Embarking on our recap and review of "The Auditors" episode 9, the narrative ignites with the revelation of Seo-jin and Dae-woong's photographs, casting a shadow over JU Construction's nepotism scandal. President Se-woong, unyielding in his quest, dispatches Cha-il on a meticulous audit mission, his ultimate goal: to uncover dirt on Dae-woong and expel him from the company's fold.
In a candid interview, the truth about Dae-woong and Seo-jin's relationship unravels—a bond not of blood but of heart, as Dae-woong cherishes Seo-jin's mother as a sisterly figure who nurtured him during her tenure as a housekeeper in his family's abode. Seo-jin stands firm, emphasizing that her success was solely a testament to her merit, yet the office remains a cesspool of slander. Amidst this turmoil, Han-soo emerges as a beacon of trust, unwavering in his belief in her innocence.
Despite Shin Cha-il's meticulous probe yielding no evidence of wrongdoing in Seo-jin's case, President Se-woong's obsession with ousting Dae-woong prompts a drastic move. He strips Cha-il of his investigation, citing a perceived conflict of interest, and initiates an external audit, a move as relentless as it is ruthless.
Dae-woong, unfazed by adversity, resolves to take charge, offering his assistance to Cha-il in clearing Seo-jin's name. In a private exchange, he implores Han-soo to delve into the IP address behind the incriminating post, a clue that may unravel the true perpetrator.
As the audit team braces itself for an arduous clash, they steel their resolve against the relentless precision of the external auditors, who leave no corner unchecked in their relentless pursuit of transparency. Undeterred by the formidable task ahead, Cha-il and his fearless crew embark on a parallel journey, diving headfirst into the intricate labyrinth of hiring archives stretching over four years. They meticulously unearth long-buried, interconnected documents, their suspicions ignited as they discern that Seo-jin's case might merely be a smokescreen, masking a far more pernicious undercurrent of systemic injustice within employment practices.
As the external audit commences with focus on Seo-jin's case, the audit team embarks on their meticulous search. Within the audit's intricacies, Seo Hee Jin, the designated supervisor, stumbles upon a damning report from Jung Hye-Young, a colleague, alleging that Seo-jin clandestinely encountered Vice President Dae-woong during the recruitment process, potentially gaining an unfair advantage by obtaining interview questions in advance. Seo-jin, in a fierce denial, vehemently dismisses any such misconduct.
Concurrently, Shin Cha-il acknowledges the shadowy role played by the imprisoned Director Seo in overseeing the hiring procedures, casting doubts on the integrity of the outcomes. He engages a former employee in a probing interrogation, seeking answers behind the mysterious relocation of hiring files to the archives. When the ex-employee remains tight-lipped, Dae-woong's sudden intervention forces a confession: the tampering of an employee's report card, orchestrated by Director Seo's orders, though the culprit's identity remains elusive. Cha-il and Dae-woong devise a strategy to unravel the mystery by cross-referencing online test scores with the tampered records.
Amidst this unfolding drama, Han-soo and Assistant Manager Moon Sang-Ho embark on a perilous mission to retrieve the crucial documents from the archives, only to be ambushed by shadowy figures. Miraculously, Cha-il and Dae-woong apprehend one of the assailants, along with the documents, revealing CEO Jeong as the orchestrator—a shadowy figure linked to Director Seo. However, a bizarre twist ensues as Moon Sang-Ho, on their return, claims to have been set upon by thugs, resulting in the loss of the documents.
The following day, Dae-woong's meticulous investigation unmasks CEO Jeong as a notorious moneylender and close associate of Director Seo, who also happens to be the father of Assistant Manager Jeong Hye-Young. Prompted by these revelations, Cha-il summons Jeong Hye-Young for questioning, but she steadfastly denies any wrongdoing.
Meanwhile, Seo-jin takes matters into her own hands, scrutinizing CCTV footage near her residence in a desperate bid to identify the culprit behind the unauthorized photography. Han-soo, fueled by determination, consults his friend whose company owns the CCTV system, receiving a pivotal clue that leads him to trace the IP address to an unexpected locale, leaving the episode on a cliffhanger, brimming with intrigue.
