Actor Jung Hee-tae deepened the drama’s immersion with a striking shift between two very different characters.
Jung played veteran detective Kim Seung-jin in ENA’s Monday–Tuesday series Honor: Their Court (hereafter Honor), which wrapped on the 10th.
His genial face, gruff manner of speaking and loose, well-worn wardrobe made him the archetypal cop—so convincing that viewers felt as if a real detective had stepped onto the screen, boosting the show’s realism and emotional pull.
He first appears as Gu Seon-gyu’s (Choi Young-jun) long-time colleague and a close, brotherly drinking companion, but the series gradually reveals he is actually an aide to the shadowy syndicate Connect-in, secretly spying on Gu as Gu hunts the organization’s masterminds—a revelation that stunned viewers.
In episode 8, when he can no longer hide his ties to Connect-in, the tension hits a peak as he trains a gun on Gu Seon-gyu, Gu’s wife Hwang Hyun-jin (Lee Chung-ah), Yoon Ra-young (Lee Na-young) and Kang Shin-jae (Jung Eun-chae). During the standoff, Gu asks, “Are you really sure you won’t regret this?” and Kim answers, “Man, I don’t want to be doing this either.” That line marks the moment he abandons both their relationship and his convictions as an officer.
Because Gu had removed the live rounds from the gun, no one was hurt, but Kim Seung-jin was arrested on the spot. Even in the interrogation room he refuses to turn over Connect-in’s user list and focuses solely on protecting himself, maintaining a selfish stance that left audiences with a bitterly unsatisfying ending.
Critics say Jung’s convincing portrayal of a seasoned, perceptive detective—and of a dependable partner to Gu—made Kim’s betrayal for the syndicate all the more devastating, sharpening the series’ twist.
Outside of Honor, Jung Hee-tae also made a strong impression as the fiercely loyal Kim Jin-han in the recently concluded MBC series Judge Lee Han-young.
In Judge Lee Han-young, Jung played Kim Jin-han, the deputy presiding judge of the Seoul Central District Court’s criminal division. He is a man of singular loyalty who ultimately meets a tragic end. Having chosen the path of second-in-command, he devotes himself to his superior Kang Shin-jin (Park Hee-soon) and later senses something off about the suddenly appearing Lee Han-young (Ji Sung), advising Kang to be on guard.
Steadfast and resolute, Kim Jin-han keeps his focus on Kang Shin-jin and—guided by instinct and unwavering devotion—throws himself into danger without hesitation. Though he dies protecting Kang, his loyalty and courage leave a lasting impression.
Over a career spanning more than 30 years, Jung Hee-tae has connected with audiences across television, film and theater. He’s become a valued scene-enhancer in heavyweight productions such as the dramas Misaeng, Mr. Sunshine, The Youngest Son of a Chaebol Family and Good or Bad Dong-jae; the films Miracle in Cell No. 7, The Young Client and Baeksu Apartment; and the play Tebe Land.
[Geum Bit-na, MK Sports Reporter]
