MBN's new Wednesday-Thursday drama, <First Lady>, has centered itself in the spotlight with a shockingly unconventional narrative that defies viewer expectations. For those who anticipated a weighty political drama centered on the president and the first lady, the series has instead pushed a fresh and startling subject to the forefront: the divorce of the presidential couple. It seems poised to interestingly portray how a deeply personal conflict experienced by the nation's top leaders can create significant political waves, moving beyond simple power struggles.
The drama challenges conventional wisdom with the bold tagline, "Even a president can get a divorce." In reality, there has never been a sitting president in South Korean history who was divorced or single, a sentiment shared across many nations. This is because the president's spouse, while holding no legal authority, wields immense influence over the public and is seen as a symbolic figure representing the nation's image. It is at this very point that <First Lady> shines a light on the life and choices of an individual hidden behind the role of the first lady.
Countless political dramas in the past have favored a narrative where a couple becomes a single entity, overcoming adversity together to reach the goal of the presidency. The spouse is often depicted not merely as a helper but as the most dedicated political partner, their solidarity serving as a crucial driving force on the path to power. The image of a couple enduring any crisis or betrayal for the shared objective of "winning the presidency" has become a familiar trope of the genre.
However, <First Lady> boldly shatters this formula, beginning its story at the very moment after the goal of winning the presidency has been achieved. Hyun Min-cheol, played by actor Ji Hyun-woo, finally earns the honor of being the president-elect, and his wife, Cha Soo-yeon, played by actress Eugene, is portrayed as the number one contributor to his victory. At the moment when everyone is celebrating success, the drama signals the beginning of the deepest rift at the most glorious peak, heightening the tension.
Adding a subtle tension to the couple's conflict is the character Shin Hye-rin, the senior presidential secretary played by actress Lee Min-young. In the early episodes, there are hints of a special relationship between Hyun Min-cheol and Shin Hye-rin, but by the second episode, it is not depicted as a clear-cut affair, sparking curiosity. The real shock comes from a different direction. The first thing Hyun Min-cheol gives his wife immediately after becoming president is not a celebratory toast, but a cold notice of divorce. This delivers a major shock not only to Cha Soo-yeon but to the audience as well.
As Cha Soo-yeon reels from her husband's sudden divorce demand, their daughter, Hyun Ji-yoo (played by Park Seo-kyung), reveals that she personally witnessed her father in an inappropriate relationship with his stylist, Lee Hwa-jin (played by Han Soo-a). However, the scene her daughter witnessed is directed with some ambiguity, amplifying the mystery surrounding the truth. What's interesting is that Cha Soo-yeon acts as if she already knew about her husband's infidelity. This suggests she may have endured his betrayal to make him president, sparking curiosity about her hidden ambitions and plans.
Cha Soo-yeon, who at first seems unwilling to accept the divorce, suddenly begins her counterattack with a public act: packing up all of her husband Hyun Min-cheol's belongings and sending them away. This move can be interpreted as more than just an emotional reaction; it appears to be a highly calculated political maneuver. This is especially true when considered alongside the fact that she is currently under suspicion of violating political funding laws, leading to speculation that she might be using the private conflict of divorce as a tool to overcome her own political crisis.
In this way, <First Lady> signals an unpredictable story where personal feelings of love, hate, and betrayal become entangled with complex political issues through the groundbreaking premise of South Korea's first "presidential divorce." In a time when the Wednesday-Thursday drama slot has been somewhat stagnant, this ambitious work from MBN is providing a fresh stimulus for viewers. The series is slated for 12 episodes; it started with a viewership rating of 2.2% for its first episode, which slightly declined to 1.7% for the second. As it is also available on OTT platforms like Wavve and Netflix, its future performance is drawing keen attention.
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