Lee Ho-jung Shines as Ruthless 'Noh Jin-young' in 'You Killed Them,' Embraces Villainous Role

Actress Lee Ho-jung is garnering significant attention for her portrayal of the antagonist Noh Jin-young in the Netflix series 'You Killed Them.'

In the drama, Noh Jin-young is depicted as an active bystander, turning a blind eye to her older brother Noh Jin-pyo's (Jang Seung-jo) abuse and silencing her sister-in-law Jo Hee-soo (Lee Yoo-mi) when she attempts to resist. Her use of power as a police officer, not for justice but for her own success, incited strong reactions from viewers, who labeled her the 'most hated character.'

In a recent interview with Sports Seoul, Lee Ho-jung shared her candid thoughts on the character. "Although Jin-young was very wicked and mean, her ambitious actions were intriguing," she said. "I approached the role thinking of her not as someone protecting Noh Jin-pyo, but as an obstacle hindering his promotion. I acted as a perfectionist sprinting towards success."

Emphasizing the fundamental acting principle that performers must understand and empathize with even wicked characters to bring them to life convincingly, Lee Ho-jung found common ground with Noh Jin-young's ambition. "Everyone has their own goals. Noh Jin-young was thoroughly goal-oriented and clearly desired to work in the Presidential Office, which made her easy to understand," she explained. "Of course, I didn't accept all of her wrongdoings, but I could see how someone might commit illegal acts if they truly want something."

With her impressive height of over 170cm and strong physique, Lee Ho-jung has often been cast in strong or villainous roles. Her model-like stoic expression and ability to conceal emotions perfectly complement her presence in intense genres. However, she confessed, "I do have a craving for pretty roles." Although she began acting after watching films, she feels a significant lack of training. "Right now, all I want is to become a truly good actress," she emphasized.

'You Killed Them' served as a major catalyst for Lee Ho-jung, who was experiencing an acting slump. "It was a period of exhaustion, where I doubted my own talent. This project helped me regain my focus," she shared. "Moving forward, I want to become an actress I can be proud of, someone who is more confident and performs well."

Netizens are praising Lee Ho-jung's acting, commenting, 'Lee Ho-jung's acting is insane,' 'Character Jin-young was so annoying, which means she acted really well,' and 'Even as a villain, she had a charm that kept me watching.'