'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAX/xAAgEAACAQQBBQAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMABAYRBRMUITFh/8QAFAEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABP/EABcRAQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECABH/2gAMAwEAAhEDEQA/AK+Prf8AM5hLF3nStF4ppEiC71IsqhW+e/IqQ2ZhWKkTAg6Oo01SlDqDhnxarv/Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
When the Phone Rings is a popular South Korean drama series that premiered on Netflix in November 2024.
Starring Yoo Yeon-seok and Chae Soo-bin, the K-drama follows a show window arranged marriage between Paik Sa-eon and a mute sign-language interpreter, Hong Hee-joo. While the couple had no love in their marriage, a tragic kidnapping and a mysterious phone call changed their lives' trajectory and relationship forever.
Most of the mysteries were resolved in the penultimate episode, with the big reveal that the real Sa-eon was behind Hee-joo's kidnapping. The finale episode also revealed that Park Do-jae, one of Sa-eon's friends, was also working with the real Sa-eon.
While Do-jae served his prison sentence, he returned to work for Sa-eon in the finale because his friend understood that Do-jae was mistaken and was avenging his brother's murder.
In the When the Phone Rings finale, fake Sa-eon finally kills the real Sa-eon for good, but then shockingly disappears from his wife's life, because of a secret whispered by the real Sa-eon in his final moments.
In the finale, Shim Kyu-jin is also convicted of her father-in-law's murder, but she chooses the death penalty after she learns that her son, the real Sa-eon, is dead. The When the Phone Rings finale ended on a tragic note for Shim Kyu-jin, who finally repented for her bad choices towards her son.
More on this in our story.
Why did Sa-eon disappear in the When The Phone Rings finale?
After the real Sa-eon was shot by fake Sa-eon at the beginning of When The Phone Rings finale, it looked like everything would be back to normal for Sa-eon and Hee-joo, and they would live happily ever after.
However, after this murder fiasco, Sa-eon disappears from the face of the earth, and Hee-joo is left behind. We also learn that Sa-eon has forsaken the Paik fortune and bequeathed his wealth to society. But why did Sa-eon leave Hee-joo and disappear?
The answer lies in something the real Sa-eon whispered in fake Sa-eon's ear before he was killed. Sa-eon knew that Hee-joo suffered a big tragedy in her childhood, when all her siblings were involved in a brutal car accident, which led to her younger brother's death.
While In-ah became deaf after the accident, Hee-joo's mother abused her till she became selectively mute, adding to the tragedy of her brother's death.
However, as the real Sa-eon whispered in Sa-eon's ear in the When The Phone Rings finale, that tragedy was not a car accident, but a plan orchestrated by Sa-eon's father, Chairman Baek Jang-ho. When Hee-joo's younger brother learned the truth about the real Sa-eon one day, Jang-ho orchestrated this murder to protect his secret and crime.
The real Sa-eon knew that this truth would fill Sa-eon with guilt for Hee-joo, and as expected, Sa-eon dropped everything and disappeared from Hee-joo's life as punishment for his father's sin.
When The Phone Rings ending explained: Did Sa-eon and Hee-joo reunite in the finale?
While Sa-eon was repenting for his sins by staying away from his wife, Hee-joo was also longing for her husband. Even after six months since Sa-eon's disappearance in When The Phone Rings, she had not given up on her search, and was constantly fishing out for clues.
When Hee-joo learns from Sa-eon's assistant that someone has made a huge donation in war-torn Argan to build a school for mute children, she immediately understands that it is none other than Sa-eon.
Even while Argan was war-torn, Hee-joo wastes no time and books a flight to be reunited with her husband. She was confident that she would likely find Sa-eon at his favorite chapel in the country.
However, after the rebels take over the chapel, Hee-joo is luckily saved by Sa-eon. After Sa-eon explains the truth behind her brother's death and reveals that he was repenting for his father's sins, the couple resolves their differences. Hee-joo explains that she doesn't hold Sa-eon responsible for her brother's death, as it was orchestrated by the real Sa-eon and the Chairman.
When the Phone Rings ends with Sa-eon and Hee-joo being reunited and enjoying the sunset in Argan.
When the Phone Rings featured a beautiful and fulfilling ending like most K-dramas, where the lead couple finally got together for good after their fair share of troubles. Since his name was the real cause for their pain, Sa-eon divorced Hee-joo and officially changed his name to Yu-Yeon.
With this fresh and clean identity, Yu-Yeon and Hee-joo remarried in front of their friends & family, and looked forward to a happy life.
Trending
For the latest scoops on your favorite TV shows and movies, follow SoapCentral.
Also Read: When Life Gives You Tangerines cast and character guide
Reply
