Actor Jung Sung-il (45), best known for his role as the husband of villainous bully Yeon-jin in the hit drama “The Glory,” has taken on a completely different persona in Disney+’s latest series, “Unmasked.” Jung, who previously took on authoritative roles such as construction company CEO (The Glory), general (Uprising), and king (Moonshine), steps into a much younger role as an entry-level employee.
Jung’s character is a 33-year-old millennial, but his appearance suggests otherwise. Sporting a hoodie and a lollipop, he portrays a troubled rookie, introducing a new take on what it means to be a beginner in society.
Viewers might be taken aback by the 45-year-old actor portraying a 30-something newbie. No matter how great the acting is, there’s no avoiding the awkwardness that comes with an almost middle-aged man pulling off a much younger person. But the series, released on Jan. 15, breaks the stereotype that younger generations are merely “in need of learning.” Jung’s performance of Han-do, a rookie producer navigating his first job, reflects the struggles modern workers deal with while trying to find their place in the world.
Unmasked initially garnered attention for casting Kim Hye-soo, known for her standout performances in “Signal” and “Under the Queen’s Umbrella,” as the lead actress of the series. The drama tells the story of an investigative reporting crew that produces a hard-hitting investigative news program called Trigger. Jung’s character, Han-do, crash-lands into the Trigger team after causing trouble in another team. The team, led by head producer Oh So-ryong (Kim Hye-soo), assistant producer Kang Ki-ho (Joo Jong-hyuk), writer (Jang Hye-jin), and CP (Lee Hae-young), tackles societal issues and uncovers injustices overlooked by law enforcement.
Han-do, who lands his first job at 33, is seemingly the epitome of negative clichés associated with so-called snowflake millennials. Highly sensitive about his personal space and boundaries, he keeps his distance from other people. He finds solace in watching videos with cute animals and secretly enjoys the scent of flowers. Han-do’s apparent indifference towards people stems from deep trauma, from childhood struggles to workplace bullying. His contradictory nature is revealed when he passionately opposes animal cruelty, even as he claims to distrust humans entirely.
Oh So-ryong embraces Han-do’s complexities. “You act like you’re covered in thorns, but you carry a flower in your heart,” she tells him. Han-do denies this, replying, “I don’t trust people because I’ve been hurt by them countless times.”
Even with a talented cast, some of the scenes feel slightly cringeworthy. But Jung’s nuanced performance of Han-do gives the drama a distinct strength. His acting, with its quiet emotional depth, challenges the notion that youth in age equates to youth in spirit. The series points out that the younger generation’s tendency to shut down stems not from selfishness or immaturity but from navigating an increasingly thorny world. Jung remarked, “This is the role where my usual self is most visible.”
With only two episodes out of the 12-episode series released, it is too early to determine the show’s success. But the seamless chemistry among the main and supporting cast, the well-timed humor, and the down-to-earth messages blend together like a comforting meal. Kim Hye-soo, who delivers another commanding performance as the big-hearted, strong-willed Oh So-ryong, praised the script for being “well-balanced.”
Unmasked delves into pressing issues such as workplace discrimination, animal cruelty, and cult crimes while maintaining humor. Directed by Yu Seon-dong, whose previous works include “The Uncanny Counter” and “Bad and Crazy,” said, “Unmasked’s appeal lies in diversity. I paid attention to combining genres based on real-life cases.”