| Native Name: |
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| Developer: | Studio Dragon | ||||
| Director: | Han Ji-seung | ||||
| Country: | South Korea | ||||
| Language: | Korean | ||||
| Num Episodes: | 12 | ||||
| Company: | Chorokbaem Media | ||||
| Network: | OCN |
Mistress is a 2018 South Korean television series based on the 2008–2010 U.K. series of the same name. It stars Han Ga-in, Shin Hyun-been, Choi Hee-seo and Goo Jae-yee. The series aired on OCN from April 28 to June 3, 2018 on Saturdays and Sundays at 22:20 (KST).[1] [2] [3]
It revolves around the story of four women in their 30s and their complex relationships - each on her own path to self-discovery as they brave the turbulent journey together.
The series starts with close friends Se-Yeon (Han Ga-In), Eun-Soo (Shin Hyun-Been), Jung-Won (Choi Hee-Seo), and Hwa-Young (Goo Jae-Yee) standing in front of a dead man's body.
2 months prior:
Se-Yeon runs a cafe. She has a daughter, who she loves very much. Her husband had died 2 years earlier, but his body was never found. She receives a phone call without a caller ID number. The caller plays her husband's favorite song, unnerving her. Meanwhile, Song-Hoon (Lee Hee-Joon), a divorced father whose daughter attends the same kindergarten as Se-Yeon's daughter, tries to initiate a romantic relationship with her. Se-Yeon's friends encourage her to pursue this relationship.
Eun-Soo works as a psychiatrist. One day, her patient Sun-Ho (Jung Ga-Ram) tells her that he is looking for his dead father's mistress, as he believes that the mistress killed his father. Sun-Ho vows to kill this mistress, hinting that he is aware of Eun-Soo's relationship with his late father. Eun-Soo does not tell her client that she is the one who had the secret affair with his father, nor that she was the one who found his dead body. Eun-Soo also has another secret.
Jung-Won is a high school teacher. She is married to a famous chef, Dong-Seok (Park Byung-Eun), who seems like the perfect husband. Dong-Seok wants to have a child badly and continuously tracks Jung-Won's ovulation period, but Jung-Won doesn't know the real reason he wants a child. Meanwhile, Min-Gyu (Ji Il-Joo) is a temporary teacher at the same high school that Jung-Won teaches. Min-Gyu ultimately blackmails her after seeing her leave a motel, knowing it will cause the vice principal at her school to fire her. However, Min-Gyu has an ulterior motive.
Hwa-Young works as an office administrator at a law firm. She enjoys her single life and she doesn't want to be tied down by one man. One day, a female client comes and requests that someone secretly follow her husband Tae-O (Kim Min-Soo). Hwa-Young takes this task, but realizes that the man is her ex-boyfriend.
Owner of a coffee shop. A widow who lives alone with her daughter. She is sympathetic, nurturing, and often puts others' needs ahead of her own.[4] [5]
A psychiatrist. After her paramour's death, she meets a patient named Sun-ho who happens to be the son of her ex-lover. She is able to hide her emotions very well, except for a nervous tick, which heightens her level of anxiety.[6]
A high school teacher and wife of a famous chef. She dreams of a perfect home, but is stressed due to pregnancy issues. She is hot-tempered, and mostly driven by her emotions.[7]
A law firm secretary who lives to fulfill her ambitions. She has a carefree attitude, which can sometimes come off as insensitive. She wants to live her life man-free, but is continuously reminded of her past.[8]
A complex man who stays close to Se-yeon's side and takes care of her, but hides a dark secret.[9]
Son of Cha Min-jae.[10]
Jung-won's husband. He is a chef of a popular cooking program.[11]
A teacher. He is bold and honest, and gets along with his students.[12]
Se-yeon's deceased husband. He was a sweet and caring man, who died when he left on a business trip to China.[13]
A divorce specialist who is also a Casanova, but he doesn't believe in love. Do Hwa-young's partner in work.[14]
Sun-ho's father. Eun-soo's lover.
The first script reading was held on March 15, 2018 at Studio Dragon's main office in Sangam-dong, Seoul, South Korea.[15]
| + Average TV viewership ratings | ||||||
| Original broadcast date | Average audience share | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AGB Nielsen[16] | TNmS | |||||
| width=80 | Nationwide ! | width=80 | Seoul ! | width=80 | Nationwide | |
| 1 | April 28, 2018 | 1.601% | 1.673% | 1.4% | ||
| 2 | April 29, 2018 | 1.579% | 1.3% | |||
| 3 | May 5, 2018 | 1.1% | ||||
| 4 | May 6, 2018 | 0.831% | 1.2% | |||
| 5 | May 12, 2018 | 0.873% | ||||
| 6 | May 13, 2018 | 1.366% | 1.619% | 1.3% | ||
| 7 | May 19, 2018 | 1.0% | ||||
| 8 | May 20, 2018 | 1.402% | 1.374% | 1.2% | ||
| 9 | May 26, 2018 | 1.115% | 1.0% | |||
| 10 | May 27, 2018 | 1.469% | 1.4% | |||
| 11 | June 2, 2018 | 1.275% | ||||
| 12 | June 3, 2018 | 1.700% | ||||
| Average | ||||||