Director Yoo discusses the making of 'The WONDERfools'
The cast of Undercover Miss Hong have shared their closing remarks, taken before and after airing of the finale.
Undercover Miss Hong follows Hong Geum Bo (Park Shin Hye), an ace supervisor for the Financial Supervisory Service, who goes undercover as Hong Jang Mi — a 20-year-old entry-level employee — at a securities firm after detecting suspicious fund flows.
In the drama, Ha Yoon Kyung played Go Bok Hee, the dedicated secretary to the president's office at Hanmin Securities. She is a one-of-a-kind character who struts through the monochrome world of Yeouido in flashy polka-dot dresses and is a lovable, ambitious character with a charm that makes her impossible to hate.
She added, "I thought Bok Hee was the kind of character who could express the era well. I wanted to make her into an iconic 1990s character. When people think of Undercover Miss Hong, I hope they'll instantly remember Go Bok Hee."
With the drama's strong performance also comes growing anticipation for a possible second season. Laughing, Ha Yoon Kyung said, "I'd love it if there were a Season 2, of course, but even if there isn't one, I won't feel disappointed."
Kim Do Hyun starred as Bang Jin Mok, Hong Jang Mi's boss, who also works in the Hanmin Securities Risk Management Division.
Kim Do Hyun expressed his affection for the series, saying, "Undercover Miss Hong was a time when everyone was happy together."
He continued, "The moment I [my character] walked out after resigning from Hanmin Securities, I was deeply moved as I thought of the parents' generation, who endured the weight of that era," adding, "I want to express my deepest respect and gratitude to the parents of our generation for overcoming the IMF crisis."
He also said, "It was an even more precious time because those of us who made the drama and all of you who stayed with it until the very end were in it together," adding, "Thank you for loving Undercover Miss Hong all the way through."
Lastly, he said, "I'm leaving with yet another precious memory in my heart, thanks to a project that helped me begin 2026 on such a strong note. I'll greet you again through another wonderful work."
Jang Do Ha played Lee Yong Gi, the IT genius of the Risk Management Division. The actor shared his thoughts on the drama's conclusion, saying, "I still can't believe that the drama that I filmed with such passion and happiness is coming to an end after receiving so much love. Both as an actor who took part in it and as a viewer myself, I counted down the days to filming and broadcast with such happy anticipation, so the fact that this is the last time already leaves me feeling heavy-hearted and nostalgic."
Jang Do Ha said he wanted to define Lee Yong Gi — a computer whiz capable of building an intranet system — through the keyword of "growth".
"I kept thinking of the phrase, 'We are all Yong Gi,'" he said. "So I wanted to portray Yong Gi growing, and in doing so, portray all of us as well. The driving force behind Yong Gi's growth was Miss Hong's encouragement, because she recognized his abilities and his worth. Like Yong Gi, all of us have abilities within us, and I wanted to depict how people grow through someone else's support — or through one's own."
As the most memorable scene, he chose the moment when Hong Geum Bo (Park Shin Hye) encouraged Lee Yong Gi by telling him, "You can do it." Reflecting on the fact that Undercover Miss Hong was filmed happily and received so much love, Jang Do Ha said he believes the drama will remain in his memory as "a project that made me realize the importance of the process."
He added, "I want to express my endless gratitude to the viewers who gave the drama so much love. I can't tell you how happy it made me to read your comments and reactions after every episode aired, especially seeing you speculate about Yeppi and the story's direction. I hope you'll all always be like Yong Gi. I was so happy and am so grateful."
Kang Chae Young played Kim Mi Sook, an employee at Hanmin Securities' Magang branch, and Hong Geum Bo, Go Bok Hee, and Kang No Ra's roommate.
Kang Chae Young expressed, "I'm filled with nothing but gratitude, because thanks to the viewers who cried and laughed along with us, I think I'll be able to say goodbye to Mi Sook well."
She continued, "It feels like just yesterday that I stayed up the night before the first shoot, so excited to meet Mi Sook. And now it's already the finale. I'm sad."
She also revealed that she had felt some pressure before filming, given that she was playing a single mother in a period drama. "I was worried, but thanks to my dependable Room 301 roommates and lovable Bom, I ended up spending such a precious and happy time that it made me forget I had ever felt that way," she said.
She also expressed her affection for the drama, saying, "Just as Mi Sook — who is so thoughtful and warm-hearted — did for me, I hope her journey was able to offer viewers even the smallest measure of comfort."
She continued, "To all the Miss Kims who lived through and endured that era, I send boundless respect and love. And to all of you who are doing your best to get through today, I offer my heartfelt support. Thank you so much." Lastly, she added, "I'll be back to greet you again through another project."
Im Chul Soo played Cha Joong Il, a superior who tormented Hong Geum Bo with his deeply entrenched sense of authority and his tendency to act strong toward the weak and weak toward the strong. But at times, his bumbling side brought viewers plenty of laughter. Through Undercover Miss Hong, Im Chul Soo presented a richly layered character and received tremendous love from viewers.
Following is an excerpt of the Q&A with the actor:
How do you feel now that the drama has ended?
Thanks to Undercover Miss Hong, I had the chance to meet wonderful people and be part of a great project. I'm also truly grateful for the opportunity to talk about the drama.
You played Cha Joong Il, a love-hate character who is annoying but hard to hate. How did you prepare? Was there anything you paid particular attention to while acting?
I wanted to portray the kind of stale, old-fashioned person who might really have existed in that era. The costumes and makeup portrayed the spirit of the times very well. On top of that, I also wanted to reflect that era in Cha Joong Il's attitude toward other people. It was a time that had a certain romance to it, but it was also rougher than one might think, and in some ways even rather harsh. I tried to convey that sense of the era through his attitude.
Was there anything you personally prepared for the character's outward appearance, since you transformed into the very image of a 1990s Yeouido office worker?
I think I spent a lot of time researching postures that would suit the styling. Thanks to the sharply parted 2:8 hairstyle they styled for me, I came up with Cha Joong Il's habit of slicking and adjusting his hair in an edgy way.
The costumes also reflected both the character's traits and the spirit of the era so well, so I came up with details like 'the way he touches his clothes' and 'his habit of looking at his watch almost as if he's showing it off.' These were things I discovered thanks to what the costume and makeup teams did for me, so I’d like to express my gratitude to them.
A message to viewers who have loved Undercover Miss Hong, Cha Joong Il, and Im Chul Soo.
I'm very fond of Undercover Miss Hong myself. I also love that I can proudly say that a project I took part in is one I liked and found enjoyable. I would like to sincerely thank directors Park Seon Ho and Na Ji Hyun, who led the drama. I received so much help. Lastly, to all the viewers who loved Undercover Miss Hong, I want to express a level of gratitude that words can hardly do justice to.
Undercover Miss Hong is available to stream on Netflix.
