The Elegant Empire (2023)
A man and a woman take revenge desperately yet elegantly after being trampled on by enormous power.
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The Elegant Empire
2023Seasons & Episode
During the commemoration of Jang Chang Sung's first anniversary memorial service, Jang Gi Yun embarks on the expansion strategy for the company he inherited. This move involves E promoting the two-billion-dollar business centered around VK Media Culture Valley. At this juncture, Seo Hee Jae emerges at WJ Entertainment, sparking Gi Yun's curiosity.
Seung Pil takes a picture of Gi Yun and Hee Jae together at a bar and sends it to Jacklyn to get her infuriated. Jacklyn recognizes Hee Jae right away as she looks exactly like Ju Kyung. Woo Hyuk advises Hee Jae to stay away from Gi Yun, while Jacklyn visits Gi Yun at his office the next day and runs into Hee Jae again.
Hee Jae manages to make Hyunta the new model of Miyu Cosmetics just before Na Hee's contract renewal. Gi Yun and Jacklyn lose control when they lose the deal to NA Entertainment. Therefore, Gi Yun comes up with another plan to persuade the CEO of Miyu Cosmetics. Meanwhile, Gi Yun discovers something interesting while investigating Hee Jae's family background.
Woo Hyuk is unable to move on from his feelings for Ju Kyung, and encountering Hee Jae, who bears a striking resemblance to Ju Kyung, only adds to his confusion. During a visit to Gi Yun's house to resolve unresolved matters, Hee Jae accidentally pours wine on herself. This results in her reluctantly borrowing one of Jaclyn's dresses, only to be caught off guard by Jaclyn's sudden intrusion.
After marrying Gi Yun, Ju Kyung gives birth to a daughter named Soo A and is living happily. Ju Kyung picks up Gi Yun, who has returned from a business trip abroad. Coincidentally, Seung Pil is there, and he introduces Jaclyn, who had caught Gi Yun's attention during his trip. Gi Yun finds it difficult to suppress his feelings for Jaclyn.
Seung Pil decides to get his revenge on Gi Yun for his time in prison. He plots with wealthy Jaclyn to steal Gi Yun's company. However, when Gi Yun and Jaclyn cross paths at a hotel bar, it sparks mutual interest between the two of them.
Gi Yun confronts Jaclyn during her inaugural ceremony and successfully feigns condescension to capture her attention. Meanwhile, Assemblyman Yang Hee Chan strategically attracts Jaclyn to Gi Yun's new project as part of a plan to secure Jaclyn's investment.
Upon hearing Ju Kyung's assurance that she intended to make him the next chairman and fully support him, Gi Yun had confidence in her words. However, the announcement during the commemoration event catches both Gi Yun and Ju Kyung off guard, resulting in a profound shock.
The astonishing declaration of the new chairman catches Gi Yun off guard, pushing him to rely solely on Jaclyn. To win her favor, he strategizes to fulfill her every wish, showing a willingness to cross boundaries with Ju Kyung. While attending a hotel meeting, Ju Kyung is confronted with Gi Yun and Jaclyn's shameless demeanor, placing her in an uncomfortable position.
Ju Kyung tries her best to persuade Gi Yun at the hotel where he and Jaclyn are together to come home. However, Gi Yun doesn't want to leave Jaclyn. Ju Kyung tells Hye Rim about Gi Yun's affair, but ironically, Hye Rim takes Jaclyn's side. Ju Kyung has no choice but to expose everything to Chairman Jang, causing Chairman Jang to call Gi Yun and Jaclyn to his house.
After Chairman Jang learns Ju Kyung was arrested by the police unfairly at the hands of Gi Yun, he angrily demands Gi Yun to get her released immediately. Gi Yun can't take his father's words anymore, and he decides to get rid of him by secretly giving him an overdose of his medicine. As Chairman Jang suffers in pain, Ju Kyung walks into his room.
