The end-of-century sensibility and a satisfying narrative come together in the office comedy drama Undercover Miss Hong, which got off to a cheerful start.
Yesterday (17th), the first episode of the tvN weekend drama Undercover Miss Hong (directed by Park Seon-ho / written by Moon Hyun-kyung / planned by Studio Dragon / produced by Celltrion Entertainment, Studio Dragon) captured viewers' attention with its brisk pace. In episode 1, set against the end-of-century Yeouido of the 1990s, elite securities supervisor Hong Geum-bo (Park Shinhye) launched a shocking opening story in which she disguises herself as a 20-year-old entry-level employee to infiltrate and uncover the truth behind suspicious slush funds. That day's ratings recorded an average of 3.5% and a peak of 4.3% nationwide on paid platforms combining cable, IPTV and satellite, and 3.2% average and 4% peak in the Seoul metropolitan area. (Based on paid platforms combining cable, IPTV and satellite / provided by Nielsen Korea)
Hong Geum-bo, nicknamed the Yeouido witch for her outstanding abilities and bold, firm way of handling matters, made a striking first appearance that powerfully opened the drama. Refusing to compromise with injustice, never cowed by any humiliation and even delivering an unhesitating high kick to a superior, Hong Geum-bo made an impact from the start. Meanwhile, Hong received an email from a person called "Yepi" containing a tip about Hanmin Securities' corruption, and she joined forces with company president Kang Myung-hwi (Choi Won-young), who decided to blow the whistle internally, to secure evidence to prove Hanmin Securities' wrongdoing.
But the situation changed drastically when President Kang died in an unexpected accident. Questions were raised as to whether it was not an extreme choice under the pressure of arrest and investigation, public criticism toward the securities watchdog grew, and Hanmin Securities quickly escaped the crisis. To make matters worse, Hong Geum-bo was disciplined and put on the spot for allegedly communicating separately with President Kang. In response, Hong's superior, Director General Yoon Jae-beom (Kim Won-hae), proposed an outrageous operation to have her go undercover as an entry-level employee inside Hanmin Securities to find the slush fund ledgers. Hong initially balked, but after witnessing a nation-facing press conference filled with lies by President Kang's father and Hanmin Securities chairman Kang Pil-beom (Lee Duk-hwa) she recalled memories from her days at an accounting firm. Later, Hong accepted the undercover proposal, prompting curiosity about what made her change her mind.
Hong Geum-bo's bumbling transformation to appear 20 years old elicited laughter. Receiving special tutoring from her younger sister Hong Jang-mi (Shin Yu-na), she underwent a makeover from head to toe and even took the entrance exam using Hong Jang-mi's name, passing with high scores and successfully infiltrating Hanmin Securities as a disguised new hire. Her refreshing moves breaking through the discriminatory remarks and stodgy views of company executives that were prevalent across society at the end of the century provided catharsis.
Hong devoted herself to finding Hanmin Securities' slush funds and uncovering the identity of "Yepi," who was an aide to President Kang and an internal whistleblower. Noting that Kang's personal secretary Go Bok-hee (Ha Yoon-Kyung) had managed his schedule when alive, Hong entered a Seoul dormitory for single female workers to get close to her. There, Kang's illegitimate daughter who hid her identity and joined Hanmin Securities, Kang No-ra (Choi Ji-soo), and Ma-gang branch teller Kim Mi-sook (Kang Chae-young) also gathered in room 301, beginning a suspicious cohabitation. The four women, each with different objectives and stories, displayed strong personalities in one space, and Go Bok-hee's sharp gaze, as if seeing through Hong's identity, created tense suspense from their first meeting.
Thus, episode 1 of Undercover Miss Hong used the weighty subject of a 1990s securities firm corruption investigation as a retro office comedy to deliver exhilarating fun. The diverse characters and the actors who perfectly embodied them boasted high synchronicity, providing immersive viewing from the first broadcast. In particular, Park Shinhye firmly anchored the drama's center with multi-dimensional acting that moved between a cool, elite securities supervisor and a fresh 20-year-old newcomer.
After the broadcast, viewers responded enthusiastically with comments such as "Career woman Hong Geum-bo is cool," "Park Shinhye is Park Shinhye... a reliable Park Shinhye drama," "The immersion has been insane since episode 1," "Who is Yepi? I'm looking forward to finding Yepi," "Every time a '90s song plays I get nostalgic," "Curious why Geum-bo decided to go undercover," "The main and supporting cast is dazzling," "All the characters are full of charm," and "It will be fun to see Hong Geum-bo styled as a 20-year-old."
Meanwhile, in episode 2, airing today (18th), a new president succeeding President Kang will appear, and the internal power structure at Hanmin Securities is expected to be shaken. At the same time, Hong Geum-bo's arduous company life will unfold in earnest, promising a chaotic survival story in which she must hide her identity among colleagues, raising expectations. Attention is focused on what stories Undercover Miss Hong, which combines strong characters and a satisfying narrative, will draw out to elicit viewers' laughter and empathy.
The tvN weekend drama Undercover Miss Hong will air episode 2 tonight (18th) at 9:10 p.m.
[Photo] tvN weekend drama Undercover Miss Hong broadcast capture
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