In the SBS Friday-Saturday drama "Kim Bu-jang," So Ji-seop rescued Lee Jae-yong but found himself surrounded by North Korean agents, while Joo Sang-wook shocked viewers with a brutal counterattack that took his children hostage.
The 9th episode of SBS Friday-Saturday drama "Kim Bu-jang" (written by Nam Dae-jung, directed by Lee Seung-young and Lee So-eun, planned by Studio S, produced by Studio S and Fantazio), which aired on the 24th, recorded peak viewership ratings of 23.2% (Nielsen Korea), 21.5% nationally, and 21.3% in the Seoul metropolitan area, continuing its overwhelming popularity by surpassing 20% viewership for the sixth consecutive week. It ranked first in its time slot as well as among weekly mini-series, and the 2049 demographic viewership also recorded peak ratings of 6.6% and average ratings of 5.8%, proving its relevance.
Earlier, the head of the North Korean delegation used the fact that the South Korean government helped Lee Jae-yong (playing Lee Eung-ryeong) defect and entrusted protection of So Ji-seop (playing fugitive Kim Bu-jang) as a pretext to declare a halt to high-level inter-Korean talks. The North Korean side pressured that inter-Korean relations would change completely if the two were not handed over. Ultimately, following the Prime Minister's orders, the Special Mission Division handed over Kim Bu-jang and Lee Eung-ryeong to North Korean agents. The North Korean agents handed Kim Bu-jang to Joo Sang-wook (playing Joo Gang-chan) in a remote forest, and Joo Gang-chan beat Kim Bu-jang indiscriminately and pointed a gun at him, saying he would eliminate him for his daughter.
However, the moment Joo Gang-chan turned his back, Kim Bu-jang subdued the North Korean agents and pointed a gun at Joo Gang-chan. Choi Dae-hoon (playing Sung Han-su) and Yoon Kyung-ho (playing Park Jin-chul), who followed behind, joined forces and turned the tide. When questioned about Lee Eung-ryeong's whereabouts, Joo Gang-chan proposed a deal, saying he would help if his life was spared. Kim Bu-jang accepted the proposal for a new life with his daughter Min-ji (played by Seo Su-min).
Afterward, Kim Bu-jang's group identified the internal structure of the resort with Son Na-eun (playing Jung Sang-ah) and Park Jin-woo (playing the laundromat's Mr. Lim) and devised a rescue operation. Kim Bu-jang disguised himself as a driver, Park Jin-chul as a bodyguard, Jung Sang-ah as a secretary, and Sung Han-su hid in the trunk to infiltrate. Sung Han-su, Park Jin-chul, and Jung Sang-ah secured the CCTV monitoring room and confirmed Lee Eung-ryeong's location.
Kim Bu-jang infiltrated by climbing the building's exterior wall, subdued the North Korean representative who was targeting Lee Eung-ryeong's funds for operations against the South, and rescued Lee Eung-ryeong. Sung Han-su and Park Jin-chul also contributed by engaging in fierce combat, but when the North Korean representative ordered their elimination and activated an EMP bomb that cut all power to the resort, the plan fell apart. Kim Bu-jang desperately attempted to escape while shielding against gunfire but was surrounded by North Korean agents, leading to a tense standoff.
Meanwhile, Joo Gang-chan, who had cut the rope binding his wrists, threw his mobile phone to Sung Han-su and Park Jin-chul, showing them footage of Sung Han-su's son Tae-hoon (played by Yang Jun-seok) and Park Jin-chul's daughter Da-bin (played by Lee Na-yeon) in captivity. Joo Gang-chan threatened that if they lifted a finger, the children would die. Park Jin-chul and Sung Han-su erupted in anger and despair, but Joo Gang-chan, with a cold smile, hinted at a cruel trap.
Attention is mounting as to whether Kim Bu-jang can break through the siege and protect Lee Eung-ryeong, and whether Sung Han-su and Park Jin-chul can rescue the children. The final episode of SBS Friday-Saturday drama "Kim Bu-jang" will air on the 25th at 9:45 p.m.