At Chairman Jang's funeral, Ju Kyung is apprehended on allegations of murdering him. Due to Gi Yun's interference, every attorney declines to represent Ju Kyung. Adding to the adversity, Hye Rim provides false testimony, claiming she saw Ju Kyung commit the murder. Overwhelmed by shock, Ju Kyung collapses and bleeds.
With Jaclyn now wedded to Gi Yun following Ju Kyung's imprisonment, her current objective is to eliminate Woo Hyuk. Their actions have not only snuffed out Woo Hyuk's chance to thrive as an actor but also compelled him to perform menial tasks around the office. Amidst it all, Woo Hyuk endures the humiliation, eagerly anticipating Ju Kyung's return.
Although Ye Kyung survives the horrible accident, she seriously injures her leg. Woo Hyuk believes the accident was not a coincidence. Meanwhile, Gi Yun and Jaclyn visit Ju Kyung in prison to tell her that Soo A can't remember her and is having a hard time because of her. Tormented by their words, Ju Kyung tries to take her life.
Ju Kyung makes the firm choice to dedicate herself to Soo A's well-being once she's released from prison. On the day of her release, she anxiously watches Soo A from a distance, as a restraining order prevents her from getting closer, and is taken aback when her daughter passes by without recognizing her. Ju Kyung is certain that Soo A is not being cared for with love.
The distressing fact that Soo A could be in harm's way due to Gi Yun and Jaclyn terrifies Ju Kyung. Worried about Soo A's well-being, Ju Kyung anxiously monitors the kindergarten pickup, but nobody shows up, allowing her a chance to bond with her daughter. However, Gi Yun soon discovers this and manipulates the situation to his advantage.
After parting ways with her colleagues at NA Entertainment for Soo A's sake, Ju Kyung finds herself in a month's time facing Gi Yun's refusal to honor their agreement, mocking her innocence. It dawns on Ju Kyung that she's fallen for Gi Yun's deception once more, prompting her to take action in retaliation.
Woo Hyuk gets caught for wanting to become an actor by Jun Hee. He decides to leave his family to continue to become one. With nowhere to go, he heads to NA Entertainment. Meanwhile, after watching Seung Pil leave his seat to answer Jaclyn's phone call, he becomes suspicious of him.
While half asleep, Soo A recognizes her mother's face. She leaves the hospital alone and heads to the address she remembers from Woo Hyuk. Meanwhile, Jaclyn leaves the house after fighting with Gi Yun and goes to Seung Pil's house to make Gi Yun jealous. However, when she gets there, she sees Soo A.
Hee Jae appears after completely wiping out Shin Ju Kyung's past. Finally, with Seung Pil's help, she gets to unsheathe her blade in revenge against Jang Gi Yun. Meanwhile, Gi Yun becomes captivated by Hee Jae's provocative charms without having the slightest clue that she is the late Shin Ju Kyung, and Jaclyn, who has to witness it, becomes infuriated.
Jaclyn and Gi Yun keep getting into fights with Hee Jae in the picture, and Hee Jae watches them with a smile of satisfaction. Meanwhile, Woo Hyuk visits Yu Kyung's niche and confides in her about the confusion over Hee Jae, and Hee Jae takes Jun Hee to the hospital for suddenly collapsing.
Once Woo Hyuk uncovers her identity, Hee Jae opts to inform him about her true self while keeping her pursuit of Gi Yun a secret. As WJ Entertainment marks its foundation day, Gi Yun invites Hee Jae to his home. At the same time, Hee Jae begins implementing her strategy to intercept Jaclyn's money before it arrives in Gi Yun's hands.
Gi Yun gets drunk and looks at his father's picture in deep remorse. Hye Rim falls to the floor when she hears Gi Yun tell her that he knows about the secret of his birth. Meanwhile, Hee Jae's heart breaks when she realizes she can't tell Soo A she is her mother.
Hye Rim is thrown off by the surprising fact that Gi Yun and Jaclyn aren't sharing a bedroom. Things get spicy at NA Entertainment as Jaclyn spills the tea on Hee Jae and Gi Yun's secret relationship. Woo Hyuk wears a look of disbelief when he hears about Hee Jae's deep connection with Gi Yun, but his trust in her is unshaken, standing strong against any fleeting doubts.
