Kim Hee-sun Proves 'Legendary Return' as Host on 'No Second Chances'

Actress Kim Hee-sun is winning hearts and garnering significant empathy from viewers with her portrayal of Jo Na-jung, a woman returning to work after a career break, in TV CHOSUN's Monday-Tuesday mini-series 'No Second Chances'.

The fourth episode depicted Na-jung facing a challenging reality on her first day back in the workforce. Despite landing her dream job in home shopping, she encountered unexpected hurdles, including being mentored by her junior colleague Ye-na (Go Won-hee), with whom she had a strained relationship. Na-jung's plea, 'Please guide me. I've missed so much in the past six years,' highlighted the realistic difficulties faced by those re-entering society after a career hiatus, eliciting sympathy.

Kim Hee-sun's performance truly shone during a company dinner scene. Faced with overwhelming work and the need to appease her superiors, Na-jung had to pretend to be cheerful, shaking a tambourine on an empty stomach. Her ability to convey the character's hidden anxieties, juxtaposed with the upbeat song, her worried glances towards her children left in someone else's care, and her rushed late-night meal, culminated in an emotional breakdown. These detailed portrayals of a working mother's struggles deeply resonated with the audience.

Despite the hardships, Na-jung seized an opportunity amidst a crisis, leading to her emergency deployment as the main host after a six-year absence. While initially nervous, she quickly regained her professional composure, delivering a flawless performance that showed no signs of a prolonged break. Her quiet, tearful expression of joy after receiving a call from her superior on the bus, while others slept, deeply moved the viewers.

With every subtle facial expression, Kim Hee-sun perfectly embodied Na-jung's journey as a 'mom-force-to-be-reckoned-with' ('momfoty'). Her heartfelt performance, infused with her own life experiences, has struck a chord with viewers who are either stay-at-home moms or working mothers. The anticipation is high for Jo Na-jung's future growth and challenges, following her impactful debut on her first day as an intern. 'No Second Chances' airs every Monday and Tuesday at 10 PM KST on TV CHOSUN and is also available for streaming on Netflix.

Netizens are flooding online communities with comments like, 'Kim Hee-sun's acting is truly legendary,' and 'I cried so much because it felt like my own story. Go, working moms!' showing strong identification with the character and her struggles.