Park Jung-yeon's Period-Drama Debut Draws 9.2% Peak Ratings as a Collaborator's Daughter in 100 Days of Deception

Episode 3 of tvN's 100 Days of Deception averaged 7.5% among households in the Seoul metropolitan area and peaked at 9.2%, with a nationwide average of 7.0% and a peak of 8.9%. The figures come from Nielsen Korea's paid-platform count, and the source report said the episode ranked first in its time slot, including cable and general-programming channels. It also marked the first appearance of actor Park Jung-yeon, the daughter of singer Park Hak-gi, as National Salvation Corps member Kim Myeong-nam.

From award-winning newcomer to a first period drama

Last year Park Jung-yeon appeared in the SBS drama The Winning Try and the KBS 2TV weekend drama Our Golden Days. She won the newcomer award at both the SBS and KBS Drama Awards for the two works. 100 Days of Deception is her first period drama. In her comments on joining the project, she said: "It is deeply meaningful to take part in a significant work that portrays the passionate journey of people striving for independence in the dark era of Japanese colonial rule."

The drama is a tvN 20th-anniversary special weekend series directed by Yoo In-sik and Yunjin Kim, with a script by Ryu Bo-ri. It is produced by Studio Dragon and Nangman Crew. Episode 3 aired on the 17th.

A collaborator's daughter who funds the resistance

In the drama, Kim Myeong-nam's father is the president of Joil Textile and a pro-Japanese collaborator who has even been granted the title of marquis. She is his only daughter, yet she funds the National Salvation Corps behind his back. She handed money to Han Cheol-ryong (Kim In-gwon), who has a bounty on his head, to pay for a place to hide. The scene also revealed her status as the daughter of the Joil Textile president. Explaining her position, she said: "I want to repay, at least in this way, the shame of being unable to put my father to death with my own hands."

The father's secretary, Lee Yeong-bok, was also involved in raising the money. According to a reference article, he siphoned off company funds to help her support the group. She said, in effect, that using company money was faster than selling her own gold trinkets when funds were urgently needed. The original report said she supports the group without her father's knowledge, while another report added how the secretary diverted the funds. She is portrayed as having access to her father's position but hiding that fact while helping the group.

Her agency, SALT Entertainment, said Park Jung-yeon "delivers a delicate performance as 'Kim Myeong-nam,' who became a member of the National Salvation Corps with a special story." It asked viewers to support an actor who will portray in depth the discomfort of having a pro-Japanese father and Kim Myeong-nam's constant guilt toward her fellow comrades.

An elegant entrance and a brief meeting at the door

Kim Myeong-nam first appears at the group's hideout, where members including Yoo So-ran (Kim Hyun-joo) and Yoo Philip (Lee Moo-saeng) have gathered. In contrast to the other members, she wore refined Western-style clothes. The drama gave her name and status, showing how she relates to the group.

She also crossed paths briefly with Lee Ga-gyeong (Kim You-jung). Ga-gyeong had turned down Yoo So-ran's proposal that she become a spy and was leaving the room when she met Myeong-nam at the door. Seeing her, Ga-gyeong remarked, "She's as pretty as an actress." The encounter was short, and the report did not describe the two talking or acting together.

Myeong-nam then asked So-ran why she had simply let Ga-gyeong go. So-ran, looking at the pistol she was holding, replied, "I wonder." Reports on the drama said Myeong-nam appears as a character caught between the cause of independence and her pro-Japanese father.

Next episode

Episode 4 of 100 Days of Deception is scheduled to air at 9:10 p.m. on the 18th.

Read the original (Korean)