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“What is the truth?”…‘First Lady’ Yujin, after confessing to having an illegitimate child, had her financial records taken away

KIM Soyoun
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2025-10-17 13:29:24
‘First Lady’. Photo| MBN
‘First Lady’. Photo| MBN

In ‘First Lady’, Ji Hyun-woo delivered a heartfelt ‘tearful speech’ to break down Yujin’s impenetrable opposition to the special law.

The 8th episode of MBN's Wednesday-Thursday mini-series ‘First Lady’ (written by Kim Hyung-wan, directed by Lee Ho-hyun), which aired on the 16th, recorded a nationwide viewership rating of 1.9% according to Nielsen Korea, with a peak rating of 2.2% per minute.

First, Cha Soo-yeon (played by Yujin) tried to block the special law by bringing up her most tragic wound, the ‘illegitimate child scandal’, which led Hyun Min-cheol (played by Ji Hyun-woo) to erupt in anger, asking, “What are you hiding? What truth are you more afraid of than having an illegitimate child?”

At the same time, Shin Hae-rin (played by Lee Min-young) confronted Cha Soo-yeon’s lawyer, Kang Seon-ho (played by Kang Seung-ho), at the police station. When Kang Seon-ho criticized Shin Hae-rin for leaking the school violence video of Hyun Ji-yoo (played by Park Seo-kyung), she replied, “I have no intention of avoiding it. If I committed a crime, I should be punished,” which puzzled Kang Seon-ho.

In response, Kang Seon-ho remarked, “Didn’t you start politics to correct what’s wrong? I don’t understand how you can commit illegal acts in the name of helping the elected candidate,” to which Shin Hae-rin replied, “It’s not for the elected candidate. What I want is the truth. Just like how Do Tae-hoon, who was wrongfully accused of arson, is also a victim,” capturing Kang Seon-ho’s attention. Finally, Shin Hae-rin said, “If you really want revenge, the answer is not divorce but the special law,” and asked him to steal the recording tape and accounting books that Cha Soo-yeon had, surprising Kang Seon-ho.

On the other hand, as the ‘Do Tae-hoon special law’ faced the risk of being scrapped due to the Peace and Freedom Party changing its stance just a day before the vote, Shin Hae-rin barged into Hyun Min-cheol’s office in the transition committee. Facing Hyun Min-cheol, Shin Hae-rin declared, “I will pass the special law. I’m not asking for help. I’m telling you not to interfere,” emphasizing that Hyun Min-cheol’s divorce lawsuit was for the special law, not for Cha Soo-yeon.

Shin Hae-rin then raised her voice, saying, “If the lady who has been blocking the special law is a sinner, she should be punished. Only then can we reveal Do Tae-hoon’s innocence.” When Hyun Min-cheol hesitated, Shin Hae-rin warned coldly, “Don’t block me in order to protect the lady. Don’t stop me,” and Hyun Min-cheol revealed that Cha Soo-yeon had threatened to expose his affair. Notably, when Hyun Min-cheol asked for more time, Shin Hae-rin emphasized that she had no time left, raising suspicions.

Meanwhile, Kang Seon-ho obtained information from Lee Hwa-jin about a hidden safe in Cha Soo-yeon’s house dressing room, and eventually opened the safe to collect the recording tapes, worn accounting books, and notebooks that Cha Soo-yeon had kept. However, after stealing Cha Soo-yeon’s financial records, Kang Seon-ho found himself in conflict while on the phone with Shin Hae-rin, and ultimately showed the stolen tapes and accounting books to Hyun Min-cheol, following the advice of Yoon Gi-joo (played by Kim Gi-bang). When Hyun Min-cheol asked, “Why not Secretary Shin but me?” Yoon Gi-joo suggested thinking from Do Tae-hoon’s perspective and said he would be deceived by Hyun Min-cheol once more, but Kang Seon-ho still expressed distrust towards him.

At the moment Hyun Min-cheol returned to the transition committee with Cha Soo-yeon’s financial records, Shin Hae-rin, who was waiting in front of the transition committee, insisted on getting the financial records, saying, “This is not the time to be picky about methods.” When Hyun Min-cheol asked, “Are you going to expose weaknesses if you insist on using legitimate methods?” Shin Hae-rin replied, “That’s exactly what I’m saying. Please pretend you don’t know,” prompting Hyun Min-cheol to express self-loathing, saying, “So I was that kind of person. A person who shifts the responsibility onto you.”

Ultimately, Shin Hae-rin brought up her husband, saying, “For the past 20 years, I have supported the elected candidate and brought him to the presidency. Please do your job as president. Finally, please leave this to me. This is my work,” pleading to utilize the financial records. However, Hyun Min-cheol resolutely turned away, saying, “That 20 years of Secretary Shin, that 20 years for me. I had hoped that my gratitude would be my last feeling,” and Shin Hae-rin cried out in despair at Hyun Min-cheol’s back as he walked away.

Afterward, conflicted throughout the night over Shin Hae-rin’s advice, Cha Soo-yeon’s persuasion, and Yoon Gi-joo’s trust, Hyun Min-cheol moved to the National Assembly ahead of the special law vote. However, he found himself stuck in the middle of the road due to a scheme by H Group’s Yang Hoon (played by Lee Si-gang) to prevent him from reaching the National Assembly.

With only 10 minutes left until the vote, Hyun Min-cheol, riding a police motorcycle, arrived at the National Assembly. Contrary to expectations, he was the first to find the Peace and Freedom Party meeting room, where he poured out the financial records, the recording transcripts, and the accounting books onto the floor, declaring, “This is the legacy left by Representative Cha Jin-taek to his wife,” provoking backlash from the Peace and Freedom Party members. Hyun Min-cheol earnestly requested, “I promise not to use the financial records as leverage. Please vote based on your individual choices, not the party line. Please put your name on the line.”

The contrast between Cha Soo-yeon, who was horrified to find the empty safe where the financial records had been, and Hyun Min-cheol, who passionately pleaded, “I must find out why Tae-hoon had to die 15 years ago, why the truth of that day cannot be revealed, and what happened that day,” heightened curiosity about the outcome of the special law vote.

Meanwhile, the 9th episode of MBN's Wednesday-Thursday mini-series ‘First Lady’ will air on the 22nd at 10:20 PM.

[Kim So-yeon, Star Today Reporter]

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