Award Banner
Award Banner

Difficult to stop crying: Park Shin-hye on challenges playing devil in K-drama The Judge from Hell

Difficult to stop crying: Park Shin-hye on challenges playing devil in K-drama The Judge from Hell
South Korean actress Park Shin-hye.
PHOTO: Instagram/Salt Entertainment

Not everyone finds it easy to cry on demand, but for South Korean actress Park Shin-hye, it's easier to let her tears flow than stop them.

In the upcoming K-drama The Judge from Hell, the 34-year-old plays Kang Bit-na, a problematic judge known for handing out light sentences to defendants.

Often criticised for her leniency, the public is unaware that she's been possessed by a devil, who was sent to earth to drag 10 criminals back to hell.

Things take a drastic turn when Bit-na develops feelings for Da-on (played by Kim Jae-young), a human detective.

AsiaOne attended the press conference for the series on Sept 19 where Shin-hye talked about the challenges she faced filming the show.

"Bit-na is a demon so she doesn't really feel what others do… When someone is having a hard time, she doesn't know how to feel pity. The other cast members were so great with their performances. When I saw them act, I shouldn't be feeling anything, but as a human being, I was immersed in the situation," she said, adding that she would tear up even though she wasn't supposed to.

"When people tell me to cry, I can cry, but if you stop me from crying… that's quite difficult."

What is it about the character that spoke to Shin-hye?

"She's not your typical villain… Usually when we think of a villain or the anti-hero in a series, we think of characters who cause harm to others, or people that commit crimes or sins. However, Bit-na is not so much a villain. Her being a demon is just the plot device," she shared.

"I wanted to play a very blazing, bold character, and I tried to think about how to create someone who's both a devil but also lovable in the eyes of the viewers and at times, even seeming a little bit immature."

Park Shin-hye as Kang Bit-na in The Judge from Hell.
PHOTO: Instagram/Salt Entertainment

She added that fans always tell her she tends to play a "poor girl with an undying spirit" and The Judge from Hell is a chance for her to break that image.

"In the past, I think I played a lot of roles where I had to shed a tear or two, but this time around, I make others cry. I'm not the one who's crying," she said.

When asked how she'd like people to describe her after watching her new show, Shin-hye reiterated: "Someone very colourful. A colourful or multi-faceted actress."

She then brought up The Heirs (2013), where she played Cha Eun-sang - a housekeeper's daughter who falls in love with a rich heir. In the series, Eun-sang is often brought to tears over a myriad of difficulties.

"I think that image has really stuck with the public because it was so strong, and I feel like that has kind of become a given when people think of me as an actress. But I hope that through The Judge from Hell, people would think, "Oh, that's a new side of her that we've never seen. She's a very multi-faceted actress.'"

'A long time since I've poured my heart and soul into something'

(Clockwise from top) Director Park Jin-pyo with actors Kim In-kwon, Kim Jae-young, Park Shin-hye and Kim A-young from The Judge from Hell.
PHOTO: Instagram/Park Shin-hye

Towards the end of the press conference, Shin-hye expressed her love for the show.

"I think I can truly say that it has been a long, long time since I have poured my heart and soul into something. Not to say that I haven't done my best in my previous works, but I think this was just an extremely passionate experience," she said.

Jae-young, 35, praised Shin-hye extensively: "I felt that she's always so calm. Emotionally, she's always ready, always prepared. That's why I could really rely on her. When there was an emotional scene and I couldn't really focus, she would come to me and give me some advice, and that really helped me out a lot.

"I really learned so much from her. You know, she's younger than me, so I should have been the one helping her, but she was doing so."

Shin-hye, who is married to actor Choi Tae-joon and gave birth to a boy in May 2022, said Jae-young is "always nice to the cast and the staff".

"There're a lot of staff and cast members in this show, and because I had so many scenes, I was on the set every day. Instead of being nice to every single person, I just looked at the entire atmosphere of the set.

"But Jae-young would come to each and every person on the set, and he would provide that bright energy to those people. That energy was something that I got as well, and thanks to that, we could work together well."

The Judge from Hell, which also stars Kim A-young and Kim In-kwon, premieres Sept 21 on Disney+. New episodes will be released on Fridays and Saturdays.

syarifahsn@asiaone.com

No part of this article can be reproduced without permission from AsiaOne.

For more original AsiaOne articles, visit here.

homepage

trending

trending
    Chee Hong Tat to chair Chinese Community Liaison Group, succeeding Edwin Tong
    Is Singapore's F&B industry struggling? Hawkers, entrepreneurs and insiders weigh in
    Judge temporarily blocks Trump administration from revoking Harvard enrolment of foreign students
    2 men and a woman arrested for alleged involvement in impersonating MAS staff, scamming victim of nearly $100k
    We will involve Singaporeans in creating and implementing solutions, says PM Wong as new Cabinet sworn in
    18 injured in knife attack in Hamburg, report says
    'Short-term, more conservative view': Local businesses struggle to come to terms with US tariffs
    'Harvard refugee': Chinese students hunker down as US blocks foreign enrolment 
    $4.6m fine: 2 contractors taken to task for rigging tender bids of upgrading works at PA community clubs
    Cool paint, clean power: These are the sustainable innovations that Temasek Foundation are backing for $2m
    LTA impounds 78 non-compliant AMDs to address rising number of fire incidents
    Youth who performed lewd act on cat pleads guilty

