'First Lady' Twist Implicates Yoo Jin in Hit-and-Run Murder

MBN drama peaks at 2% as viewers speculate Cha Soo-yeon's guilt

This review article is based on materials provided by the broadcasting company.

[OSEN, Choi Lee-jung, reporter] The MBN Wednesday-Thursday mini-series 'First Lady' delivered a historic shock with its twist ending, hinting that Yoo Jin, who is Ji Hyun-woo's former lover and the hit-and-run murderer responsible for the death of Han Soo-ah's biological mother, is the culprit.

Episode 9 of the MBN Wednesday-Thursday mini-series 'First Lady' (written by Kim Hyung-wan, directed by Lee Ho-hyun, produced by Studio Jidam Co., Ltd., Artist Studio Co., Ltd., and Roadshow Plus Co., Ltd.), which aired at 10:20 p.m. on the 22nd (Wednesday), recorded a nationwide viewership rating of 1.6% and a peak per-minute rating of 2% according to Nielsen Korea.

First, thanks to Hyun Min-cheol (played by Ji Hyun-woo)'s tearful speech directed at Peace and Freedom Party lawmakers ahead of the special bill vote, the 'Do Tae-hoon Special Bill' passed the National Assembly despite Cha Soo-yeon (played by Yoo Jin)'s persistent persuasion and threats until the very end. Kang Seon-ho (played by Kang Seung-ho) and Yoon Gi-joo (played by Kim Ki-bang), who had eagerly awaited the bill's passage, burst into tears, but Shin Hae-rin (played by Lee Min-young) sparked suspicion by saying, "Everything is settled. Please proceed as is," during a phone call.

Hyun Min-cheol visited Cha Soo-yeon's home after she accused him of stealing her ledger in anger over the bill's passage. Leaving behind his daughter Hyun Ji-yu (played by Park Seo-kyung), who greeted him warmly, he had a private conversation with Cha Soo-yeon. Cha Soo-yeon fiercely confronted him, asking, "What did you offer Kang the lawyer in exchange for stealing it?" but Hyun Min-cheol simply asked why she opposed the bill. Cha Soo-yeon, however, remained silent and retorted, "You should have just trusted me. But your choice was the special bill," standing her ground.

At that moment, Hyun Ji-yu rushed into the room and informed them about Lee Hwa-jin (played by Han Soo-ah)'s TV interview with Son Min-joo (played by Shin Soo-yul). Despite remaining silent when Son Min-joo asked if she was coerced into a false interview about being the president-elect's mistress, Lee Hwa-jin shocked everyone by revealing, "I am the daughter of President-elect Hyun Min-cheol." She recalled learning this at the funeral of Eom Soon-jeong (played by Jo Young-ji) and explained that she was revealing her identity now to "catch the hit-and-run driver who killed my mother," focusing attention on the truth behind Eom Soon-jeong's death.

After watching the broadcast, Hyun Ji-yu left in confusion, asking, "Is what Lee Hwa-jin said true?" Cha Soo-yeon confronted Hyun Min-cheol, demanding to know when he found out. He confessed that he realized it when he saw the ring on Lee Hwa-jin's pendant -- the same ring he had made for Eom Soon-jeong -- and noted that Eom Soon-jeong also exhibited the same vasovagal syncope symptoms. Though Cha Soo-yeon recalled the doctor mentioning the condition was genetic, she vehemently denied it, but Hyun Min-cheol pressed, "When Soon-jeong left 20 years ago, I wondered if you were the one who drove her away," and coldly asked, "Did you know she was carrying a child?" Cha Soo-yeon evaded, suggesting a paternity test, fueling speculation.

Due to the extramarital child scandal, Hyun Min-cheol faced calls for resignation. He emphasized the neutrality and independence of the special investigation committee under the bill during a press conference, but protests demanding his resignation intensified. Meanwhile, Cha Soo-yeon visited H Group Chairman Yang Hoon (played by Lee Si-kang) and asked if he knew Lee Hwa-jin was Hyun Min-cheol's illegitimate child. Yang Hoon stunned her by revealing Lee Hwa-jin shares the same RH-negative blood type as Hyun Ji-yu. He claimed he was suppressing the special bill issue by supporting protesters and the media, and urged Cha Soo-yeon not to take a paternity test in case the results were negative. He added, "If your sister goes down, we all go down," implying both were hiding the truth about the bill.

Elsewhere, Hyun Min-cheol received significant information from Park Chan-do (played by Ryu Kyung-hwan), whom he had tasked with investigating the hit-and-run case involving Eom Soon-jeong. In black box footage from the time of the accident, Park Chan-do identified a yellow old sedan -- presumed to belong to Cha Soo-yeon -- at the foggy crash site. The episode ended with Cha Soo-yeon exiting the car and staring at Eom Soon-jeong, who was bleeding on the ground, leaving viewers questioning if Cha Soo-yeon was indeed the murderer.

Viewers reacted with shock: "Did Yoo Jin kill Ji Hyun-woo's lover? Is she really the hit-and-run driver?? I feel like my head was hit with a hammer," "Is Lee Hwa-jin really Hyun Min-cheol's daughter?? How can this be so shocking! This drama is insane!" and "So Cha Soo-yeon made Eom Soon-jeong leave, and Eom Soon-jeong secretly raised Lee Hwa-jin? Ji-yu and Hwa-jin are half-sisters! This is spicy!"

Episode 10 of 'First Lady' will air today at 10:20 p.m. on the 23rd.

/nyc@osen.co.kr

[Photo] Broadcast capture from 'First Lady'