Ju Ji-hoon reveals raw ambition in Climax

Apr 09, 2026, 09:55 am

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Ju Ji-hoon / KT Studio Genie

Ju Ji-hoon delves into the darker sides of desire and power in his latest role as Bang Tae-seop in the ENA drama Climax.

“‘What’s wrong with living dirty in a dirty world?’—there was a line like that,” Ju said in a recent interview in Seoul. “I’m not saying it’s right, but within the genre, it offered a kind of vicarious satisfaction. It’s a way of expressing desire, and I thought it could happen.”

Climax is a thriller that portrays human ambition and obsession with power. Ju plays Bang Tae-seop, a prosecutor from a humble background who rises toward the highest levels of authority in South Korea.

Bang becomes a prosecutor following the death of his father, a steel mill labor union leader. However, as he realizes that the system itself is driven by power and connections, he gradually changes, revealing deeper layers of ambition in order to survive.

Ju said he was drawn to the project for its portrayal of diverse human instincts. “In reality, some people express their desires openly, others do it indirectly, and some are completely different on the inside and outside,” he said. “When such characters come together, the storytelling feels direct and bold, which I found compelling.”

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Ju Ji-hoon / KT Studio Genie

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Ju Ji-hoon / KT Studio Genie

The role also brought out a different kind of masculinity, according to viewers. “Someone told me I looked more masculine this time,” Ju said. “It’s hard to define, but they said it felt like a new kind of masculinity.”

He added that he paid close attention not only to emotions but also to physical details such as hairstyle, clothing fit, and overall appearance to fully embody the character.

In the drama, Bang forms a marriage of convenience with Chu Sang-a, played by Ha Ji-won. Their relationship, built on mutual interests, gradually reveals cracks as their individual ambitions come into conflict.

“I think there are people who don’t separate love and business,” Ju said. “Bang Tae-seop also has emotions, but his starting point was a calculated choice. Even affection or camaraderie can be considered a form of love in a broader sense.”

The series has drawn attention for tackling sensitive themes, including power structures spanning politics, business, and entertainment, as well as issues of identity.

“People live with dual emotions, and there are many different identities in the world,” Ju said. “I try not to judge beforehand and instead approach my acting with an open, empty mindset.”

With only two episodes left in the 10-part series, Ju teased the finale, saying, “There’s still one more move left. If viewers watch with the mindset that ‘anything could happen,’ they’ll find it even more engaging.”

#Ju Ji-hoon #Climax #Bang Tae-seop