Park Min-young's First TV CHOSUN Drama Ends with Low Ratings but Achieves Streaming Success

Since her debut in 2005, Park Min-young has been known as the 'Queen of Ratings' with numerous hit dramas. Her first appearance in a TV CHOSUN drama garnered attention, but the final episode concluded with a metropolitan area average rating of 1.504%.

The final episode of TV CHOSUN's weekend miniseries 'Confidence Man KR,' aired on October 12, ranked in the TOP 8 worldwide on Amazon Prime TV shows and was the highest-ranked drama in the TOP 3 on Coupang Play's weekly popular works, according to Flix Patrol.

Yoon Yi-rang (played by Park Min-young) was shocked to see Myung Goo-ho (played by Joo Jong-hyuk) and was furious at his independent actions. She stayed low at a goshiwon saved by James (played by Park Hee-soon) until she gained trust from Kang Yo-seop (played by Kim Tae-hoon). Kang Yo-seop was pleased when Abdullah expressed interest in a construction model he sent, but was troubled by the request to shorten the construction period by three years. Yoon Yi-rang provided a solution to reduce the construction time, stepping in to secure the contract.

At the contract meeting attended by Kang Yo-seop, Yoon Yi-rang, Myung Goo-ho, and Inira (played by Jung Ae-yeon), James appeared disguised as Salvador Rios, a third-generation Mexican-Korean with a Bruno Mars look. Despite Myung Goo-ho's surprise, James demanded "one thing I want! 15 million dollars!" and pressured Kang Yo-seop to secure a 20 billion won contract deposit within a week. Myung Goo-ho reassured Kang Yo-seop after receiving a call from Chairman Jo (played by Kang Nam-gil) confirming the possibility, but Yoon Yi-rang and Myung Goo-ho raised concerns about their plan collapsing if Chairman Jo funded it. They also clashed over their respective traumas and revenge against Kang Yo-seop, who was responsible for Yoon Yi-rang's kidnapping and Myung Goo-ho's father's death.

Meanwhile, Kang Yo-seop, who secretly listened to their conversation, lured Yoon Yi-rang, James, and Myung Goo-ho to a villa under the pretense of a dinner party. He used masked men to subdue them and taunted Myung Goo-ho by blaming him for his father's death. Kang Yo-seop then took a gun from a masked man and threatened Myung Goo-ho, who aimed a gun at him, by mentioning Yoon Yi-rang and James's lives. In a swift move, Kang Yo-seop disarmed Myung Goo-ho and shot him, causing chaos.

At that moment, Kang Yo-seop received a call from the Ministry of Land's secretary, informing him of Abdullah's arrival. Leaving the three behind, he went to the meeting place. Feeling triumphant, Kang Yo-seop was presented with a box by a masked Abdullah. Inside was a chessboard with a fallen king, and James and Yoon Yi-rang, who had been disguised in traditional attire, revealed themselves, taunting Kang Yo-seop with "How does it feel to be on the receiving end?"

Yoon Yi-rang revealed that everything was a plan to deceive Kang Yo-seop. She, James, and Myung Goo-ho pretended to be at odds for the operation, and when they went to the villa, they worked with crew members who subdued the masked men. The video call with Abdullah was manipulated using deepfake and deep voice technology, and they used the Ministry of Land's secretary, who was having an affair with Go Sang-hee (played by Han Groo), to influence Minister Yoo, leaving Kang Yo-seop flustered.

Furthermore, James sent a confession video of Kang Yo-seop, who had tormented the three at the villa, to the detective chief from Yoon Yi-rang's kidnapping case, leading to Kang Yo-seop's emergency arrest. Kang Yo-seop, who fled to Germany for two years after the incident, was shocked to learn that the statute of limitations was still valid. He fired a fake gun in vain and fled. While escaping from the police in a car, Kang Yo-seop was haunted by visions of young and current Yoon Yi-rang, driven to madness, and crashed under a bridge while avoiding a truck, disappearing.

Time passed, and Yoon Yi-rang, watching the news about Kang Yo-seop, turned off the TV and celebrated their successful revenge with 'Team Confidence Man' James, Myung Goo-ho, and the crew. Myung Goo-ho lamented, "Even if we work hard, these trashy people won't disappear," to which James replied, "That's why people like us are needed." Yoon Yi-rang agreed, saying, "Shall we start?" and they all shouted "Let's get it!" enjoying a victory shot. Yoon Yi-rang declared, "The conman returns!" as she, James, and Myung Goo-ho embarked on a new mission, completing the open-ended finale with a bang.

Lee So-jung, TenAsia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr