TV
Park Shin-hye's Bold Move: Uncovering Hidden Funds in 'Undercover Miss Hong'
The 9th episode of tvN's weekend drama 'Undercover Miss Hong,' aired on the 14th, depicted the emotional stories of Hong Geum-bo (played by Park Shin-hye) and Kim Mi-sook (played by Kang Chae-young), alongside the chaotic internal situation of Hanmin Securities amid an economic downturn.
The episode achieved a nationwide average rating of 7.1% and a peak of 8.2% across cable, IPTV, and satellite platforms, bringing joy to home viewers. The drama also ranked first in its time slot across all channels, including terrestrial networks, among the 20-49 age demographic. (Based on Nielsen Korea data)
Previously, the 1997 financial crisis, known as the 'IMF Crisis,' led to widespread public outcry. As the fund returns sold by Hanmin Securities plummeted, customers who suffered significant losses filed lawsuits en masse. Kim Mi-sook, who had been actively promoting sales to secure a home for her daughter, found herself embroiled in legal troubles.
Panicked at the thought of leaving her daughter with a massive debt, Kim Mi-sook left two letters for Hong Geum-bo and Hanmin Securities Chairman Kang Pil-beom (played by Lee Deok-hwa) before attempting a shocking act. The letter to Hong Geum-bo revealed that Kim Mi-sook had received help from an accountant at a firm she worked at years ago, who turned out to be none other than Hong Geum-bo, surprising viewers.
Kim Mi-sook never forgot Hong Geum-bo's existence and, after a chance reunion as roommates, suspected that Hong Geum-bo had reasons for hiding her true identity, choosing to keep the truth a secret.
Meanwhile, Kim Mi-sook's collapse led to a rift among the 301 dorm roommates. Go Bok-hee (played by Ha Yoon-kyung) was furious at the Hanmin Securities family, whom she blamed for Kim Mi-sook's plight, and revealed Kang No-ra's (played by Choi Ji-soo) true identity in front of Hong Geum-bo in a fit of anger.
Hong Geum-bo was shocked to learn that Kang No-ra was the daughter of Chairman Kang, whom she had been desperately trying to bring down, causing tension among the roommates. Chairman Kang then instructed Kang No-ra to leave the dorm and return home, leaving the once lively 301 room in silence.
Meanwhile, Shin Jung-woo (played by Go Kyung-pyo) began to reveal his true intentions. He secretly partnered with DK Ventures, a foreign investment firm, to inject funds into Hanmin Securities, which lacked government support. DK Ventures planned to take over Hanmin Securities and requested staff reductions, adding tension to the company already affected by the 'IMF Crisis.'
Departments were instructed to compile lists of employees to be laid off, leading to the resignation of Manager So Kyung-dong (played by Seo Hyun-chul), who had dedicated 25 years to the company, and the inclusion of Manager Bang Jin-mok (played by Kim Do-hyun) on the layoff list. The 'So.Bang.Cha' team, facing an unprecedented crisis, disbanded, and the newly formed Crisis Management Headquarters also dissolved, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats.
At the end of the 9th episode, a surprising twist unfolded. The missing secret financial records of Hanmin Securities were found in Kim Mi-sook's daughter Kim Bom's (played by Kim Se-ah) sketchbook. Instead of returning triumphantly to the Financial Supervisory Service with the records, Hong Geum-bo made a different choice, drawing attention. She proposed to roommate Go Bok-hee to steal the funds together, saying, "Want to join me?" creating an exhilarating ending.
Meanwhile, the 10th episode of 'Undercover Miss Hong' will air on the 15th at 9:10 PM.
Reporter Da-yeon Jeong, TenAsia light@tenasia.co.kr
