Tensions Rise as Park Shin-hye's Secret Fund Operation Faces Exposure in 'Undercover Miss Hong'

Park Shin-hye's character in 'Undercover Miss Hong' faces a critical moment as her secret fund operation risks exposure.

In the 12th episode of tvN's weekend drama 'Undercover Miss Hong', aired on the 22nd, Hong Geum-bo (played by Park Shin-hye) finds herself closer to her ultimate goal after securing 24 billion won in slush funds from Hanmin Securities, but not without facing significant challenges.

Hong Geum-bo, along with Go Bok-hee (played by Ha Yoon-kyung), newly allied Albert Oh (played by Jo Han-gyeol), and Lee Yong-gi (played by Jang Do-ha), targets Oh Deok-gyu (played by Kim Hyung-mook), an executive responsible for delivering political slush fund interest within Hanmin Securities.

Inspired by a past currency fraud scandal, Hong Geum-bo spreads rumors about laundering old currency political slush funds throughout Yeouido, using her colleague Nam Dong-gi (played by Han Soo-ho), known for his loose lips. She lures Executive Oh into a trap by anonymously offering a lucrative cash laundering method.

Executive Oh, enticed by a 50% commission from the first transaction, extends his reach to the funds in Hanmin Securities' Magang branch vault. However, Hong Geum-bo and her team deceive him in the second transaction by replacing the money with bricks, securing another large sum.

Albert Oh is disheartened to discover his father, Executive Oh, is more selfish than he imagined and failed to recognize his own son, even when masked and tied up. Hong Geum-bo consoles Albert, recalling her own disappointment in someone she once trusted nine years ago.

Executive Oh panics when the expected return of funds vanishes. Albert advises his father to sell his Hanmin Securities shares, leading Hong Geum-bo and her team to successfully purchase them under the name 'Yeouido Pirates'. Suspicious of Executive Oh's prolonged slush fund interest delivery, Chief Secretary Song Joo-ran (played by Park Mi-hyun) begins an investigation, noticing his near-total share disposal.

Meanwhile, Shin Jung-woo (played by Go Kyung-pyo) meets Hong Geum-bo's superior at the Securities Supervisory Service, Yoon Jae-beom (played by Kim Won-hae), and is visibly affected by their conversation. It is revealed that Yoon's brother was the accountant who took his own life after being implicated in Hanmin Securities' fraudulent accounting scandal nine years ago, leaving both men with lingering regrets.

At the episode's end, Kim Mi-sook (played by Kang Chae-young) miraculously regains consciousness, and the roommates in Room 301, now unmasked, share tears of relief. The episode concludes with a tense juxtaposition of Hong Geum-bo's joy and Chief Secretary Song's shock upon discovering the withdrawal of Hanmin Securities' slush funds.

Reporter: Jung Se-yoon, TenAsia yoon@tenasia.co.kr