'Undercover Miss Hong' is proving an irreplaceable charm and riding a rising wave at the box office.
On the 25th (Sun), through episode 4, the tvN weekend drama Undercover Miss Hong (directed by Park Sun-ho, Na Ji-hyun / written by Moon Hyun-kyung / planned by Studio Dragon / produced by Celltrion Entertainment, Studio Dragon) landed in viewers' hearts by portraying an unprecedented retro office comedy, and in just four episodes it renewed its own highest household rating at 7.4%, continuing its upward trend. (based on paid platforms combining cable, IPTV and satellite / provided by Nielsen Korea)
In addition, according to Netflix's official site Tudum, on the 28th 'Undercover Miss Hong' entered Netflix's non-English TV shows top 10 at No. 6 and ranked in the top 10 in 14 countries, recording solid global results.
It also stood out in buzz. In the January fourth-week buzz category released by FUNdex, the official platform of Good Data Corporation, it ranked No. 1 in the TV drama buzz category, and lead actress Park Shin-hye ranked No. 3 in the performers category, proving intense interest. Also, in just two weeks after airing it reached 150 million cumulative digital views (as of Jan. 25), which is about 130% of the average views for tvN weekend dramas that aired in 2025, clearly showing that Undercover Miss Hong captured viewers' attention.
A fresh premise of a 35-year-old elite securities supervisor disguising herself as a 20-year-old to get a job, a mood that perfectly captures the late-1990s Yeouido scenery, and Park Shin-hye's empathy-driven comic acting as a box-office guarantee together hit the tastes of home audiences. Here are the charm points that deeply imprinted the presence of Undercover Miss Hong.
▲colorful episodes, brisk resolutions and an exhilarating pace that leaves no time to breathe
Undercover Miss Hong left a strong impression from the very start as it swiftly unfolded the process of elite securities supervisor Hong Geum-bo, who had been on a winning streak, getting embroiled in an unsavory incident and going undercover at Hanmin Securities to find the hidden slush fund ledger and internal whistleblower "Yepi." Even after joining Hanmin Securities, various incidents large and small occurred that slowed Hong Geum-bo's progress, but his wise responses to the obstacles blocking him shone through. In particular, his adversarial chemistry with Director General Cha Jung-il (played by Im Cheol-su), who pick fights at every turn, and Hong Geum-bo, who answers back with blunt "straight balls," delivers a thrilling catharsis. Quickly narrowed Yepi candidates, the undercover mission threading through the entire series, Hanmin Securities' crisis management headquarters and the happenings in dormitory room 301 filled the story without gaps and made it impossible to look away. This fresh progression unique to Undercover Miss Hong spread by word of mouth and received praise within two weeks of the first broadcast.
▲'Hong Geum-bo' herself… box office queen Park Shin-hye's exquisite acting you can trust
What bridged the gap between a 35-year-old veteran professional and a 20-year-old entry-level employee was the exquisite acting of "an actor you can trust," Park Shin-hye. In the series, Hong Geum-bo boldly attempted a makeover for the undercover operation, and Park Shin-hye displayed the character's charm through a wide range of styling, from neat long hair that showed charisma to fresh short hair. She also perfectly expressed Hong Geum-bo's gradual transformation. Hong Geum-bo, who used to offer unsolicited advice to strangers, saying "let's walk in single file," soon walks in formation beside others, and unlike before when she was called a lone wolf, she warms up to colleagues and friends and develops a warm humanity. This sudden growth spurt for Hong Geum-bo gained persuasive power through Park Shin-hye's three-dimensional performance.
▲a parade of quirky personalities and attractive characters! a broad spectrum completed by diverse human types
Not only the uniquely charming lead Hong Geum-bo, but the surrounding characters also asserted their presence with distinct personalities and charms in just four episodes. In dormitory room 301, Go Bok-hee (played by Ha Yoon-kyung), Kang No-ra (played by Choi Ji-su) and Kim Mi-suk (played by Kang Chae-young), who form a workplace romance with Hong Geum-bo, are a secret quartet with stories that traverse wariness and camaraderie. Further, the inscrutable new CEO Ko Kyung-pyo (played by Shin Jung-woo) and the innocent parachute division head Albert Oh (played by Cho Han-gyeol), as well as the three-member Hanmin Securities "So.Bang.Cha" who are Yepi candidates, also deliver tension and fun with clear characters, each captivating home audiences with their own stories. The natural chemistry born from the wide appearance of diverse human types was also sufficient to win viewers' empathy.
Meanwhile, episode 5 of the tvN weekend drama Undercover Miss Hong will air on the 31st (Sat) at 9:10 p.m.
[Photo] tvN
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