In First Lady Episode 9-10, the story reached a tense and emotional stage. Every character faced the truth they had long avoided. The political game turned personal, and secrets buried for years began to surface.
Cha Soo-yeon, played by Eugene, started to lose control over her world. Her allies began turning away after Hyun Min-cheol allowed lawmakers to vote freely on the special bill.
She warned him that passing it would bring destruction, but her words no longer held power. Kang Seon-ho, the lawyer, confidently told the press that the law would pass. He ignored Soo-yeon’s calls, showing how far their connection had fallen.
Lee Hwa-jin, played by Han Soo-ah, signed a document and handed it to Kang Seon-ho. She asked if she could finally meet Woo-young. He promised that once she gave her interview, Woo-young would be released. The tension between them showed how everyone was using someone for their own reason.
As the vote approached, Soo-yeon tried to stop it by calling lawmakers herself, but no one answered. Her influence was gone. Kang Seon-ho handed over a petition stating that Soo-yeon once gifted a necklace to Hwa-jin.
This item became the key to the truth. Seon-ho also closed the case for Sun Woo-young, demanding that Soo-yeon tell him why she opposed the special bill so strongly. She replied bitterly, saying he should have trusted her.
At this juncture, the writer’s brilliance is in making Cha Soo-yeon’s greatest strength—her political influence—her primary weakness. Her desperate phone calls to lawmakers are a powerful visual metaphor. Where she once commanded with a whisper, she now pleads into a void.
This isn’t just a plot point; it’s a core lesson in storytelling: isolate your protagonist by stripping them of their foundational power. For writers, note how the external political collapse mirrors her internal emotional desolation.
The Shocking Revelation
In episode 9’s final part, Lee Hwa-jin appeared on live television. Her voice trembled at first, but she soon spoke clearly. She said, “I am the daughter of President-elect Hyun Min-cheol.” With that, she revealed a secret that shocked everyone watching.
The revelation is linked directly to the hit-and-run case from fifteen years ago. The truth hinted that Cha Soo-yeon might have been the driver who killed Hwa-jin’s biological mother, Eom Soon-jung. This twist connected politics, family, and guilt in a single moment.
Hyun Min-cheol, played by Ji Hyun-woo, remembered the day he learned Hwa-jin was his daughter. He recalled her necklace and her illness, which matched a rare genetic disorder. The doctor suggested a DNA test. Soo-yeon tried to avoid it, but Min-cheol insisted. His anger and suspicion grew.
Park Chan-do then handed Min-cheol a dashcam video. It showed the hit-and-run accident on a foggy night. The car was Soo-yeon’s old yellow compact model.
In the last scene, Soo-yeon stepped out of the car, staring at the dying woman. The ending left viewers questioning if she was truly the culprit.
Online, people reacted strongly. Some said, “Eugene being the killer of her lover’s mother is shocking.” Others wrote that the show was full of unexpected turns. The First Lady episode 9-10 arc showed how truth, guilt, and ambition can destroy relationships.
Episode 10- Family, Guilt, and the Cost of Truth
Episode 10 began with Hwa-jin agreeing to a paternity test. She had one condition — Soo-yeon must stop bothering her and Woo-young about the necklace.
Soo-yeon refused to take blame, saying Hwa-jin created her own problems. Their exchange was tense and honest. Hwa-jin asked, “If the test proves the truth, will you accept me as family?” Soo-yeon gave no clear answer.
Meanwhile, Hyun Min-cheol sat alone, thinking about his life. He said he had lived a dirty but real life, while Eom Soon-jung stayed frozen in that old photograph.
His friend reminded him that Soon-jung lived through her daughter. It was a quiet yet powerful scene that showed guilt and grief mixed.
Hyun Ji-yu, their daughter, also faced confusion. When Ahn Kang-myung visited her, she admitted she had misunderstood everything. She once thought her mother’s affair rumors were true, but now realizes she was wrong.
She said she felt like the worst person. Kang-myung tried to comfort her, saying everyone makes mistakes. Their talk added realism and warmth to the episode.
At the same time, Yang Hoon confronted Hwa-jin. He accused her of being ungrateful despite everything he had done. He reminded her that her mother, Eom Soon-jung, went to prison for a crime she did not commit and died soon after being released.
Yang Hoon threatened to reveal why Hwa-jin changed her name and lived under a false identity. His anger made the situation more dangerous.
A key creative takeaway from these episodes is the blurring of traditional roles. Lee Hwa-jin, despite her manipulative actions, is framed through a lens of tragic victimhood. Her mother was wrongfully imprisoned and died, giving her a morally complex justification for her vengeance.
Conversely, our presumed protagonist, Cha Soo-yeon, may be a killer. This moral ambiguity is what makes the story feel ‘painfully real,’ as you noted.
Ending
The ending left viewers unsettled. It was clear that every secret from the past was returning to haunt them. The line between truth and lies was thin, and no one could escape judgment.
First Lady episode 9-10 recap and analysis shows how the drama has shifted from pure politics to deep personal tragedy. The writing balanced emotion and logic, letting viewers see the cost of every choice.
These episodes have masterfully raised the stakes by making the political profoundly personal. The lingering questions for the upcoming episodes are no longer just ‘Will the bill pass?’ but ‘Can any of these relationships survive the truth?’
What did you think of the dashcam revelation? Was Cha Soo-yeon’s expression one of guilt, shock, or something else entirely? Share your theories in the comments below—let’s unravel this mystery together.
Who do you think is telling the real truth in First Lady episodes 9-10?
How Does this Article Make You Feel?
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.
We pour our hearts into every K-drama recap. If our work brings you joy, please buy us a coffee. Your support keeps us going ❤️
🛍️ Earn Cash Back
Sign up on Rakuten via my link to get cashback + bonus when shopping online.
Join & Get Cash BackReferral link — you get a bonus too!