Credit: BH Entertainment
Lee Jin Wook is opening up about working with Jung Chae Yeon —and teasing what fans might see if Beyond the Bar returns for a second season.
In an interview with iMBC Entertainment, Lee shared his thoughts on teaming up with Jung for tvN’s legal drama Beyond the Bar . The series follows rookie attorney Hyo Min (Jung Chae Yeon), who is righteous and outspoken yet still new to the work, and partner lawyer Seok Hoon (Lee Jin Wook), a brilliant but icy figure who helps her grow into a full-fledged attorney. Despite a 16-year age gap, the pair brought subtle romantic tension that kept viewers invested.
Asked about working with Jung Chae Yeon, Lee was quick to praise her. “I thought, if it doesn’t click, that would be a problem. But she has such a great personality and works so hard—how could it not go well? Before shooting I worried whether she could pull it off, but from the start she surprised me with how good she was,” he said.
Lee highlighted her performance in courtroom scenes: “The atmosphere can be stiff, and the dialogue long. I wondered how to make it convincing enough to keep audiences from changing the channel. She delivered it with such power. You could tell she prepared thoroughly—from her voice tone to her look, she fit the rookie lawyer role perfectly. Even when Hyo Min’s sharp and confident demeanor could have seemed off-putting, Jung’s natural charm turned it into something endearing. I was really grateful she played the role.”
While the romance between Seok Hoon and Hyo Min was understated, moments of warmth—such as Hyo Min comforting Seok Hoon after he loses his dog, or Seok Hoon encouraging Hyo Min when she feels small—hinted at deeper feelings.
Lee revealed that originally, the script included deeper emotions: “But we felt that if the romance came in too heavily, it would dilute the strengths of the story. We adjusted it so the relationship stayed subtle—just enough to spark some excitement, while letting the audience catch up naturally. That’s why I think viewers stayed engaged.”
“If there’s a Season 2, I think you’ll see a deeper romantic storyline. Talks are positive right now, so I hope fans will look forward to it,” he added.
Beyond the Bar wrapped its 12-episode run on September 7th.
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