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Time Magazine
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Magazine
Breaking Down the Heartfelt Ending of 'Our Unwritten Seoul'
Warning: This post contains spoilers for the ending of Our Unwritten Seoul. For a K-drama series that begins with a somewhat outlandish twin-swap conceit, Our Unwritten Seoul remains surprisingly grounded throughout its 12-episode run. The clues were there from the beginning, of course. Underachieving 30-something Mi-ji (Melo Movie's Park Bo-young) offers to switch places with her identical twin sister, burnt out office worker Mi-rae (also Park), because Mi-rae is distressed enough to injure herself by jumping out of a third-story window to avoid returning to her toxic workplace. Hijinks, these are not. In writer Lee Kang's slice-of-life script, the melodrama-like set-up is merely an excuse to jumpstart the exploration of some heavy, complex, and relatable themes, including learning to live with disability, workplace harassment, and moving past the kind of grief that gets its claws into you. The Netflix series released its final episode on June 29, bringing to a close one of the most quietly affecting Korean dramas of 2025. Let's break down Our Unwritten Seoul's heartfelt ending… Mi-ji finally leaves her room When Mi-ji was a teen, she dreamed of using her athleticism to carve a life path for herself—and, in the process, to finally get the kind of attention from her mother, Kim Ok-hui (Love Next Door's Jang Young-nam), that Ok-hui always seemed to reserve only for Mi-rae. However, when an ankle injury abruptly ends Mi-ji's track career, she falls into a deep depression, only graduating from high school because Mi-rae attends classes for her. Mi-ji develops a severe agoraphobia, and spends three years in her room. It's not until her grandmother falls and injures herself in their family home that Mi-ji forces herself to leave, walking miles to get her halmoni help. Years later, when Our Unwritten Seoul begins, Mi-ji still feels stuck in that room. She may go out and about, visiting her grandmother at the nursing home, working odd jobs around town, and hanging out with neighborhood friends, but she's still afraid to take a chance. She stays in her rural hometown because it feels safe. Because, in many ways, she's still afraid to leave her room. Her decision to swap places with Mi-rae is driven by sisterly concern, but it also pushes Mi-ji out of her comfort zone for the first time in years. Heading into the final few episodes of Our Unwritten Seoul, Mi-ji and Mi-rae have already switched back. But Mi-ji is still in Seoul, and is starting to ask herself what she truly wants to do with her life. It helps that she has someone there to support her… Mi-ji and Ho-su choose to stay by each other's side Mi-ji and Lee Ho-su have loved one another since high school. Their classmates and parents always assumed it was bookworms Mi-rae and Ho-su that clicked, but it was actually polar opposites Mi-ji and Ho-su. Mi-ji brought Ho-su out of his shell when he was the intense new kid in school who, unbeknownst to his classmates, was learning how to live with the disabilities he developed after the car accident that killed his father. Mi-ji and Ho-su meant a great deal to one another, but through a series of miscommunications, they never realized their love was requited. Ho-su left for Seoul to go to school and become an elite lawyer, and Mi-ji stayed in their hometown. When Mi-ji comes to Seoul years later, Ho-su is one of the first people who realizes that Mi-ji has swapped places with Mi-rae. Even before that knowledge is revealed, Ho-su becomes Mi-ji's closest confidante. Mi-ji eventually admits who she is, and the two confess their feelings to one another. For a while, everything is great. However, when Ho-su realizes his hearing loss is accelerating, he breaks up with Mi-ji, convinced that he will become a burden to her. Ho-su's issues with relying on loved ones didn't start with Mi-ji. After Ho-su's parents died, he was raised by his stepmother, Yeom Bun-hong (Crash Landing On You's Kim Sun-young), and he never truly dealt with his survivor's guilt. That guilt is compounded by the fact that the car accident that killed Ho-su's father left Ho-su with disabilities that require accommodations. When Bun-hong finds out about Ho-su's additional hearing loss from his doctor, she confronts her son for not telling her. When he confesses he has always assumed Bun-hong resented having to take care of him, Bun-hong sets him straight. After her husband's death, Ho-su is what kept her going. She loves Ho-su, and love means staying by someone's side through the wins and the losses. The conversation helps Ho-su realize that he wants Mi-ji by his side, if she wants to be there. Meanwhile, Ho-su's initial decision to push Mi-ji away has Mi-ji reflecting on how it must have felt for