TV
Unexpected Twists in 'Undercover Miss Hong': New Roommate and Hidden Agendas
In the January 31st episode of tvN's weekend drama 'Undercover Miss Hong' (hereafter 'Miss Hong'), viewers were introduced to a surprising new addition to the 301 dorm room, while Shin Jung-woo (played by Go Kyung-pyo) began to suspect Hong Geum-bo's (played by Park Shin-hye) undercover employment. The episode garnered nationwide ratings of 5.9% on average, peaking at 6.9%, and in the metropolitan area, it averaged 6.1%, with a high of 7.2%.
The identity of the intruder who surprised everyone in dorm room 301 was revealed to be Kim Mi-sook (played by Kang Chae-young), a single mother who had temporarily brought her six-year-old daughter, Kim Bom (played by Kim Se-ah), from the orphanage to the dorm. While Go Bok-hee (played by Ha Yoon-kyung) and Kang No-ra (played by Choi Ji-soo) sympathized and offered to let them stay, Hong Geum-bo, worried about getting involved in complicated matters, opposed the idea. Despite her stern demeanor, Hong Geum-bo showed her humanity by expressing her regret to the departing child, saying, “I’m not sending you away because I dislike you. I hope you understand that there are adult matters that can't be explained.”
Rumors spread about an internal whistleblower among the Hanmin Securities team, known as 'So.Bang.Cha', consisting of Manager Seo Kyung-dong (played by Seo Hyun-chul), Assistant Manager Bang Jin-mok (played by Kim Do-hyun), and Manager Cha Joong-il (played by Im Chul-soo), leading to a surprise audit. Each presented evidence of their innocence, and as Hong Geum-bo discovered their actions, she grew confused, especially when it was revealed that Assistant Manager Bang Jin-mok was involved in a financial fraud case at Hanmin Securities nine years ago.
Shin Jung-woo, who had been suspicious of Hong Geum-bo since their encounter, secretly investigated her and confirmed that she had infiltrated Hanmin Securities disguised as a 20-year-old rookie employee, Hong Jang-mi, to find the whistleblower. He further revealed his hidden motives by willingly participating in a matchmaking meeting with Kang No-ra, the daughter of Chairman Kang Pil-beom (played by Lee Deok-hwa), aiming to become his son-in-law. The intrigue deepened as viewers wondered what Shin Jung-woo, the newly appointed president of Hanmin Securities, was truly after and whether he would overlook Hong Geum-bo's true identity.
At the end of the episode, Kim Bom officially joined the dorm, increasing the number of residents from four to five, hinting at more tumultuous days ahead for room 301. Kim Bom even had to visit the emergency room due to a fever reaching 38 degrees. As Hong Geum-bo faced challenges both inside and outside the company, Song Joo-ran (played by Park Mi-hyun), the secretary and shadow power of Chairman Kang, watched her closely, setting the stage for another cliffhanger ending.
Reporter Tae Yuna, TenAsia youyou@tenasia.co.kr