Ju Ji-hoon transforms into power-hungry prosecutor in Climax

Mar 11, 2026, 08:40 am

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Actor Ju Ji-hoon / KT Studio Genie

Actor Ju Ji-hoon will portray an ambitious prosecutor pursuing power in the upcoming ENA drama Climax.

A press conference for the new Monday–Tuesday drama was held on March 10 at D-Cube City in Seoul’s Guro District. Director Lee Ji-won attended the event alongside actors Ju Ji-hoon, Ha Ji-won, Nana and Oh Jung-se.

Set to premiere on March 16, Climax depicts a fierce struggle for influence across politics, business and the entertainment industry. The story follows prosecutor Bang Tae-seop as he moves toward the pinnacle of power, while the choices and ambitions of those surrounding him destabilize an intricate power cartel.

Ju plays Bang Tae-seop, a prosecutor who relentlessly pushes his way into the center of power. Explaining why he chose the project, Ju said the script’s clarity drew him in.

“The script was simple. Even someone unfamiliar with prosecutors could easily understand it in context,” he said. “Reading it felt refreshing, like scratching an itch.”

Director Lee Ji-won said Ju immediately came to mind when casting the role.

“I wondered which actor could best embody desire, and Ju Ji-hoon was the first person I thought of,” she said. “There was a description in the script comparing the character to a Doberman, and Ju also has the image of ‘Ju Black.’”

In the drama, Ju’s character is married to top actress Chu Sang-ah, played by Ha Ji-won. Ju said he aimed to portray a realistic marital relationship between the two characters.

“It’s not always positive, but it’s a relationship built on trust where they constantly weigh their situations together,” he said. “Many scenes were intense, but Ha Ji-won handled them like a veteran, which helped me a lot.”

The series is written and directed by Lee Ji-won, known for the film Miss Baek. Climax marks her first drama project.

Lee described the production as a deeply personal effort.

“We poured our blood, sweat and tears into making this project,” she said. “I tried to capture the story’s structure and the actors’ performances with the level of detail you would expect in a film.”

She added that writing the script under the title Climax from the start placed significant pressure on the creative process.

“The title itself carried weight, and I even experienced burnout during the writing process,” she said. “But I believe it led to a strong story. I’m confident audiences will love the ending.”

Alongside Ju Ji-hoon and Ha Ji-won, the drama features Nana as secretive intelligence agent Hwang Jung-won and Oh Jung-se as Kwon Jong-wook, an heir competing for control of the WR Group.

The series is produced by Hive Media Corp., the studio behind politically charged films such as Inside Men, The Man Standing Next and 12.12: The Day. Observers say Climax, which explores the intersection of politics, business and entertainment, reflects the company’s signature focus on power structures.

Lee also expressed confidence in the drama’s potential success.

“I moved into television to move away from box-office scores, but here ratings come out every week,” she said. “Still, with the actors involved, I firmly believe we will achieve the highest ratings in ENA’s history.”

#Ju Ji-hoon #Climax drama #ENA drama #Korean drama #Ha Ji-won