Woo Hyuk is surprised when he learns Jun Hee is the chairwoman at Jung Capital, where Soo Ho works. Meanwhile, Hye Rim guides Dr. Oh secretly down to the basement, and Jaclyn asks Hee Jae to come and be the translator for a meeting she has with a Japanese investor.
Jaclyn slides over an envelope full of money to a man impersonating Suzuki Yamato to get him to testify that he isn't Hee Jae's father. Meanwhile, Hee Jae returns an expensive necklace to Gi Yun that he secretly gave her, and Jaclyn finds it in Gi Yun's desk drawer.
Jaclyn's face turns red with embarrassment when Suzuki says the opposite of what he promised to expose in front of Gi Yun. When asked about the money he had borrowed for Woo Hyuk, Soo Ho can't say a word. Meanwhile, Hee Jae worries that Woo Hyuk will get hurt because of her.
Jaclyn finds herself with nothing after falling victim to a scam, and now she fears that Gi Yun might leave her, seeing no value in her. She strongly suspects Hee Jae orchestrated the scam but lacks evidence. Determined to secure funds, she resorts to any means necessary, ultimately arriving at Jung Capital, where a familiar face awaits her.
Hee Jae wins Gi Yun's favor when she hands him a large sum of money after seeing him broke and looking for a solution. Gi Yun accepts her offer and falls even harder for her. Meanwhile, one step at a time, Hee Jae gets closer to her revenge and watches Gi Yun become more anxious.
Hee Jae can't stand the thought of leaving Soo A alone with Jaclyn, who abuses her. She resolves to move in with Gi Yun for the time being. Hee Jae plans to move in with Gi Yun on Woo Hyuk's birthday after leaving Woo Hyuk a heart-breaking goodbye and kiss. Meanwhile, Gi Yun finds out the movie investment he had made with Hee Jae's money was a scam.
Jaclyn devises a plan to destroy Hee Jae, who has now taken over the master bedroom she once shared with Gi Yun. One night, Jaclyn waits for Hee Jae to leave work in the basement parkade to kidnap her. Meanwhile, Woo Jae watches over Hee Jae on his phone through a GPS tracking application.
Jaclyn believes she perfectly destroyed the evidence of her crime and leaves the scene. Woo Hyuk saves Hee Jae from the fire, and Hee Jae loses consciousness. Meanwhile, Gi Yun is worried about Hee Jae as she has not returned home.
After surviving an almost fatal encounter with Jaclyn, Hee Jae opts to leave the house. Weary of Jaclyn, Gi Yun contemplates divorce, but she derides his financial constraints. Gi Yun must strategize another way to eliminate Jaclyn for the well-being of Soo A and Hee Jae. Meanwhile, Hee Jae pities Woo Hyuk, fully aware of the impending end to their relationship.
After getting renounced by her mother-in-law, Hye Rim, Jaclyn has nowhere to go. She remembers the address of her mother's nursing home Seung Pil had given her, and she decides to go there. However, when she gets there, her mother doesn't remember her.
Jaclyn cries in pain as her mother, Sun Ja, cannot recognize her, and Seung Pil feels bad for both of them. Meanwhile, Hee Jae and Woo Hyuk plan to hand over the evidence of Jaclyn's attempted murder to Gi Yun, and Jun Hee finds out Hee Jae is living under a fake identity.
Even though Gi Yun finds out about Jaclyn's attempted murder, she blames Ju Kyung for her crime and takes it out on her. Gi Yun gets infuriated at Jacklyn and wants to kick her out of his house immediately. Meanwhile, Hee Jae is disappointed in Seung Pil as she realizes he is on Jacklyn's side.
Chang Sung miraculously gains consciousness after a year-long sleep, and Gi Yun calls Hye Rim immediately. They plan to soundproof Chang Sung's room secretly while Jaclyn is asleep. However, Seung Pil gets suspicious and barges into Gi Yun's house as he cannot reach Jaclyn.
