'Five Fingers' Crew: Joo Ji Hoon Is "The Right Person"

Despite his dark past, actor Joo Ji Hoon was officially confirmed in his national television comeback with his role in the upcoming SBS special 'Five Fingers', scheduled to air in August.

According to one official working with the drama, his casting was confirmed following a negotiation between the station, production company and the actor. From the beginning, the director, writer and the rest of the production crew all strongly requested for a meeting with Joo Ji Hoon, "leading us to trust their judgment that he was the right person for the lead," said the official.

The path leading up to this major role, however, has not been a smooth one for Joo Ji Hoon. His 2009 scandal involving ecstasy possession cast a large shadow over his career; however, the crew for the drama ultimately made the decision to cast him regardless after lengthy conversations about the actor, marking a comeback that has been in the making for five years since the 2007 KBS drama 'The Devil'.

An official with KeyEast also said that "the decision to cast Joo Ji Hoon is ultimately the right call", adding that "Mr. Joo is deeply regretful for his past actions; his journey to a comeback in drama was not easy. Most important in this process was the actor's own will. In the end, our faith in the drama as a work and the faith in the production crew led to the careful decision to cast him. We are confident that he will prove us right."

The drama 'Five Fingers', meanwhile, is a collaboration between 'A Gentleman's Dignity' and 'OB and GYN Doctors" PD Choi Young Hoon and 'Temptation of Wife' and 'Smile, Mom' writer Kim Soon Ok. Joo Ji Hoon is set to play a prodigal pianist with a tragic family history. The rest of the casting process is currently underway and is set to begin airing in August.

Joo Ji Hoon's drama comeback follows closely behind the upcoming opening of 'I Am A King', which he was cast in after being discharged from the army last November.