Lee Je-hoon and Park Eun-bin's Past Drama 'Secret Door' Gains Renewed Attention

The 2014 SBS Monday-Tuesday drama 'Secret Door', featuring Lee Je-hoon and Park Eun-bin, has recently become a topic of discussion again. This historical drama, starring Han Suk-kyu and Lee Je-hoon, explored the tragic family history of King Yeongjo and Crown Prince Sado through a palace mystery centered on a murder case involving royal protocols. The fact that top actors Park Eun-bin and Kim Yoo-jung, who have since risen to prominence, appeared in supporting roles is particularly noteworthy.

'Secret Door' was a 24-episode historical drama that started strong, achieving a 10.0% viewership rating by its fourth episode. Park Eun-bin played Hyegeyong Hong, the wife of Crown Prince Sado (portrayed by Lee Je-hoon), showcasing their on-screen chemistry, while Kim Yoo-jung appeared as Seo Ji-dam. Although the drama garnered initial interest as Lee Je-hoon's first project after his military discharge, its viewership declined due to a loosening of the initial mystery plot and controversies surrounding the idealization of Crown Prince Sado.

Many viewers attribute the drama's fading from public memory, despite its strong start, to narrative shortcomings and genre ambiguity. However, from today's perspective, the impressive cast, including Lee Je-hoon, Park Eun-bin, and Kim Yoo-jung, has led to a re-evaluation of the series. Park Eun-bin also mentioned her connection with Lee Je-hoon from 'Secret Door' when she served as the sole MC for the 2023 Busan International Film Festival due to his absence, stating she received his support.