TV
‘Undercover Miss Hong’ Climbs Global Netflix Ranks with Intriguing Plot Twists
Premiering on January 17, tvN's weekend drama 'Undercover Miss Hong' captivated audiences with its fresh office comedy set against the backdrop of 1990s Yeouido and its vibrant characters.
According to FlixPatrol, a site that ranks OTT services, 'Undercover Miss Hong' ranked 8th globally in the Netflix 'TV SHOWS' category just three days after its release (as of January 20). It also entered the TOP 10 in a total of 41 countries. Additionally, it ranked 5th in the TV-OTT drama category for buzzworthiness in the third week of January, as reported by FUNdex, the official platform of Good Data Corporation.
Particularly, the suspenseful undercover operation led by Hong Geum-bo (played by Park Shin-hye) drives the plot, piquing viewers' interest. The story reveals why a 35-year-old elite securities supervisor had to temporarily abandon her illustrious career to go undercover as a 20-year-old entry-level employee at Hanmin Securities. We explore the hidden events Hong Geum-bo faces as she embarks on a solitary battle in enemy territory.
The death of President Kang Myung-hwi (played by Choi Won-young), who offered to cooperate with Hong Geum-bo in exposing Hanmin Securities' corruption, was a shocking event early in the series. This death sparked controversy over the excessive pressure from the Securities Supervisory Service, causing Hong Geum-bo to momentarily falter. To make matters worse, the anonymous whistleblower who emailed Hong Geum-bo, known as 'Yeppi,' and whom President Kang identified as his ally, has also disappeared. The question remains whether President Kang's death was a simple accident or a planned act to prevent the exposure of Hanmin Securities' corruption.
The Ultimate Goal of the Undercover Operation: Finding the 'Slush Fund Ledger'
Hong Geum-bo recalls President Kang mentioning that the slush fund ledger proving Hanmin Securities' corruption was kept in the 12th-floor president's office, but it was not found during the raid, leaving her in a difficult position. Consequently, Hong Geum-bo infiltrates Hanmin Securities undercover to find the slush fund ledger organized by President Kang and 'Yeppi.' She searches for clues around the suspected individuals and near the president's office. However, in a twist revealed in the second episode, the president's secretary, Go Bok-hee (played by Ha Yoon-kyung), has obtained the slush fund ledger. With a history of being reported for embezzlement at her previous job and ambitions to achieve her dreams with a large sum of money, it remains to be seen how Go Bok-hee will use the ledger, how she acquired it, and whether Hong Geum-bo can retrieve it.
The Invisible Power Struggle for a New Successor at Hanmin Securities
Chairman Kang Pil-beom (played by Lee Deok-hwa) of Hanmin Securities, having lost his son President Kang, needs a new successor. He secretly brings his daughter Kang Nora (played by Choi Ji-soo) into the company to gain experience. However, he also harbors a desire to pass the company to his grandson Albert Oh (played by Jo Han-gyeol) and reveals his intentions by asking the new president, Shin Jung-woo (played by Go Kyung-pyo), to mentor Albert Oh. Unlike his innocent children, Albert Oh's father, Executive Director Oh Deok-gyu (played by Kim Hyung-mook), and Kang Nora's mother, Choi In-ja (played by Byun Jung-soo), engage in subtle power plays, while the influential secretary chief Song Joo-ran (played by Park Mi-hyun) adds tension to the power struggle within the Hanmin Securities family. The power struggle within Hanmin Securities, triggered by President Kang's death, is closely watched to see how it unfolds.
The third episode of tvN's weekend drama 'Undercover Miss Hong' airs on January 24 at 9:10 PM.
Reporter: Kim Ji-won, TenAsia bella@tenasia.co.kr
