'Undercover Miss Hong's' protagonist Hong Geum-bo settled in viewers' hearts from her first appearance.
On the 17th, the tvN Saturday-Sunday drama Undercover Miss Hong (directed by Park Seon-ho, written by Moon Hyun-kyung) opened its gates and made a successful impression with its fast-paced development, characters with strong, distinctive personalities and veteran actors who delivered performances with 100% synchronicity.
In particular, the drama's protagonist, who transforms from a 35-year-old elite securities regulator into a 20-year-old entry-level employee and embarks on a bold undercover job, Hong Geum-bo (played by Park Shinhye), attracted attention with fresh charm. As Hong Geum-bo carries out an undercover operation to find Hanmin Securities' slush fund ledger and the whistleblower "Yeppi," several precarious crises repeatedly arise, and his ability to break through them in his own style made his actions shine even more. We looked into the unique charm of Hong Geum-bo, who won viewers' hearts in just two episodes.
▲a true ace who proves ability over experience
Hong Geum-bo was a figure who rose rapidly on the basis of outstanding ability and earned the strong trust of his superiors. Because he topped Hanmin Securities' entrance exam and made a strong first impression by pointing out errors in the questions, it was nearly impossible for him to quietly carry out an undercover operation while overshadowing the heavy presence of an ace. In future developments, amid the belittling, disregard and harassment-like work pressure directed at an entry-level employee, Hong Geum-bo is expected to fill the narrative with satisfying catharsis by sparing no effort in demonstrating his capabilities.
▲burning sense of justice and a resolute personality
Hong Geum-bo's solid inner strength, which does not easily waver at the temptations of money and power and does not turn a blind eye to injustice, is the greatest element that sustains him. Unafraid to the point of delivering a "high kick" even to his superiors, Hong Geum-bo must blend into the organization as naturally as possible to achieve his goals at Hanmin Securities. He handles the discriminatory practices and unfair treatment that were widespread throughout society in the 1990s wisely, cleverly and confidently, forging his own path. Though he temporarily sets aside a carefully built career and assumes an entry-level status close to zero base, Hong Geum-bo chooses to confront rather than compromise with reality, and his appeal is expected to demonstrate its true value more in the latter half.
▲an irresistible, lovable humanity
Though Hong Geum-bo is ruthless enough to be called the "Yeouido witch," the warm humanity hidden beneath her cold exterior becomes clearer in her relationships with surrounding characters. In particular, the suspicious cohabitation that began when Hong Geum-bo joined Hanmin Securities with Go Bok-hee (played by Ha Yoon-Kyung), Kang No-ra (played by Choi Ji-su) and Kim Mi-sook (played by Kang Chae-young) added another layer of fun. Especially, the 301 roommates' choice to join forces for Go Bok-hee, who faced the threat of dismissal, delivered a thrilling blow and marked the start of solidarity beyond simple cohabitation. The relationships among the four women, who entered the dormitory carrying different stories, raise curiosity about how they will intertwine going forward.
Additionally, the scene of Hong Geum-bo and her colleagues, assigned to Hanmin Securities' crisis management headquarters, having a company dinner was enough to show another side of Hong Geum-bo's charm. While cold and calculating during the undercover operation, Hong Geum-bo's unguarded camaraderie at the company dinner added a pleasant warmth to the drama.
In this way, Park Shinhye impresses Hong Geum-bo's presence more three-dimensionally by showing completely different chemistry with each character she faces. The relational narrative that Hong Geum-bo will create by clashing with various characters raises expectations for what variations it will show going forward.
Park Shinhye, who shows perfect synchronicity with Hong Geum-bo, said, "What makes Geum-bo charming is that she does not get discouraged or shrink in the face of the era's circumstances and instead bravely tries to move forward by exercising her abilities," and added that she was able to naturally bring out emotions she sometimes felt while growing up by acting them out, revealing her immersion in the character.
[Photo] Provided by tvN
[OSEN]