Unmasked Episode 9 Review: Choo Ja-hyun Leaves Us Unsettled!

In the last episode of The Truth: Unmasked, So-ryong learns about the corruption within KNS, especially Koo Hyeong-tae, and becomes determined to figure out the truth behind Seong-wook’s case that everyone is trying to bury. In the midst of this, team Trigger is heartbroken over Na-hee leaving to work in soaps.

The series has 12 episodes and will release from 15 January 2025 to 19 February 2025.

Unmasked Episode 9 Recap

The episode starts with Hae-won looking intently at a sculpture with an axe in her hand and proceeding to break the enclosure to get her hands on it. Meanwhile, Hui-won asks Gi-ho to not air the episode with Lee Jeong-geun’s interview and offers to make him a full-time employee in exchange. Elsewhere, Assemblyman Cho Jin-man reminds Hyeong-tae of his public perception and advises him to hold on to his humility so that they can at least hold on to the job that he has. The interaction leaves Hyeong-tae angry and disappointed.

So-ryong meets Jin-woo and asks him about the tip that he promised. Jin-woo tells him about Cho Tae-soo’s death and how someone, presumably Hae-won, smashed everything and took a sculpture from the Hanju building. Meanwhile, Han Do tells Seong-wook’s father to look for the cell phone with Bom’s picture so that they can go through it once again and maybe find some clues. In an odd twist, So-ryong realises that the sculpture that was stolen might just be a depiction of Seong-wook’s murder.

Meanwhile, Gi-ho has a hard decision ahead of him as he realises that he has to get rid of the scene if he hopes to become full-time. Although Mo-ka threatens to leave him if he goes through with this, it seems like he is left with no choice. Elsewhere, Seong-won’s father is able to find his old cell phone, but just then he faces a wave of amnesia that puts him in a dangerous spot. When they eventually find him, they watch Gi-ho’s episode together and it’s clear that Gi-ho has royally messed up.

So-ryong and Gi-ho have a fight at the office, ending in her asking him whether he has any regrets about the episode. Gi-ho defiantly tells her that he does not. So-ryong’s disappointment is clear.

Later on, So-ryong finds Hae-won outside her house and she comes clean to So-ryong that she had told Hyeong-tae about her murdering Seong-wook. She is surprised but presses on about the truth — why did she kill him? She mentions that he betrayed her and somehow tells So-ryong that they are similar in that aspect. So-ryong disagrees with her and asks her whether the Hanju building incident was her doing. Surprisingly, she accepts the blame wholeheartedly.

So-ryong asks Hae-won where she has hidden it and she cryptically answers that it’s at their final destination. She then leaves, wishing that they would meet once again.

The next day, the Trigger office is deadly quiet as everyone is aware of Gi-ho’s full-time status. As tensions rise, Na-hee faces backlash at her new job as well. Meanwhile, So-ryong and Han Do meet the forensic analyst who tells them about Bom’s pictures on Mr Cha’s phone and further tells them about the name of a detective that came up multiple times – Han Dong-hyeok. The name strikes a chord with Do, who rushes off to meet his brother, Han Jeong, to ask about their father’s death.

He tells Han Do about the police officers who asked him odd, fishy questions surrounding his father’s death, while the latter desperately tries to remember something from his past. He also tells him about the envelope that they found in their father’s car. He goes back home to go through their old things and finds something very shocking in the midst. Elsewhere Hae-won and Jin-man get into a violent fight that ends with her asking him to transfer half of his inheritance to her.

Meanwhile, Mo-ka breaks up with Gi-ho for what he did. He meets Han Do for drinks later and he advises Gi-ho to stop making So-ryong upset since she’s the only person on his side now.

The next day, Han Do meets So-ryong and Mr Cha and hands over the incident report from Seong-wook’s murder after telling them that Dong-hyeok was his father. The document mentions that Officer Kim Yong-gyun misplaced 6 pieces of evidence, including Seong-wook’s finger. It also has Dong-hyeok’s signature on it. Later, So-ryong gets a call from the forensic analyst, telling her that the statue matches Seong-wook’s head 98%, which leaves her shocked. That night, they go to Hae-won’s workshop and find the entire thing up in flames.

Final Thoughts

What a thrilling episode this has been. Choo Ja-hyun is the only person in this series who has genuinely made me feel creeped out and her performance is simply excellent. Every moment she is on-screen is unsettling. Plus, the different ways in which our characters find themselves entangled with a 20-year-old case is nothing short of fantastic. If this lands the ending next week, I think this might be one of my favourite dramas this year. Also, Jung Sung-il — absolutely fantastic.

Also Read: Unmasked Season 1 Reviews