“The Judge from Hell” Director “Happy Yet Bitter About the ‘Refreshing’ Feedback”
This is true for Director Park Jin-pyo, who didn’t let SBS’s “The Judge from Hell” (written by Jo Yi-soo) slip from the weekend drama ratings top spot for seven weeks straight. Although primarily a film director, known for socially provocative films like “Too Young to Die”, “You Are My Sunshine”, “Voice of a Murderer” and “Closer to Heaven”, he has consistently tackled uncomfortable truths through socially charged stories.
His first drama as a director, “The Judge from Hell”, also brought to light the limitations of the justice system and the often absurdly lenient compassion of the judiciary. Every time Kang Bit-na (played by Park Shin-hye) took justice into her own hands to punish heinous criminals beyond the reach of the law, the ratings soared. Viewers cheered as merciless offenders who escaped punishment through mental illness claims or fabricated evidence suffered harsh retribution. After the show’s conclusion, we met Director Park Jin-pyo at a restaurant in Bangbae-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul.
▲Secretly Worried About “Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born” Rising
Q: You’ve lost a lot of weight.
– I lost up to 10 kg during the final editing stages, but I’m gradually getting back to my normal rhythm now. The unexpected interest and support have made me both happy and a bit dizzy with surprise. (laugh) I’m just grateful we wrapped up safely without any major incidents.
Q: You held the top spot up to Episode 14, never letting go against tvN’s “Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born”.
– The speed and intensity of its rise were a little scary. (laugh) I tried to let it go, thinking, “It might flip in the final episode”, but we managed to hold a 1.8% lead. Our 2049 (viewers aged 20~49) ratings were consistently high, and I was especially pleased to see increasing attention from viewers in their 20s and 30s toward the end. I’m close with “Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born” producer Kwon Mi-kyung, who I previously worked with on “Brave Citizen”, so I’m glad that both of us succeeded.
Q: I heard you stayed within budget.
– Studio S seemed pretty happy about it. Our per-episode budget was around 1.3 billion won, about half that of “Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born”. (laugh) CG work can quickly drive up costs, but I committed from the start to staying within budget. Since I was the first external director after Studio S’s spin-off, I felt pressure to set a positive precedent. Sticking to budget has always been a rule for me, even with films.
▲Distrust in the Judiciary and a Society Fueled by Competitive Rage
Q: Did you expect “The Judge from Hell” to be a hit?
– Given the data on private revenge dramas over the past 3~4 years, I had a quiet hope, but I didn’t expect double-digit ratings and such a high level of buzz. I’m grateful to everyone who supported “The Judge from Hell”. I’m happy but also can’t shake a bit of bitterness.
Q: What’s the source of that bitterness?
– It seems like a reflection of a society fatigued by competition. People seem to harbor anger, ready to hurl stones when a target or scapegoat emerges. It’s clear there’s a lack of trust in the judiciary, which is unsettling. I wonder if people felt a catharsis watching perpetrators face Hammurabi-style punishment, even in fiction. The law tends to reflect reality at a slower pace, which can be frustrating.
Q: Public opinion on capital punishment was also reignited.
– We’ve worked hard to become a country that abolished the death penalty, so reversing that is no small matter. It would require substantial time, cost and administrative resources. But I do believe that criminals who show no remorse and continue to act shamelessly toward victims should pay an appropriate price. Parole and sentence reductions shouldn’t be abused.
▲A Thumbs-Up for Fellow Alumnus Park Shin-hye’s Character
Q: The final episode sees the villain Lee Kyu-han meet a grim end reminiscent of a guillotine.
– The writer envisioned that scene, and I put all my effort into capturing it. Rather than debating the pros and cons of capital punishment, I wanted to ask whether our society’s safety nets are functioning properly and what needs to be done to ensure that.
Q: Park Shin-hye’s performance was central to the show’s success.
– She had to handle complex scenes with action and subtle emotional shifts, and she did an excellent job. She’s a true professional, showing respect even to her character’s opponents. As the lead, she displayed her full range of talents and strengths.
Q: What are your plans moving forward?
– These days, I’m really into hiking—whether it’s Bukhansan, Cheonggyesan or Jirisan, I’m there. Directing a drama taught me that stamina is crucial. Core strength is essential to endure, and another thing: with over 1,000 scenes to keep track of, memory capacity is just as important. (laugh)
Source: Daum
