced immersion.