Han Suk-kyu's 'Chief Shin Project' Dominates Ratings with Thrilling Revenge and Negotiation

Actor Han Suk-kyu has captivated audiences with his masterful negotiation skills, brilliantly dismantling a wicked corporation's conspiracy in the latest episode of tvN's drama 'Chief Shin Project'.

The second episode, aired on the 16th, showcased Shin Sa-jang (played by Han Suk-kyu) achieving a satisfying revenge and a successful negotiation against a corrupt enterprise, employing a clever mix of legal and unconventional tactics. This gripping narrative propelled the show to the top spot in its time slot across cable and general programming channels, securing an average viewership rating of 7.8% and a peak of 8.9% in the Seoul metropolitan area (7.4% average, 8.3% peak nationwide). The drama also dominated the key demographic of viewers aged 20-49, proving its rapid ascent in popularity after just two episodes.

In the episode, Shin Sa-jang resolved to bring a malicious corporation to justice for threatening the livelihoods of market vendors through false reports for a resort construction project. He strategically leaked the company's business plan to investigative PD Kim Young-ho (Choi Won-young) to expose the truth. Subsequently, he spearheaded negotiations between the broadcasting station and the market vendors, facilitated by rookie judge Jo Pil-phyeong (Bae Hyun-sung), leading to a harmonious agreement. Furthermore, collaborating with his old acquaintance, detective Choi Chul (Kim Sung-oh), Shin Sa-jang meticulously tracked the activities of Oh Jin-ho (Song Jae-ryong), who had targeted him and Jo Pil-phyeong. He also directed Lee Si-on (Lee Re) to investigate Oh Jin-ho's family, orchestrating a comprehensive covert operation. Eventually, Shin Sa-jang confronted Oh Jin-ho directly, using his family as leverage through a combination of threats and persuasion to secure a confession.

Han Suk-kyu's impeccable performance amplified the thrill of Shin Sa-jang's strategic maneuvers, seamlessly blending direct approaches with unconventional tactics. The broadcasting station's apology and public disclosure of the market vendors' damages and the corporation's corruption, coupled with Oh Jin-ho's testimony, led to the arrest of involved corporate officials, providing viewers with a powerful sense of catharsis.

Just as one case seemed resolved, a call from administrative welfare center official Kim Su-dong (Jeong Eun-pyo) signaled the beginning of another crisis. With an influx of malicious online posts ahead of local elections, Kim Su-dong urged Shin Sa-jang to persuade a specific individual to retract their comments. However, Shin Sa-jang's discovery of bomb-making materials and a collection of news articles on cancer clusters near a fertilizer plant in the individual's home raised immediate red flags, indicating a far more sinister plot.

Sensing that the post was a prelude to a major crime, Shin Sa-jang relentlessly pursued the poster's whereabouts. His investigation revealed that the individual had already planted a bomb in a shipping container and was holding hostages in the market to exert pressure. Arriving at the scene before the police, Shin Sa-jang encountered counter-terrorism team leader Jang Young-soo (Choi Deok-moon) and surprisingly offered to negotiate with the hostage-taker as their representative. This unexpected twist, siding with the perpetrator, shocked viewers and set a dramatic cliffhanger for the next episode.

The reasons behind Shin Sa-jang's decision to negotiate from the hostage-taker's side will be revealed in the third episode of 'Chief Shin Project', airing on the 22nd at 8:50 PM.

Han Suk-kyu debuted in 1984 with the play 'Hamlet' and has continuously honed his acting skills ever since. He has cemented his status as a representative actor of South Korea through numerous impactful roles in films like 'Shiri' and 'Memories of Murder,' as well as the 'Dr. Romantic' drama series. His profound acting and charisma resonate deeply with audiences, earning him widespread affection.