Actors Eugene and Ji Hyun-woo, both known for projects with massive viewership — Eugene in Penthouse 2 with a peak of 29.2% and Ji Hyun-woo in Young Lady and Gentleman with 38.2% — united in MBN’s political romance thriller First Lady. Expectations were high, but the results have so far fallen flat.
The September 25 broadcast revealed why Hyun Min-cheol (Ji Hyun-woo) demanded a divorce from his wife Cha Soo-yeon (Eugene), followed by a shocking car accident involving Soo-yeon and her daughter. However, the drama only garnered a nationwide rating of 1.8% with a peak of 2.1% (Nielsen Korea), raising concerns about its survival in prime time.
First Lady tells the story of a husband who wins the presidency only to demand a divorce from his wife, the very woman who acted as his political kingmaker. Eugene plays Cha Soo-yeon, the ambitious woman who propelled her husband to the Blue House, while Ji Hyun-woo portrays the now-president who upends her life with his shocking demand.
Eugene, making her small-screen comeback four years after Penthouse 3, explained at the press conference that the role intrigued her: “The story begins with divorce, and I had never played such an ambitious, unapologetically strong character before. That made it very appealing.” Ji Hyun-woo added that preparing for a miniseries gave him time to deeply embody his role, even practicing lines at the National Assembly for authenticity.
Scripted by Kim Hyung-wan after six years of preparation, the drama blends political intrigue, psychological tension, and family drama. Director Lee Ho-hyun highlighted his vision of capturing realism through grand scenes like campaign rallies and presidential celebrations.
Despite praise for the cast’s performances, critics say the drama risks losing momentum with clichés and flat pacing. Viewers’ reactions ranged from “a shocking start” to “an extreme flavor drama that hooks you instantly,” while others worried about its ability to compete with rival prime-time hits.
With ratings dipping below 2%, First Lady faces a tough battle to secure its place in the competitive Wednesday-Thursday slot. Whether Eugene and Ji Hyun-woo’s chemistry can rescue the show remains to be seen.
Sources: nate
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