[Edaily Starin Gim Ga Yeong Reporter] Lee Jun-young, who played the role of Hwang Jun-hyun in the JTBC Saturday-Sunday drama "New Employee Chairman Kang," shared his thoughts on the show’s finale.

Lee Jun-young delivered a passionate performance as Hwang Jun-hyun, a promising soccer player, in the JTBC Saturday-Sunday drama “New Employee Chairman Kang,” which concluded on the 5th. “New Employee Chairman Kang” wrapped up with a peak nationwide household viewership rating of 13.6%.
“New Employee Chairman Kang” is a “remind life” drama in which Kang Yong-ho (played by Son Hyun-joo), chairman of the Choi Sung Group and known as the “God of Business,” is forced to live an unwanted second life following an accident. The story follows Kang Yong-ho, now a new employee, as he confronts power struggles and internal corruption within the company while striving to protect his family and the corporation. Thanks to its solid storyline and the actors’ passionate performances, the series broke its own viewership records with each episode and received an outpouring of love from viewers. However, the finale—in which his soul switches bodies once again—has sparked heated debate over the ending.
Amid this, Lee Jun-young convincingly portrayed the chairman’s wisdom and charisma—trapped in a young body—through his unique acting style. Through subtle differences in his gaze, speech patterns, and tone of voice, he seamlessly shifted between 27-year-old Hwang Jun-hyun and 72-year-old Chairman Kang Yong-ho. He played a pivotal role in the drama by delicately portraying the chairman’s insight, the new employee’s drive, comedic moments, and profound emotional depth. In particular, he demonstrated his broad acting range once again by skillfully bringing the unique “soul-swap” premise to life with his solid acting skills.
Lee Jun-young, who created yet another defining role through *New Employee Chairman Kang*, said upon the drama’s conclusion, “I feel both a sense of regret and relief.” He added, “It was a truly difficult challenge, but thanks to my wonderful senior actors and the production team, I was able to trust and rely on them as I prepared and filmed diligently until the very end. I sincerely thank everyone who worked with me.”
Lee Jun-young, who even captured the essence of Kang Yong-ho as portrayed by Son Hyun-joo, revealed, “I watched Son Hyun-joo’s performances—which I’ve always admired—many times and replayed them repeatedly.” He added, “By focusing intently on his acting, I think I was able to express aspects like his speech patterns, mannerisms, and overall demeanor a bit more naturally.” He also added about Son Hyun-joo, “I learned a great deal from his free-flowing pacing in acting, as well as his composure and ease on set.”
Regarding *New Employee Chairman Kang*, Lee Jun-young shared, “The first thought that comes to mind is that it was a ‘project into which I poured my heart and soul.’ I gave it my absolute best, and it was a project from which I learned and gained so much—one that I believe I’ll remember for a long time.” He continued, “I’d like to once again express my sincere gratitude to all the viewers who loved *New Employee Chairman Kang* even late into the night. As I prepare to enlist in the military, I’m filled with nothing but gratitude for receiving such immense love before I leave. I sincerely hope you all stay healthy and that your lives are filled with nothing but happiness. I hope you all have a wonderful end to the year,” he shared.
Meanwhile, Lee Jun-young is set to enlist in the military on the 21st. Through his social media, he shared his thoughts, saying, “I’ll serve my time healthily and true to myself,” and added, “Until the day I greet you all again, I sincerely hope you all stay healthy and spend happy and meaningful times in your respective lives.”