[Edaily Starin Choi Hee-jae Reporter] “Since I was the only one joining an already established world, it was a project that came with a lot of personal challenges for me.”

In an interview marking the finale of “Chaebol X Detective 2” held on the morning of the 22nd at a café in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, actress Jeong Eun-chae discussed her chemistry with Ahn Bo-hyun and shared behind-the-scenes stories from filming.
“Chaebol X Detective 2” is a lighthearted, refreshing, and cathartic investigative drama featuring chaebol detective Jin Yi-su—who uses his wealth to turn the tables when investigations hit a dead end—and his new team leader, Ju Hye-ra. Jeong Eun-chae delivered a passionate performance as Ju Hye-ra, a former ace of the National Police Agency’s Counter-Terrorism Team and the current team leader of the Violent Crimes Unit 1 at Gangha Police Station.
Jeong Eun-chae is the only new character introduced in Season 2. She said, “I went into it with the challenge of figuring out how to blend seamlessly into the already established world. Since it was a genre I’d never experienced before, I was both curious and intrigued.”
“Chaebol X Detective” has established itself as a representative work of the so-called “Cider Universe” within SBS’s Friday-Saturday drama lineup. While Season 1 was widely loved by viewers and led to a Season 2, the pressure on the sequel must have been considerable, given that its predecessor, “Director Kim,” starring So Ji-sub, had sparked a phenomenon-level craze by recording a peak viewership rating of 23.1%.
In fact, while “Chaebol X Detective 2” began with the pressure of living up to its predecessor’s success, it proved itself by surpassing Season 1’s performance. According to Nielsen Korea, the finale of “Chaebol X Detective 2” recorded an 11.8% rating based on nationwide households, setting a new all-time high for the series.
Jeong Eun-chae also said, “Since ‘Director Kim’ was a show that received so much love, I did feel some pressure coming in as the follow-up,” but added, “I was so relieved that viewers liked and cherished the show even more as it progressed into the latter half.” She continued, “I was glad it was proven by the numbers, and I felt truly grateful.”

She mentioned that she received a lot of help from Ahn Bo-hyun in joining the cast and adapting to Season 2. Jeong Eun-chae expressed her gratitude, saying, “On set, he embodied the character Jin Yi-su so well that it made adapting much easier. He helped me adapt so quickly that I sometimes even confused the real Ahn Bo-hyun with the character Jin Yi-su.”
Although it was their first time working together, they developed natural chemistry, which translated into a positive atmosphere and high ratings. Jeong Eun-chae burst out laughing as she said of Ahn Bo-hyun, “Every moment with him was a blast.” She continued, “The set had such a family-like, friendly, and warm atmosphere. While the cases in the show involved many heavy and tense moments, behind the camera, we were so cheerful and laughed constantly.”
Jeong Eun-chae, who had previously drawn an “X” when asked about a romantic comedy with Ahn Bo-hyun at a production press conference, added, “If we were to do a rom-com, it would be closer to a bromance. We have great on-screen chemistry, and I’d really love to act with him again in another project.” She also drew laughter by saying, “Winning the Best Couple Award seems unlikely,” when asked about the possibility.
Regarding Yoo Seung-ho, who made a special appearance, she said, “Didn’t the director say, ‘He’s so special that it’s a special appearance’?” She continued, “We met for the first time on this project, but I think he added depth to the character and portrayed him in a very multidimensional way. It was so much fun acting alongside him.”

What did she focus on while portraying Joo Hye-ra, a cool-headed and principled leader? She explained, “It was a character who needed to exude professionalism in her career, as well as a sense of maturity born from cool-headed and composed experience.”
She added, “About 10 years ago, I first took on the role of a detective in the violent crimes unit in a show called *Son the Guest*. Back then, I was the youngest member of the team, and my character was the complete opposite of Joo Hye-ra—she was incredibly passionate and fearless.”
She continued, “This time, I decided to take an approach where, when faced with any case or situation, I would persuade my team members in a rational and composed manner. I think I acted with the intention of embodying a charisma that isn’t easily discernible at first glance.”
A look at Jung Eun-chae’s filmography reveals many strong, independent female characters. She explained that this choice reflects her own personal will. “As I’ve reached a point where I can choose roles rather than just accepting what’s offered, I find myself drawn to characters that appeal to me—or that I admire because I haven’t had the chance to play them myself,” she said.
She continued, “In reality, I’m more of a diligent team member than a leader, but when I play independent and strong women, there are things I can learn from them and aspects I’d like to emulate.”
This year, Jeong Eun-chae has showcased a diverse range of roles, from *Honor: Their Court* to *Chaebol X Detective 2*. She remarked, “It seems that leaving a strong impression with a certain character definitely helps establish a specific image,” adding, “I actually have many clumsy or imperfect sides to me, and lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about highlighting those aspects. I’d like to try comfortable, down-to-earth, natural acting and play cheerful characters.”
She also mentioned that she’d like to try her hand at romantic dramas. In doing so, she drew attention by mentioning the late director Ahn Pan-seok. Jeong Eun-chae said, “I love Director Ahn Pan-seok’s work so much, and I’d always wanted to be part of one of his projects, so it was sad and disappointing that it didn’t happen. It also made me realize I need to express what I love.”
Regarding Season 3, she added, “I don’t know the specific details about Season 3 yet, but if it happens… as long as they’ll have me, I’m ready anytime.”