In First Lady Episodes 11-12, it was full of tension, guilt, and painful truths. Every character faced the weight of their choices, and no one walked away clean.
Shin Hae-rin (played by Lee Min-young) shocked everyone. She stood before the reporters and said calmly, “I am the one who killed Um Soon-jung.” Her confession made the whole press room silent.
She said both the president-elect and his wife had nothing to do with the case. The media froze. It was not the answer anyone expected.
During the police investigation, Hae-rin explained everything. She found out that Hyun Min-chul (Ji Hyun-woo) was looking for Um Soon-jung, and she wanted to know why.
She started digging secretly. Her curiosity turned into fear when she realized Min-chul and Soon-jung were once lovers. Out of anxiety, she planted a listening device to spy on him.
One night, Min-chul suddenly disappeared. Hae-rin followed his signal in the fog. While driving, she lost control and hit someone. When she got out, she saw it was Um Soon-jung. She panicked.
Soon-jung wasn’t breathing. Hae-rin froze, and instead of calling the police, she drove away. Later, she admitted she was terrified the accident would ruin the election.
She told the police she hid the truth to protect Min-chul’s campaign. She cried, saying she didn’t want her son to live in the same cruel world as her husband. Hae-rin said she made Min-chul president and pushed for the special law to keep her promise to her late husband.
Her son found her letter and cried after reading her words. The pain of learning the truth was too much.
The Past Returns to Destroy Everything
Meanwhile, Cha Soo-yeon (Eugene) was also losing control. Her housekeeper fell into a coma after a car accident. The doctor said it could take days for her to wake up. Soo-yeon broke down and asked, “How long do I have to wait?” She collapsed from exhaustion and fear.
At the same time, Min-chul met Soo-yeon and apologized. He said he had judged her too quickly and admitted he had become someone who only thought about politics. But Soo-yeon didn’t soften. She said coldly, “A president must think politically.” Her tone was sharp.
Soon after, protestors demanded Min-chul’s resignation. He stood before the public and said the real culprit behind the hit-and-run was his longtime secretary, Shin Hae-rin.
Min-chul said he was ashamed the election had turned into a moral battle. He promised that if he or his wife were connected to the factory fire years ago, he would resign immediately.
That same night, Soo-yeon met Yang Hoon (Lee Si-kang). He was the powerful chairman involved in the old H Chemical fire case. She accused him of causing her housekeeper’s accident. Yang tried to scare her, but she had proof—a recording.
When she played it, his voice from 15 years ago came out, revealing that he planned the factory fire. Yang fell to his knees and begged. Soo-yeon looked at him and said, “If the housekeeper doesn’t wake up, you’re finished,” then walked away.
Min-chul Learns the Truth About the Fire
Later, Min-chul learned shocking truths from the First Lady Park Sang-hee (Baek Ji-won). She told him about the deals made five years ago between Soo-yeon and the former president. She also said the fire 15 years ago was no accident—it was a setup by Soo-yeon and Yang Hoon. Workers died, and everything was covered up.
Min-chul couldn’t believe it. He asked, “Are you saying she caused that fire?” His face showed disbelief and heartbreak. Park Sang-hee warned him that his promise to resign could destroy everything once the truth came out.
Min-chul’s memories came flooding back. He remembered that night at the H Chemical plant. He had tried to help the workers and prevent violence. But Soo-yeon opened the gates, letting Yang’s men inside.
The fire spread quickly. Workers screamed. People died, including Do Tae-hoon. Min-chul was crushed by the truth. The woman he loved had caused it all.
Episode 12 – The Final Confession and the Fire’s True Cost
In the final episode, Min-chul went to see Soo-yeon. His voice trembled as he said, “The First Lady told me everything. You worked with Yang Hoon. You caused the fire to help me win.” Soo-yeon didn’t deny it. She said quietly, “Yes. I did it.”
Min-chul was in disbelief. He said their success had come at the cost of too many lives. Soo-yeon replied without emotion, “I thought about how powerful it would be. If you had stayed in that wheelchair, you would have become president five years earlier.” Her tone was calm but cold.
She told him she never loved him. She only used him for revenge against her father. Min-chul’s face went pale.
Then everything spiraled again. Yang Hoon kidnapped Soo-yeon and her daughter Ji-yu. He wanted the recording that proved his crimes. When Soo-yeon arrived, he threatened to kill them both. She begged him to release Ji-yu and promised to stay silent forever. But he locked them in a room filled with poison gas.
Min-chul rushed in to save them. He managed to break the door. Soo-yeon pushed her daughter outside first. Inside, another woman was screaming—Hwa-jin, who had been framed by Yang. Soo-yeon went back for her.
The building started collapsing. Min-chul helped them escape but got trapped under debris. He told Soo-yeon, “Don’t be sorry. I know why you did it.” Those were his last words.
Soo-yeon woke up in the hospital. Her daughter was safe, but Min-chul was gone. His body wasn’t found, but there was hope in the final scene—rescuers shouted that someone was alive in the rubble. The screen faded to white.
The last moments of the First Lady showed how power, guilt, and ambition destroy everyone in their path. No one truly wins. Only regret remains.
Which moment in First Lady episode 11-12 shocked you the most?
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Kavita Mishra is a dynamic writer and passionate Korean entertainment enthusiast, combining her love for K-pop and K-drama with a flair for storytelling. With a keen eye for the latest trends, Kavita crafts articles that capture the pulse of K-pop idols, chart-topping hits, and the most buzz-worthy dramas taking over screens worldwide.
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