Singapore

Singapore
    • Singapore has never stayed neutral and does take positions on trade with US and China: Gan Kim Yong
    • 'Mixed emotions': Ministers Chan Chun Sing, Desmond Lee and Chee Hong Tat reflect on their Cabinet movements
    • US and China embassies in Singapore clash online over South China Sea; MFA cautions against stirring local sentiment
    • Man who sexually assaulted stepdaughter despite wife's warning gets jail, caning
    • Daily roundup: Murder mystery pop-up inspired by K-drama Nine Puzzles lets you take a shot at playing detective — and other top stories today
    • Daily roundup: New FairPrice Finest outlet featuring food hall opens in Sembawang — and other top stories today
    • Jail for man who devised bogus wine investment scheme, pocketed $12.67m of investors' funds
    • PM Lawrence Wong's Cabinet reshuffle 'cautious' and with succession in mind: Analysts
    • Singapore keeps 2025 growth forecast at 0-2%, sees slight boost from US-China truce
    • Daily roundup: Cat A COE premiums remain above $100k despite slight dip in second bidding for May 2025 — and other top stories today

Entertainment

Entertainment
    • Tay Ying holds 'guo da li' ceremony, jokes she's 'sold'
    • Tom Cruise sends BTS' Jin on secret-agent challenges in variety show
    • Little Monsters flock to Maxwell Food Centre table that Lady Gaga dined at
    • ICA reviewing PR status of Ian Fang, Lev Panfilov following convictions for sexual offences
    • Barry Keoghan confesses to being an addict
    • US singer Chris Brown granted $8.6 million bail for world tour by UK court
    • Miley Cyrus unwilling to remove 'very large' polyp on vocal cord in case it changes her voice

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
    • Supermarket meets kopitiam: New FairPrice Finest outlet featuring food hall opens in Sembawang
    • Bak kut teh or laksa? Uniqlo's latest drop features Singapore food-inspired collection
    • Kopitiam offering 60-cent hot kopi-o and teh-o from June to mark SG60
    • Jurassic World, inflatable playgrounds and more: Family-friendly events and activities this June holiday
    • What to look for in a pregnancy milk: A guide for expecting mums
    • Maxus Mifa 7 review: A large Chinese electric MPV that bucks the luxury trend
    • Free things to do in Singapore (May to June): i Light Singapore, GastroBeats, Pasar Pink, Children's Festival and more
    • Cat A COE premiums remain above $100k despite slight dip in second bidding for May 2025
    • New theme park to open in Japan's Okinawa this July offering scenic treks, hot air balloon rides and more
    • We check out Hiap Joo Bakery's new vending machine selling its famous banana cake

Digicult

Digicult
    • World's best Dota 2 teams to compete for $1m prize pool in Singapore in November
    • A $500 wake-up call: How the Samsung Galaxy Ring made me realise my stress
    • Monster Hunter Wilds producer explains how game has remained unique and fresh over 20 years
    • EU and US authorities take down malware network
    • Google Pixel 9a: The best AI-centric phone under $800 in 2025?
    • Western intelligence agencies warn spyware threat targeting Taiwan, Tibetan rights advocates
    • Taiwan says China using generative AI to ramp up disinformation and 'divide' the island
    • Russian court fines Telegram app for refusal to remove anti-government content, TASS reports
    • One Beijing man's quest to keep cooking — and connecting with Americans — on camera
    • Nintendo Switch 2 to launch in June with US$449.99 price tag

Money

Money
    • Wall Street equity indexes close higher after US-China tariff truce
    • Giant deal: Malaysian company to acquire Cold Storage and Giant supermarket chains in Singapore
    • More people rented in April 2025 despite higher prices, here's what's drove it
    • Looking to buy Singapore property in 2025? Here's what's different (and what could catch you off guard)
    • Newly MOP-ed 3-room HDB flat in Bedok sold for record $730k
    • Ang Mo Kio's most expensive 5-room HDB flat sold for $1.5m, here's why
    • US climate pullback threatens planned debt-for-nature deals
    • This rare HDB maisonette in Queenstown just set a $1.51m record: Here's why
    • HDB BTO July 2025 review: Locations, resale, values, amenities and more
    • Selling your condo? This overlooked factor could quietly undercut your selling price

Latest

Latest
  • US judge orders Trump administration to facilitate return of Guatemalan deportee
  • China pledges support for overseas students after Trump's Harvard curb
  • Top US diplomat in Havana promises more sanctions on Cuba
  • Paris court convicts thieves who robbed Kim Kardashian in jewel heist
  • US issues orders easing Syria sanctions after Trump pledge
  • After shootings, Washington's shaken Jewish community looks to bolster security
  • Trump threatens new tariffs on EU and Apple, reigniting trade fears
  • 4 dead, 17 missing as heavy rains soak southern China, triggering landslides 
  • US and Iran to hold nuclear talks amid clashing red lines 

In Case You Missed It

In Case You Missed It
  • Trump administration blocks Harvard from enrolling foreign students, threatens broader crackdown 
  • No joke: Bangkok condo resident releases snakes in corridor to protest neighbour's noisy dog
  • 'Only one chance at life': Chinese student, 18, misses exam to save classmate suffering heart attack
  • Baby suspected to have been eaten by monitor lizard in Thailand, only head found
  • 'Dog will return soon': GE2025 independent candidate Jeremy Tan wants to contest again
  • Ong Ye Kung leads PAP team to victory while elder brother Howard Ong loses in Australia's election on the same day
  • Tan Kiat How weighs in on viral video of Gan Kim Yong being ignored by passers-by in Punggol
  • PSP's Tan Cheng Bock turns 85; SDP's Paul Tambyah joins celebration at Teban Gardens
  • PM Wong urges voters to 'choose leaders of good character' in PAP's first party political broadcast
This website is best viewed using the latest versions of web browsers.