“Is that really the same person?” That is the reaction many viewers have been sharing after watching Jung Moon Sung’s shocking transformation in The Scarecrow, the latest ENA drama inspired by Korea’s infamous Hwaseong serial murder case.
Currently airing on ENA, The Scarecrow has rapidly become one of the network’s biggest hits. According to Nielsen Korea, the drama recently achieved its highest nationwide paid household rating yet at 7.4%, leading many viewers to compare its explosive popularity to the early ENA phenomenon created by Extraordinary Attorney Woo. At the center of the drama’s success is Jung Moon Sung, whose terrifying performance and dramatic twists have left audiences stunned.
The Scarecrow is loosely based on the real-life case commonly known to the public as the Hwaseong serial murders, later identified as the crimes committed by Lee Choon Jae. Between September 15, 1986, and April 3, 1991, Lee Choon Jae carried out more than ten sexual assault and murder cases within a 3-kilometer radius in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province.
At the time, police failed to identify the culprit, turning the case into one of South Korea’s most notorious unsolved serial murder investigations. The horrifying crimes traumatized the entire nation and later became recurring subjects in investigative programs such as Unanswered Questions, Chasing 60 Minutes, and PD Note. The case also famously inspired director Bong Joon Ho’s legendary film Memories of Murder.
More than 30 years later, on August 9, 2019, DNA testing officially identified Lee Choon Jae as the prime suspect. On September 24 of the same year, he confessed to being the real killer behind the Hwaseong serial murders, finally bringing closure to the decades-old cold case.
In The Scarecrow, the story follows detective Kang Tae Joo, played by Park Hae Soo, who spent years chasing the killer before eventually confronting the criminal decades later. The drama constantly moves between past and present, immersing viewers in the fear and uncertainty that gripped South Korea during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Just like the real-life case, the drama’s shocking truth is only revealed much later. In one of the series’ biggest twists, the real killer turns out to be Lee Ki Hwan, Kang Tae Joo’s childhood friend, portrayed by Jung Moon Sung.
At the beginning of the drama, Lee Ki Hwan appears to be a quiet and gentle man who runs a small bookstore in his hometown. As the serial murder investigation intensifies and his younger brother Lee Ki Beom, played by Song Geon Hee, becomes a prime suspect, he seems like nothing more than an ordinary citizen destroyed by the cruelty of the times.
Lee Ki Beom is eventually tortured during the investigation under prosecutor Cha Si Young, played by Lee Hee Joon, and later dies from the aftereffects. Until that point, viewers are led to sympathize with Lee Ki Hwan as a tragic man who lost his family member.
But the truth is far darker.
Lee Ki Hwan himself was the real serial killer all along. Even more devastatingly, his younger brother had already suspected him. Before dying, Lee Ki Beom desperately begged his brother not to harm Kang Sun Young, Kang Tae Joo’s sister and Lee Ki Beom’s fiancée, crying out, “Hyung… not Sun Young…” Yet despite his brother’s dying plea, Lee Ki Hwan never confessed.
As time passes in the drama, Lee Ki Hwan transforms into an aged prisoner wearing a prison uniform, calmly smiling in front of his former friend Kang Tae Joo with a chilling sense of detachment. The character displays terrifying duality, appearing both deeply human and horrifyingly monstrous at the same time.
Much of the drama’s impact comes from Jung Moon Sung’s performance. His naturally soft voice, calm speech, and warm gaze initially make Lee Ki Hwan appear trustworthy and compassionate, preventing viewers from suspecting him as the murderer.
However, once he fully reveals himself as the serial killer, his entire aura changes. His unstable expressions, unsettling energy, and flashes of madness create overwhelming tension. The contrast becomes even more disturbing because the face and voice remain the same while the character feels completely different.
The transformation has left many viewers repeatedly asking, “Is this really the same person?”
By taking a well-known real-life case and rebuilding it through intense psychological storytelling, Jung Moon Sung’s performance has become one of the biggest strengths of The Scarecrow. His portrayal of a serial killer who appears profoundly human while simultaneously destroying all trust around him has added another layer of depth to the drama, leaving audiences even more eager to see how the story will end.
Sources: Naver
You must be logged in to post a comment.