Seong Kang-joon and Jin Ki-joo captivated audiences from the very first episode.

In the first episode of the new MBC Friday-Saturday drama 'Undercover High School', which aired at 9:50 p.m. on the 21st, the story of National Intelligence Service agent Jung Hae-seong (played by Seong Kang-joon) receiving a new mission and infiltrating a high school was spectacularly depicted. The viewer rating for the day recorded 5.6% nationwide and 5.8% in the metropolitan area according to Nielsen Korea. Particularly, a scene where Hae-seong discovered an electric meter spinning in the school's old building drew attention, soaring to 6.4%. Moreover, the 2049 viewer rating, a key indicator for assessing channel competitiveness and topicality, stood at 2.0%, marking the drama as a trusted show.

The broadcast began with Hae-seong performing a covert operation and the story of four domestic teams. While tracking those attempting to smuggle the important cultural asset Bangasa Yusa, Hae-seong easily subdued the group and persistently chased after CEO Park (played by Kim Do-yun), ultimately acquiring the Bangasa Yusa. In this scene, Seong Kang-joon contributed significantly to the heightened tension of the drama with his fierce gaze and impressive action.

The Bangasa Yusa, which had seemed safe, lost one arm after being unexpectedly struck by a bullet during Hae-seong's threatening shot, putting him in a position of being expelled. To avoid expulsion, Hae-seong took on a new mission to find the whereabouts of gold bullion hidden by the founding director of Byeongmyeon High School, Lee Byeong-moon. To do this, he needed a way to infiltrate the school and decided to disguise himself as a student.

Meanwhile, Hae-seong's encounter with Oh Su-a (played by Jin Ki-joo) truly hit the humor button. Su-a felt a rush of emotion when Hae-seong coolly subdued a rowdy customer at her mother's store. However, she couldn't hide her anger when Hae-seong appeared as a new transfer student. Additionally, Hae-seong boldly referred to Su-a as 'you' in informal speech, catching her off guard. The interactions between the two left viewers excited about the potential for future comedic elements.

On the other hand, while walking the campus, Hae-seong discovered an old, dilapidated building and instinctively sensed something suspicious. Despite being an abandoned building, he noticed the electric meter was running and decided to conduct a thorough investigation. Curiosity arose about what connection might exist between the old building and the gold bullion.

Towards the end of the broadcast, an unexpected event unfolded for Hae-seong. While sneaking into the old building late at night, as he attempted to go down to the basement, someone aimed a gun at him, stopping his heart. From the early stages of the operation, having faced a crisis, it left viewers wondering how he could navigate out of this situation, piquing curiosity for the next episode.

'Undercover High School' episode 1 showcased not only the action expertise presented by Seong Kang-joon but also his seamless balance of seriousness and comedy in his performance, contributing to the drama's dynamic. Jin Ki-joo also enhanced the fresh storyline with her stable acting, adding vitality. Furthermore, the detailed yet entertaining direction by Choi Jeong-in and the accompanying music enriched the atmosphere of the drama, raising anticipation for episode 2.

Viewers who watched the broadcast responded enthusiastically, saying, 'Seong Kang-joon excels in action and comedy,' 'The National Intelligence Service team has perfect chemistry,' 'Su-a is adorable and hilarious,' 'Whenever Hae-seong meets Su-a, it's a riot,' 'The direction is so funny, it's a hit,' 'The supporting cast is great too,' 'They really excel in crossing genres.'

The second episode of MBC's Friday-Saturday drama 'Undercover High School' will air today at 9:50 p.m.

/nyc@osen.co.kr

[Photo] Capture from the 'Undercover High School' broadcast.

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