In a recent and extensive interview with Harper’s Bazaar Korea, acclaimed actors Yoo Yeon Seok and Esom provided an illuminating look into their highly anticipated supernatural legal drama, Phantom Lawyer.
The series, which has already generated significant buzz for its unique genre-blending premise, follows the story of Shin I Rang (played by Yoo Yeon Seok), a lawyer with the peculiar ability to see and communicate with ghosts.
He is joined by Han Na Hyun (played by Esom), an elite, high-powered attorney from a prestigious firm.
Together, they form an unconventional legal alliance dedicated to resolving the lingering grievances and legal entanglements of “phantom” clients who cannot find peace in the afterlife.
Yoo Yeon Seok: Embracing the Chaos of Possession
For Yoo Yeon Seok, Phantom Lawyer represented a departure from his previous roles, offering a masterclass in transformative acting.
Because his character, Shin I Rang, is frequently possessed by the spirits he represents, Yoo was tasked with playing a revolving door of personalities- ranging from an aspiring idol to a stoic scientist.
During the interview, Yoo expressed a fearless approach to this challenge. He noted,
“I just went for it without holding back. I wondered when else I would ever get the chance to completely throw myself into a role like that and let go of myself entirely if not now with the possession concept.”
This “letting go” was inspired by his background in musical theater, where he admired actors who could shift personas instantly. He explained the personal significance of this role, stating,
“In the past, when I performed in musicals, I used to find it fascinating to watch actors playing multiple roles change costumes and step back on stage.
I always found that very appealing, but this was my first time playing such a wide range of characters within a single project.”
To achieve this, Yoo did not just rely on costume changes; he studied the guest actors playing the ghosts, even listening to recordings of their voices to mimic their specific gestures and habits.
He admitted that this made the filming process unique:
“During rehearsals on set, I would observe the actors playing the ghosts or listen to recordings of them…
Usually, towards the end of a drama, you start to feel comfortable and familiar with your character, but this set always felt brand new.”
Esom: Finding Humanity Beneath the Surface
While Yoo Yeon Seok’s role required external transformation, Esom’s portrayal of Han Na Hyun required a deep, internal psychological exploration.
Na Hyun is an elite lawyer who initially appears to be a rigid perfectionist, but Esom worked hard to find the vulnerability beneath that armor. She reflected on the character’s internal struggle, saying,
“I kept wondering, why does she live while hiding her wounds? Does she really have to live so strictly by the rules? The more I looked into Na Hyun, the more I realized that if you look deep enough, everyone has wounds and loneliness. In the end, we are all just human.”
Esom’s dedication to the role was exhaustive. She revealed that she spent countless hours collaborating with the director to ensure every line resonated with Na Hyun’s complex history. Regarding the emotional weight of the project, she stated,
“I have no regrets. It wasn’t easy to fully understand Na Hyun, so I had countless conversations with the director. Whenever a new script came out, I would go to him and go over each line together, and that process continued through all 16 episodes. I think I worked like Na Hyun herself. I really wanted to shape the character well, without any regrets.”
A Commitment to Growth and New Horizons
The interview also touched upon the actors’ broader careers and their motivations for choosing such a high-concept project.
Yoo Yeon Seok reiterated his commitment to versatility and his desire to constantly surprise his audience. He shared his philosophy on selecting roles:
“When choosing projects, I want to keep seeking out characters I haven’t played before. I want to switch up genres, and if I’ve played a good guy, I want to try a villain next. I think my fans support me in exploring different sides of myself, and I want to keep trusting that as I move forward.”
As the premiere of Phantom Lawyer approaches on March 13, it is clear that both actors have poured significant effort into making this quirky yet heartwarming legal drama a success.
By blending the procedural tension of the courtroom with the emotional stakes of the supernatural, the series promises to explore themes of justice, grief, and the universal need for closure.
With Yoo Yeon Seok’s chameleonic performance and Esom’s grounded emotional depth, Phantom Lawyer is poised to be a standout production that challenges the traditional boundaries of the K-drama landscape.
