'The Chairman Project' has recovered its viewership ratings that had dropped due to the holiday.
In the 9th episode of tvN's Monday-Tuesday drama 'The Chairman Project' (written by Ban Gi-ri / directed by Shin Kyung-soo / planned by Studio Dragon / produced by Doo Frame), the pursuit of Yoon Dong-hee (played by Min Sung-wook) by Chairman Shin (played by Han Seok-kyu) continued, revealing that the head of the National Legal Hospital, Lee Heo-jun (played by Park Hyuk-kwon), was behind Yoon Dong-hee, shocking viewers.
As a result, the 9th episode recorded an average viewership of 8.2% in the metropolitan area, a peak of 9.8%, an average of 8.4% nationwide, and a peak of 9.7%, ranking first among all channels during the same time slot.
Due to the Chuseok holiday, 'The Chairman Project' recorded 5.5% (nationwide) for the 7th episode and 7.2% for the 8th episode, but immediately recovered its viewership after the cancellation.
Additionally, in the target demographic of tvN, the viewership among men and women aged 20-49 ranked first across cable, general programming channels, and all channels. (Based on paid platforms including cable, IPTV, and satellite / provided by Nielsen Korea)
On this day, Chairman Shin learned from police officer Choi Cheol (played by Kim Sung-oh) that the last person Yoon Dong-hee's primary doctor spoke to before dying was Lee Heo-jun, the head of the National Legal Hospital. Furthermore, Choi Cheol speculated that Lee Heo-jun could be behind Yoon Dong-hee or a new target, adding tension to the situation.
To uncover the mystery, Chairman Shin went directly to Lee Heo-jun's house, where he witnessed the horrific scene of Yoon Dong-hee attacking Choi Cheol with a knife. In the tense atmosphere, Lee Heo-jun transported Choi Cheol to the hospital, while Chairman Shin pursued Yoon Dong-hee, who left the scene calmly with a meaningful smile.
Chairman Shin, who had been tracking a chilling pattern where someone dies every time money is deposited into Yoon Dong-hee's account, realized that this incident was an exception. This was confirmed by Kim Soo-dong (played by Jung Eun-pyo), an official at the Administrative Welfare Center, who stated that no monetary compensation was given to Yoon Dong-hee on the day of the incident.
As questions about Yoon Dong-hee's motive for the crime deepened, unexpectedly, Lee Heo-jun instructed his staff to find Yoon Dong-hee's medical records and other related information, despite the risk to himself, showing his willingness to cooperate by pushing aside and delivering Yoon Dong-hee's knife to Choi Cheol.
Moreover, to Chairman Shin, who had been visiting Yoon Dong-hee every year on the anniversary of his son's death, Lee Heo-jun offered heartfelt condolences, saying that if he ever needed someone to talk to, he could come anytime, handing him a business card.
However, Lee Heo-jun, who seemed to appear as a new ally for Chairman Shin and Choi Cheol in their pursuit of Yoon Dong-hee, caused a twist with a connection to an unexpected figure. Kim Yong-woo (played by Jo Hee-bong), the ex-husband of the club Secret's representative Madam Joo (played by Woo Mi-hwa), was the one who secretly demanded money from Lee Heo-jun under some pretext, ultimately revealing a secret affair with Yoon Dong-hee.
In particular, the sight of Yoon Dong-hee standing nervously with his hands clasped in front of Lee Heo-jun hinted at a power hierarchy between the two, amplifying curiosity.
Meanwhile, Jo Philip (played by Bae Hyun-sung) grew into a next-generation negotiation player by correcting the unfair labor conditions of personal trainers with the support of Chairman Shin and Lee Si-on (played by Lee Rae).
First, Jo Philip, with the help of Kim Soo-dong, secured information about the embezzlement and breach of trust by the gym's legal advisor, Do Dong-seok (played by Hong Woo-jin), and the return of the gym's representative, Charles Hong (played by Choi Dae-hoon), preparing to open the negotiation table.
Afterward, when Jo Philip visited Do Dong-seok, he calmly countered Do Dong-seok's claim that illegally obtained materials have no legal effect, while also employing Chairman Shin's '3-minute time attack' technique to pressure him into confessing to the police. Additionally, Chairman Shin and Lee Si-on met with Charles Hong to detail Do Dong-seok's unfair practices, leading him to decide to file a lawsuit.
Finally, Jo Philip led a petition campaign to amend ordinances for the protection of workers' and service providers' rights, wrapping up with a resolution that reflected the shortcomings of the system, showcasing his growth as a new legal professional. Jo Philip's thrilling and meticulous resolution provided a cathartic experience and hinted at his development as a negotiation expert.
The increasingly revealed tragic truth of Han Seok-kyu and the evolving journey of Bae Hyun-sung as a negotiator intersect, raising curiosity for the next story.
The 10th episode of 'The Chairman Project' will air on the 21st at 8:50 PM on tvN.
[Kim Mi-ji, Star Today Reporter]
