Actor Jo Seong-ha (59) showcased his solid acting skills as the central figure in 'Mantis: The Murderer's Outing'.
The SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'Mantis: The Murderer's Outing' (written by Lee Young-jong, directed by Byun Young-joo), which ended on September 27, is a high-density crime thriller where a brutal serial killer known as 'Mantis' is caught over 20 years later, and a detective's son, who has hated 'Mantis' all his life, collaborates with 'Mantis's' mother to solve a copycat crime.
In a recent interview with Maeil Business Star Today, Jo Seong-ha expressed, "I feel regretful that it was only eight episodes, and it seems even more regrettable because the viewers loved it so much." He continued, "This work was created after much thought and research by director Byun Young-joo, the actors, and the staff, and it was a happy time because it received great love."
Starting with a viewership rating of 7.1% (Nielsen Korea, nationwide) for its first episode, 'Mantis' concluded with a final episode rating of 7.4%. It also ranked high on the OTT platform Netflix throughout its airing and achieved 6th place globally (non-English speaking) on Netflix, receiving love beyond Korea.
When asked if he anticipated such success, Jo Seong-ha said, "After reading the script, I thought, 'This is definitely going to do well.' You could see the traces of the struggles of writer Lee Young-jong and director Byun Young-joo, and the quality was high. Plus, with Go Hyun-jung participating, I felt even more certain."
Jo Seong-ha took on the role of Choi Joong-ho, the head of the copycat murder investigation team and a chief of the violent crime investigation unit. Choi Joong-ho is a character who has been taking care of Jeong Yi-shin's (played by Go Hyun-jung) son, Cha Soo-yeol (played by Jang Dong-yoon), in exchange for her confession during the serial murder case 20 years ago. When a copycat murder occurs, he actively supports the collaborative investigation between Jeong Yi-shin and Cha Soo-yeol, placing him at the center of the plot.
“Choi Joong-ho is in a position to lead the investigation team. Therefore, I thought the most important thing was to maintain focus to solve the copycat murder case. Whether leading the team or combining Jeong Yi-shin and Cha Soo-yeol, I tried to keep the tension so that no one was overlooked.”
Since Choi Joong-ho has a unique connection with the mother-son duo, Jeong Yi-shin and Cha Soo-yeol, I was curious about his feelings towards them.
Jo Seong-ha stated, “I don’t think Choi Joong-ho labels Jeong Yi-shin as a 'criminal' just because she is a serial killer. Although her actions ultimately led to bad outcomes, I think he might have understood her feelings to some extent. There was a subtle internal conflict where he couldn’t see her solely as a criminal.”
He further described Cha Soo-yeol as “a ‘painful finger’ in one word. Growing up without a mother and later discovering that his mother is a serial killer is not a good environment for growth. In that situation, becoming a police officer is both a source of pride and, on the other hand, a cause for anxiety.”
Having collaborated with director Byun Young-joo again after 'Hwa-cha', I wondered what kind of conversations they had during filming. In response to this question, Jo Seong-ha replied, “We didn’t have any special discussions,” leaving some questions unanswered.
“I think it’s because director Byun Young-joo trusts me. He knows my color as an actor very well, so there was no need for much conversation on set. Director Byun has an eye for casting actors that fit each character when working on a project. So even without much discussion on set, the quality naturally increases.”
He also mentioned that Go Hyun-jung is one of those actors. Jo Seong-ha said, “Go Hyun-jung expressed Jeong Yi-shin, the serial killer and mother, so well. She doesn’t exert any effort, yet her emotions, expressions, and voice change in an instant, creating a new atmosphere. She is a born actress, different from the first glance. When the camera rolls, she looks just like a mantis, so director Byun Young-joo was very satisfied, smiling from ear to ear.”
In the final episode of 'Mantis', the copycat murder suspect Seo Ah-ra (played by Han Dong-hee) dies, and Jeong Yi-shin feels happiness watching Cha Soo-yeol, who has become an adult with compassion, unlike herself. However, two years later, Choi Joong-ho is mysteriously murdered, hinting that the mother-son collaborative investigation will begin again.
When asked if he was satisfied with the ending, Jo Seong-ha replied, “I am really satisfied and think it has a high level of completeness. Director Byun Young-joo put in a lot of effort, from the artistic aspects to the actors, to achieve that. I hope 'Mantis' remains a benchmark for future thriller detective works.”
He added, “I think 'Mantis' has conveyed various messages to us. First, there is the perspective of how we will view those who were victims of the mantis crime, who could be seen as perpetrators. Also, I think this work could provide an opportunity for the monsters that might exist around us to reflect on themselves.”
[Lee Da-gyeom, Star Today Reporter]