Following Woo Hyuk's collapse, Gi Yun firmly warns him to stay away from Hee Jae, cautioning him about potential consequences if he continues to be a problem. This warning instead fuels Woo Hyuk's determination to protect Hee Jae from harm. Meanwhile, Woo Hyuk's mother calls Hee Jae, demanding truthful answers amidst the unfolding drama.
After being pushed into a corner by Jaclyn for her investment money, Gi Yun orders Sung Gu to kidnap Jaclyn and put her in a mental hospital. With Jaclyn, a thorn in his side, out of the picture, Gi Yun finally lets out a relieving sigh of satisfaction. Meanwhile, Hee Jae discloses her plan for revenge to Jun Hee and gains her support.
With Seung Pil's help, Jaclyn gets away from Sung Gu and makes it to the hospital. At the hospital, Jaclyn finds out she is pregnant and becomes happy about it. Jaclyn decides to have the baby whether Gi Yun accepts her or not. Later, she confidently goes to WJ Entertainment and discloses the good news in front of all the employees.
Hee Jae decides that, for revenge, it’s only right for her to move back into Gi Yun’s house. To execute her plan, she informs Woo Hyuk that she’s ending everything with him, and being well aware of her situation, he can't deny it. Hee Jae shares her plans with Woo Hyuk’s mother, hoping that they will comfort her. Caught in the dilemma, Woo Hyuk continues to emotionally struggle.
Upon realizing that Gi Yun has caught them sharing a goodbye kiss, Hee Jae forcefully distances herself from Woo Hyuk, leaving lasting emotional scars on him. Despite his discomfort with Hee Jae moving back in with Gi Yun, Woo Hyuk tries to empathize with her situation. In the meantime, Jun Hee is on her way to visit her son, and Hee Chan recognizes her.
Woo Hyuk and Hee Jae learn that Gi Yun has been extorting landowners of their land for his casino business. Hee Jae puts her life on the line to rescue one of the landowners held by Gi Yun and almost exposes her identity. Meanwhile, Seung Pil changes his mind about leaving after encountering Gi Yun.
The news of his mother's illness plunges Woo Hyuk into deep emotional pain, leading him to prioritize her care. Jun Hee, recognizing her imminent fate, implores Woo Hyuk not to follow Hee Jae's vengeful path. Despite his enduring love for Hee Jae, Woo Hyuk decides it's time to let her go and focus on his mother's needs.
Quietly making her way into Gi Yun's home lobby, Jaclyn waits for Hee Jae and Soo A to come back. With Jaclyn laying bare the truth, Hee Jae discovers Jaclyn’s secret visits to Gi Yun’s home and her pregnancy with Gi Yun's child. Contrary to Jaclyn's expectations, Hee Jae calmly recommends that Jaclyn consider letting her raise the baby for the child's sake.
Gi Yun and Hye Rim plan to send Chang Sung to an island to lock him up for eternity as he becomes increasingly a burden. However, when they drug Hee Jae to sleep and attempt to sneak Chang Sung out secretly, they are horrified when they hear her call out Chang Sung's name. Meanwhile, Bit Na runs away from home to Seung Pil's house.
Gi Yun discovers that someone has been discreetly buying large amounts of WJ Entertainment's shares. Gi Yun worries that his company will fall into the hands of someone other than himself. He finds out that Woo Hyuk is the one who is buying the shares and then aggressively confronts him about it.
Gi Yun throws a fit at Woo Hyuk after finding out he is planning to dismiss him from his chairman position. Soo A secretly sneaks out of the house and meets Woo Hyuk without letting Hee Jae know. Meanwhile, Sung Il introduces Jun Hee to Hee Chan and Young Ran.
Jun Hee immediately breaks up with Sung Il after Hee Chan finds out she is Woo Hyuk's mother. Hee Chan runs a background check on Jun Hee to see if Woo Hyuk is his own son. Meanwhile, Hee Jae asks Gi Yun for permission to take a look at the company ledger.
