Actor Jang Na-ra / Courtesy of 3HW By Park Jin-hai Jang Na-ra, 23 years into her acting career, has reached new heights with her performance in the recently ended SBS drama " Good Partner ." Known for her sweet and lovable roles, she surprised viewers by taking on the role of Cha Eun-kyung, a cold-hearted, rational lawyer. Together with Han Yu-ri (Nam Ji-hyun), a passionate rookie lawyer, she formed a powerful female duo, offering a fresh perspective on women's relationships in Korean dramas.
The show, which featured realistic divorce cases written by an actual divorce lawyer, maintained a consistent viewership rating of nearly 20 percent until its finale. Many believe Jang's versatile performance in this drama makes her a strong contender for year-end acting awards this year. Mentioning that the huge popularity of the drama was unexpected, Jang said the drama changed her personal perceptions on divorce.
She portrayed the pain and growth story of a character who is a star lawyer but also experiences her husband's infidelity. "I’ve come to realize that there's no reason to view divorce in a negative light. The narration tells that divorce can be a matter of choice — whether you choose marriage, being single or remaining unmarried, it's your responsibility to put in the effort to make that choice work.
But despite all your efforts, if it still doesn't work out, then it's OK to make a different choice. I found myself agreeing with this sentiment quite a bit," she said during an interview with The Korea Times at Seoul Tourism Plaza in Seoul, Monday. She added that the drama also broadened her perspective on divorce cases.
Specifically, she mentioned the second episode, which featured a mother who decided to give up custody of her child in exchange for a 2 billion won settlement from her cheating husband, who wanted to be with her close friend. When examining this case, the solutions proposed by Cha and Han differed. "Initially, many in the drama questioned if she was truly giving up her child.
If I were younger and more emotionally driven, I might have jumped to the same conclusion. However, the way the situation was handled with such rational thinking was eye-opening. It made me realize that the 20 billion won wasn't just about the mother's post-divorce life, but also about securing a future for the children," the actor explained.
"I was quite surprised by the very different interpretations of the 2 billion won. Through the drama, I realized that there could be such different ways of thinking. It really opened up my mind.
" The 43-year-old actor, who debuted as a singer in 2001, described "Good Partner" as a "thankful drama" for her, especially after years of doubt about her acting career. She admitted having many shortcomings as an actor and experiencing limited roles since her youth. Jang confessed that while filming this drama, there were times when acting felt like an "unattainable star" in the sky.
"I felt like I needed to do well. And since I've been in the industry for so many years, I wanted to do even better, but I couldn't figure out how. I was feeling quite down and exhausted.
But I tried to see it as a child's innocent longing for something impossible, and I forced myself to stay positive," she said. "At the same time, I think those feelings are what keep me going. I have this constant desire to do well and to be recognized.
" She said her latest drama helped her overcome this feeling. Instead of clenching her teeth and going all in, she tried to maintain the overall tone of the drama and especially focus on the character of co-star Nam. "When I was struggling, I relied heavily on Nam, who is an amazing actor.
Putting Nam's character, becoming a professional attorney from a rookie, I focused on creating my character's tone and manner that could hit her nerve." Jang says her goal is simple: making her drama a success that could open doors to her next new and challenging project. As a great fan of thrillers and occult stuff, she now wishes to be in thrillers.
"I wouldn't mind taking on a villain role. I know it might be a risk for writers because of my previous roles, but I believe that a good person doing bad things can be more interesting," she said. "I aspire to be an actor who is always exciting to watch and who constantly piques people's curiosity, making them eager to see what I can do next.
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