Park Shin-hye and Ha Yoon-Kyung officially joined forces to become righteous thieves who steal slush funds.
Yesterday (15th) in episode 10 of 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), the exploits of Hong Geum-bo (Park Shin-hye) and roommate Go Bok-hee (Ha Yoon-Kyung), who joined forces to get Hanmin Securities' slush funds, unfolded. Episode 10 recorded an average nationwide pay-platform rating of 8.6% and a peak of 9.9% (cable, IPTV and satellite combined), and 8.5% average and 9.7% peak in the Seoul metropolitan area. tvN's target men and women 20-49 ratings also topped all channels including terrestrial broadcasters in the same time slot in both nationwide and the Seoul metropolitan area, sending everyone into a "Miss Hong" craze. (Based on pay-platforms combining cable, IPTV and satellite / provided by Nielsen Korea)
Instead of returning to her original post, Hong Geum-bo decided to continue the undercover operation and made the shocking move of submitting her resignation to the Financial Supervisory Service. She also quietly signed an unfair contract newly presented after internal restructuring and remained a low-level employee at Hanmin Securities. Shin Jeong-woo (Ko Kyung-pyo), having confirmed that Hong Geum-bo did not leave the company, called his superior Director General Yoon Jae-beom (Kim Won-hae) to complain and became distressed as he constantly schemed to get Hong Geum-bo out. Whether Shin Jeong-woo's actions were because he was worried his plan to swallow up Hanmin Securities might be disrupted or because he genuinely worried about Hong Geum-bo's safety raised questions and foreshadowed an even more exciting development.
Meanwhile, members of the crisis management headquarters felt loneliness and loss after the team was disbanded. Hong Geum-bo was forced to deal with Department Head Cha Jung-il (Im Cheol-soo), who had become her official enemy after the previous incident, and Albut Oh (Cho Han-gyeol) lost interest in company life again after being subtly snubbed in the trading department to which he was accidentally assigned as a department head. With Section Chief Lee Yong-gi (Jang Do-ha) as well, the three gathered in the old crisis management headquarters office, shared ramen as a late-night meal and wistfully missed Section Chief Bang Jin-mok (Kim Do-hyun), who had resigned, creating a bittersweet smile.
Kang No-ra (Choi Ji-soo), who settled her dormitory life, rejoined Hanmin Securities with the title of moving in charge. Filled with guilt and lingering attachment, Kang No-ra paid Kim Mi-suk's (Kang Chae-young) hospital bills to express her feelings in her own way, but relations with her roommates, who had already grown cold, showed no sign of improving. To make matters worse, Kim Mi-suk's daughter Kim Bom (Kim Se-a) was discovered by the dorm supervisor, making it impossible for them to stay in the dormitory, and Hong Geum-bo asked her family to take care of the child. Another roommate, Go Bok-hee, initially refused Hong Geum-bo's proposal to steal Hanmin Securities' slush funds together, but she was moved by Hong Geum-bo's loyalty in actively helping a colleague's daughter and, remembering the memories the four built together, eventually softened and accepted the proposal.
The ace securities investigator who once dominated Yeouido and the seasoned embezzler who leaves no trace, the full-fledged cooperation between Hong Geum-bo and Go Bok-hee began and made it impossible to look away. The two had Kang No-ra, who offered to help enthusiastically without knowing anything, act as Hong Geum-bo's stand-in, and Hong Geum-bo used the opportunity to head to a regional bank to withdraw the slush funds that would have flowed into her account. The final puzzle of the operation hinged on Secretary Song Ju-ran (Park Mi-hyun) guaranteeing the identity of the withdrawer over a phone call. As Kang No-ra stalled by keeping Song in the office, Go Bok-hee stamped her feet in Song's office, and Hong Geum-bo watched the calling bank branch manager in held breath, the scenes crossed and produced a nail-biting ending.
After the broadcast, viewers reacted strongly with comments such as "The casting fits perfectly. They are all the characters themselves," "The crisis management headquarters coming together is touching. The best team," "Park Shin-hye completely owns Hong Geum-bo," "I feel at ease when Geum-bo and Bok-hee are on the same side," "Go Bok-hee's charisma overflows," "Go Geum-bo and Bok-hee go! The cooperation is so thrilling. Is this why they hire experienced hires?," "I like the roommates in room 301," and "The ending was really tense. Time flew by — can't you give us tomorrow as part of the holiday weekend?"
Undercover Miss Hong, a tvN weekend drama that stimulates interest with a story reflecting constantly changing relationships and the era, will air episode 11 on Sat., 21 at 9:10 p.m.
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