Did You Know? The 14-Year-Old Boy in ‘Juvenile Justice’ is Actually 28! + Gains Praises for Stellar Performance
Lee Yeon wowed the viewers after landing the role of the young offender in Netflix's "Juvenile Justice" alongside Kim Hye Soo, Kim Mu Yeol, Lee Sung Min and Lee Jung Eun.
The law-crime series follows the story of an elite judge named Sim Eun Seok, who despises juvenile offenders. She showed how ruthless she is at court after being appointed as a juvenile judge at Yeonhwa District Court.
With the Kdrama's impressive cast lineup, one actor that gained praise from viewers is Lee Yeon, who played Baek Sung Woo.
Lee Yeon Plays 14-Year-Old Baek Sung Woo in 'Juvenile Justice'
In "Juvenile Justice" episode 1, Baek Sung Woo confessed to his crime after killing his 4-year-old neighbor.
He appeared in the trial, presided by Judge Sim (Kim Hye Soo) and said, "I'm still under 14, so I don't have to go to jail", making the juvenile judge furious.
As the truth unfolds, Sim Eun Seok and her team found out that he was persuaded by another person older than him, making her the perpetrator and Baek Sung Woo as an accomplice.
READ MORE: Here's Why You Should Watch Netflix's 'Juvenile Justice' + What's Next for Kim Hye Soo
Playing the role of juvenile offender left a strong impression on the viewers, especially the confrontation between Kim Hye Soo, and was lauded for the rookie actor's stellar performance.
Strangely enough, the 14-year-old boy was portrayed by a 28-year-old actress Lee Yeon.
Born in 1995, she recently celebrated her birthday on February 27, two days after "Juvenile Justice" was released.
Lee Yeon Dramas: Where Have You Seen the 'Juvenile Justice' Actress?
She may be a rookie actress, but Lee Yeon appeared in several notable series and movies. Debuting in 2017, she first appeared in the short film "AK-ZIL" followed by "Height of the Wave" in 2019.
She then had her small screen debut in 2020 for MBC's romance-drama "Find Me in Your Memory," starring Kim Dong Wook and Moon Ga Young.
In 2021, she portrayed the role of Jung Hae In's younger sister, Ahn Soo Jin, in Netflix's "D.P." However, it was "Juvenile Justice" which gave her overwhelming praise from the viewers.
What's Next for Lee Yeon?
According to reports, the 28-year-old actress will headline an independent film "Cosmos" produced by the Korean Academy of Film Arts (KAFA).
Lee Yeon will be reunited with her "Juvenile Justice" co-star Choi Ji Su, who played Oh Yeon Ji, one of the girls at Pureum Youth Recovery Center, in episodes 4 and 5.
'Juvenile Justice' Ranks 7th in Netflix Top TV Shows
Kim Hye Soo | Juvenile Justice still
The 10-episode drama is gaining the attention it deserves with its soaring status in Netflix's daily rankings.
According to Flix Patrol, "Juvenile Justice" is currently at seventh place as of March 1, with 173 points and number one in 32 countries.
Meanwhile, "All of Us Are Dead" slid to fifth place while Kim Tae Ri and Nam Joo Hyuk's K-drama "Twenty-Five Twenty-One" dropped to tenth place.