Jaclyn proudly flaunts the bracelet Hee Jae had given Hye Rim in front of Hee Jae. Worried about the wiretapping device in the bracelet, Hee Jae forcefully takes it from her. However, the bracelet breaks and Jaclyn sees the wiretapping device. Jaclyn finds it suspicious and tells Gi Yun about it right away.
After keeping a close eye on Hee Jae, Jaclyn questions Hee Jae's true identity. Later, Hee Jae commits to a DNA test between her and Soo A to shake off Jaclyn's suspicions. Meanwhile, Hee Jae, Gi Yun, Hye Rim, and Jaclyn wait together for the paternity test to arrive.
Out of anger, Gi Yun takes away the dolls and toys with memories that Woo Hyuk had given Soo A and makes her cry. Seeing Soo A in tears, Hee Jae tells Woo Hyuk with a heavy heart to stay away from Soo A to preempt any further hardships for Soo A. Meanwhile, Woo Hyuk stumbles upon Hye Rim and his mother in a heated conversation.
Woo Hyuk is shocked to find out that Hee Chan is his biological father. When Jun Hee explains what happened in the past to him, he decides to bring Hee Chan down to take revenge. Meanwhile, Hee Jae figures out where Gi Yun is hiding the ledger, and Jaclyn sneaks into the basement of Gi Yun's house.
Gi Yun and Hye Rim receive a video clip of Chang Sung from an anonymous caller, and Gi Yun hopes it is not Hee Jae who blackmailed them. Woo Hyuk warns Hee Chan to stop the casino business he is working on with Gi Yun. Meanwhile, Chang Sung tells Hee Jae to find the hearing aid he gave to Soo A.
Hye Rim learns that the baby Jaclyn is carrying isn't a boy. She calls Jaclyn over and interrogates her about her lies and deception. However, Jaclyn doesn't back down one bit. Meanwhile, Jaclyn lets Hye Rim and Gi Yun know that she knows Chang Sung is alive, pushing them into madness.
Jaclyn can't throw her suspicions of Hee Jae being Ju Kyung away and follows her. Hee Jae plans to use Jaclyn to expose to the world that Woo Hyuk is Hee Chan's love child and have it destroy his political career. She also plans to use Jaclyn to come between Hee Chan and Gi Yun and slowly demolish Gi Yun's life.
Gi Yun determines to dispose of Jaclyn, the thorn in his side. He takes her to a refrigerated container and locks her inside. Luckily, Hee Jae and Woo Hyuk save her from death. However, Jaclyn loses her baby, and she vows to get her revenge against Gi Yun.
Gi Yun believes Hee Jae does not love him, and he questions why she approached him. Meanwhile, Hee Chan thinks deeply about hurting his son, Woo Hyuk. However, Gi Yun pressures him and puts Hee Chan in a tight spot, making him decide to end Woo Hyuk's life.
Woo Hyuk falls into despair after his mother dies from a hit-and-run accident that was supposed to be for him. Hee Chan sees Woo Hyuk in deep sadness and can't help but feel guilty. Meanwhile, Hee Jae rushes to Woo Hyuk's mother's funeral despite Gi Yun's strong disapproval.
Gi Yun provokes Woo Hyuk on purpose and then reports him to the police to keep him from the funeral. Jaclyn barges into Gi Yun's home for her revenge even though Seung Pil tries to stop her. Meanwhile, Hee Jae secretly goes back to Jun Hee's wake at night.
Woo Hyuk is willing to bend his standards to ensure the downfall of Yang Hee Chan, involving Bit Na in the process. Meanwhile, in her effort to aid Chang Sung's escape from the house, Jaclyn becomes trapped. Frustrated with Jaclyn's constant presence, Hye Rim decides to lock her up in a place of no return.
Bit Na falls victim to Gi Yun's scheme and collapses when she hears Woo Hyuk is her half-brother. Hee Chan is also stunned by Gi Yun's intentions and intends to fight back. Meanwhile, Gi Yun makes plans to leave Hee Chan as his partner.
