Esom opens up about the real story behind “Han Na-hyun,” a “cold-blooded elite lawyer” who refuses to accept a single loss in "Phantom Lawyer".
Premiering Friday, the 13th, SBS’s new Fri-Sat drama "Phantom Lawyer" (written by Kim Ga-young and Kang Cheol-gyu, directed by Shin Jung-hoon) follows “possessed lawyer” Shin I-rang (played by Yoo Yeon-seok), who helps the dead resolve their grudges, and “cold-blooded elite lawyer” Han Na-hyun (played by Esom), who stakes everything on winning. It’s a strange yet warm adventure about setting long-held grievances to rest.
Han Na-hyun, played by Esom, is an ace attorney who has never lost a case. She judges strictly within the bounds of the law and runs only toward victory. But behind that perfection lies a story not easily revealed. As shown in the recently released character poster, becoming a lawyer was originally her older sister’s dream. Na-hyun took on that dream and pushed herself harder than anyone.
To get to the heart of who Na-hyun is now, Esom first imagined the road she walked. “She looks cool-headed and strong, but I wondered what kinds of wounds and pain she might carry,” Esom said. “I thought she might be someone who shut out outside emotions out of fear of getting hurt.” She added, “After meeting Shin I-rang, she goes through failures and gets angry, but little by little her gaze shifts and new feelings begin to stir. In that process, she discovers a ‘self’ she didn’t know was there.”
Her reason for choosing the project connects to that turning point. “I was curious how a cold character who fixates on winning through rational judgment would change after meeting Shin I-rang, who is her complete opposite,” Esom shared. “It was fascinating to see Han Na-hyun, who has lived purely for results, start to crack when she encounters Shin I-rang, who moves with ‘heart’ and ‘justice.’”
Her preparation was meticulous. Early on, because Na-hyun doesn’t show much emotion, Esom lowered her acting tone to sharpen that cold-blooded image. Styling-wise, she paired flawless suits with a smartwatch to emphasize a firm, restrained impression. As Na-hyun’s emotions evolve, shifts in color and mood visually reflect the character’s fractures. In newly released stills, the “cold-blooded elite lawyer” stares down a case in court with unwavering eyes. Curiosity is building around the moment when cracks first appear in the walls she’s built―and the true story of Han Na-hyun that begins there.
Her dynamic with Shin I-rang is another key draw. “If Na-hyun moves by the law and the win?loss record, Shin I-rang is someone who sincerely listens to people’s stories,” Esom said. “They clearly stand on opposite ends, but as time passes and they work together, subtle feelings will develop. I think viewers will find that very compelling.” On working with Yoo Yeon-seok, she added, “It’s our first project together, but I trusted he would embody Shin I-rang well. Even when I was buried in lines, he still took care of the on-site atmosphere. There was a lot to learn.”
Finally, Esom emphasized, “The stories of the dead who come to Shin I-rang are the core of this drama.” She hopes the series “naturally conveys how precious it is to truly listen to someone.” She added, “The variety of ‘possession’ characters appearing in each episode will be the biggest fun factor of "Phantom Lawyer". Please look forward to how Shin I-rang, Han Na-hyun, and these ghost clients form a team, make up for what the others lack, and crack cases wide open.”
"Phantom Lawyer" premieres Friday the 13th at 9:50 p.m.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)