For actors, the “first impression” can be a chain or a pair of wings. For Oh Se-young, the heroine of MBC’s Friday-Saturday drama The judge returnslast month was like a dizzying journey between hell and heaven.
Before the drama even aired, Oh Se-young found herself at the center of controversy. At the production press conference, his visibly stiff demeanor quickly drew criticism. Was the pressure of your first starring role in the miniseries just too much? Under a barrage of flashbulbs, he avoided eye contact and stumbled over his words. The public response was merciless, with comments like “unprepared” AND “unprofessional” appearing before a single episode had aired. She was on the verge of being branded an lead unlikely from the beginning.
Oh Se-young didn’t hold back. He openly acknowledged his flaws on social media and chose to respond in the only way an actor can truly do so: through his acting. Now, with 12 episodes broadcast, public perception has changed dramatically. The controversy has died down, leaving only the character Yoo Se-hee and the actress who embodies her.
Yoo Se-hee is not an easy role. Beneath the charming exterior of the youngest daughter of a chaebol family lies a woman burdened by two lives: the sins of her first life, in which she led her husband to his death, and the confusion of her second life, granted through her sacrifice. It is necessary to simultaneously convey guilt, fear, growth and emotional restraint exceptional control.
His film partner is Ji Sung, a veteran actor with over 20 years of experience and a Daesang (Grand Prize) to his name. With a 19-year age gap and Ji Sung’s commanding presence, it would have been easy for a younger actress to dwarf in comparison. Instead, Oh Se-young stood her ground. In the early episodes, when the couple clashed in a cold, transactional marriage, his unwavering gaze and solid speaking voice held their own against Ji Sung’s charisma. A line like “I will divorce you when I decide to” she left viewers impressed by her composure and strength.
As the story progressed, the two characters began to heal each other and unite “Team Lee Han-young”, his performance became even richer. She convincingly eliminate the sharp edges of a villain and depicted Yoo Se-hee’s transformation into a law student learning justice and empathy. A memorable scene at a tripe restaurant, where he insists he’s on a diet, only to finish three portions, gave it away sharp comic timing and versatility beyond the heavy drama.
This resilience did not appear overnight. Since her debut in 2018, Oh Se-young has steadily built her career through web dramas and supporting roles. His breakthrough came in 2023 with MBC’s daily drama The third marriagewhere he powerfully portrayed the infamous villain Kang Se-ran. The grueling schedule and sheer volume of dialogue laid a solid foundation that now shines through.
In particular, it refused to be contained in a single image. Soon after her daily drama ended, she surprised viewers with a playful transformation into a rebellious high school girl on the tvN series. Lovely runner. Now she is the protagonist of a prime time miniseries. From supporting roles to leading lady, from daily dramas to weekend slots, she has climbed the industry ladder into the biggest roles. classic and disciplined way.
With only two episodes of The judge returns Otherwise, the drama is reaching its climax as Lee Han-young and Yoo Se-hee deal with corruption within a powerful law firm. Yoo Se-hee’s final choices will be crucial to the finale.
Oh Se-young silenced the first criticisms with skill and perseverance, demonstrating that she knows how to turn crises into opportunities. As he once said, “A good drama is like a delicious dish.” No matter the genre, she has become an actress capable of bringing it out real flavor.
Now, instead of being remembered for a “controversial attitude” the public is ready to call her to “trustworthy actress”. With the finale approaching and the next steps yet to be revealed, anticipation for Oh Se-young’s future has never been higher.
Sources: Daum