Hee Chan tries to destroy Gi Yun for Woo Hyuk's well-being but to no avail. Knowing Hee Chan would betray him, Gi Yun exposes to the press about Hee Chan's crime and makes him go on the run. As Hee Chan avoids the police, he plans his revenge against Gi Yun.
Hee Jae is deeply shocked after discovering Gi Yun had known about her true identity all along. Jaclyn, who knows about Gi Yun's plan, warns Hee Jae to tread cautiously. With time caving in on her, Hee Jae plans to sneak Chang Sung out of the house and use him to expose Gi Yun's evil deeds.
Despite her revenge plans, Hee Jae places Chang Sung's safety first. Nevertheless, Gi Yun, sensing the impending threat, acts proactively. When Hee Jae finally catches on, it seems too late, and her only shot at saving Chang Sung now hangs by a thread.
Gi Yun becomes a mess when he learns he lost Chang Sung to Hee Jae. He meets with Dr. Oh and plans to play the media to stop Chang Sung's interview. Meanwhile, Hee Chan secretly contacts his family and tells them his plans to turn himself in. However, Gi Yun interferes with Hee Chan's confession.
Although Hee Chan's hit-and-run accident was not fatal, Gi Yun still smiles in satisfaction. Gi Yun visits NA Entertainment's accommodation to take back Chang Sung, but he fails due to the people's strong dissuasion. Enraged by his failed endeavor, Gi Yun hones his blade of revenge even sharper.
Chang Sung makes a video for Gi Yun that allows Gi Yun to prove that the footage Hee Jae submitted before was fake. Gi Yun gladly accepts his father's gift and puts Hee Jae in a difficult position. Hee Jae gets a restraining order, and she finds herself torn away from Soo A.
Noticing that Yang Hee Chan isn't following the script, Gi Yun instructs Sung Gu to eliminate Hee Jae and Woo Hyuk. Sung Gu is assured safety upon leaving the country, leading him to comply with Gi Yun's directives. Yet, he senses the importance of having a backup plan to safeguard himself.
Even after Yang Hee Chan's confession, Gi Yun skillfully turns the situation to his advantage. Hee Jae and Woo Hyuk struggle to bring Gi Yun down, and now Tak Sung Gu attempts to contact them with the intention of revealing Gi Yun's secrets.
Woo Hyuk and Hee Jae head to the prosecution office to turn in Gi Yun's corruption ledger. However, Gi Yun lets them know about Soo A being diagnosed with leukemia to get away with his crimes. Gi Yun asks Hee Jae to hand over the ledger back to him.
Gi Yun confronts a challenging situation upon discovering a video depicting him mistreating his father. Skillfully evading the scenario, he endeavors to sway public opinion in his favor. Meanwhile, Hee Jae, faced with heightened challenges in executing her plans, readies herself anew to seek revenge, starting with a press conference.
Gi Yun reminds Prosecutor Yoo that he will take control of the country with VK Media's business and sways him to lock up Hee Jae, Woo Hyuk, and Jaclyn before the historic signing event. Meanwhile, Jaclyn is overwhelmed by Seung Pil's sudden death, and in anger, she points a gun at him.
After suffering a fatal blow from Hee Jae's entourage, Gi Yun looks to flee overseas with Hye Rim and Soo A. Meanwhile, everyone at WJ Entertainment and the people around Gi Yun finally see Gi Yun's true colors. As Gi Yun tries to escape, Hee Jae, Woo Hyuk, and Jaclyn chase him from behind.
After getting revenge on Gi Yun, Hee Jae reclaims her name and position and begins living a happy life with Soo A. Jaclyn recalls her memories of Seung Pil and starts a new life with her mother in the US. Meanwhile, Woo Hyuk plans an unforgettable marriage proposal to Ju Kyung.
A man and a woman take revenge desperately yet elegantly after being trampled on by enormous power.
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