her loved ones when she isolated herself during her depression. The two reunite, and commit to one another. They want to be together, through it all. Mi-rae brings her company to justice Like Mi-ji, Mi-rae has been struggling in adulthood. She has always felt a pressure to be the smart, successful twin, and has prioritized living up to those expectations above all else. Contrary to popular belief, it doesn't come easily to her; she works hard for every success. After failing to pass the civil service exam several times, Mi-rae gives up and finds a solid job working at a state-owned financial management company called KFMC. Mi-rae may not love her life, but she is surviving. Then, a married manager makes an unwelcome advance one night. She tries to move on without fanfare, but rumors about her promiscuity are encouraged by the manager, leading to further workplace bullying. Inspired by her supportive colleague Kim Su-yeon (Park Ye-young), who has also faced workplace bullying, Mi-ji files an official complaint. Then, Su-yeon leaves, and Mi-rae begins to feel truly alone. Mi-ji's offer to temporarily swap places with Mi-rae, like they did when they were young, gives Mi-rae a much-needed break. She starts a seasonal job Mi-ji has lined up: as a worker on a strawberry farm owned by successful investment entrepreneur Han Se-jin (Ryu Kyung-soo). Se-jin has taken over the farm from his late grandfather, but has no idea what he is doing. With Mi-rae's help, the two get the farm running, and heal some of their unresolved trauma in the meantime. With Se-jin's support, Mi-rae feels able to return to Seoul and face the toxic management she left behind. Not only does Mi-rae file the harassment claim again, but she uses evidence gathered by Tae-i (Hong Sung-won) to expose KFMC's corrupt deal with a construction company. Tae-i is the younger brother of Mi-rae's former colleague, Su-yeon. He began working at the company to find a way to get justice for his sister, who has sequestered herself in her room after being bullied out of KFMC. While the plot's conclusion feels a bit rushed, especially knowing how much Mi-rae suffered at her office, Mi-rae gets her justice. The manager who sexually harassed loses his job and gets a suspended sentence in court. The department head who prioritized his corrupt, money-making scheme over a safe office for his workers is transferred to the regional office no one wants to work at. And Su-yeon leaves her room, much to her brother's relief. Kim Ro-sa and Sang-wol's love story One of the major subplots in Our Unwritten Seoul concerns Kim Ro-sa (Won Mi-kyung), an older woman who runs a restaurant in the block KFMC wants to develop. When Mi-ji first replaces Mi-rae at the company, she is tasked with convincing Kim Ro-sa to sell her restaurant for the development deal. Ro-sa, who has been running the restaurant for 35 years, refuses. However, Kim Ro-sa has been hiding a major secret. As we learn in Episode 10, Kim Ro-sa's real name is Sang-wol. She and the real Kim Ro-sa grew up together in an orphanage and it is implied that they were in love. Temporarily torn apart by life's circumstances, Sang-wol finds Ro-sa again when Ro-sa is married with a baby. Her husband has abused her, leading to her son being born with developmental disabilities. Sang-wol takes Ro-sa and her son and they build a life together. When Ro-sa's husband catches back up with them, Ro-sa and Sang-wol kill him in self-defense. Because of the baby, Sang-wol takes the fall. When they are reunited again after Sang-wol's release, Sang-wol struggles to find work because of her label as a murderer. Ro-sa convinces Sang-wol to use her name. They share it, really, until Ro-sa's death from cancer. Before she dies, Ro-sa admits her son to a facility, and asks Sang-wol to keep using her name. Officially, Sang-wol dies and Kim Ro-sa lives on. Sang-wol, who is illiterate due to her dyslexia and poor upbringing, plans to bring this secret to her grave. But, when the KFMC lawyer tasked with getting Kim Ro-sa to sell her restaurant uncovers the truth, he frames Sang-wol as a killer and an identity thief. It doesn't help that Sang-wol has not only been using Ro-sa's name to run the restaurant, but also taking credit for Ro-sa's poetry, which has gained recognition after the real Ro-sa's death. With Mi-ji and Ho-su's help, Sang-wol is finally able to tell the true story of her life with Ro-sa. Sang-wol has been using the money garnered from Ro-sa's poetry book sales to fund a college scholarship. Over the years, dozens of kids, including Lee Ho-su, have benefitted from the fund. Mi-ji and Ho-su read the documents Ro-sa left for Sang-wol. They include an official letter making it clear that everything Ro-sa had belongs to Sang-wol. Later, Mi-ji and Ho-su encourage Sang-wol to learn how to read. By series' end, she is able to read Ro-sa's poetry, some of which is about Ro-sa's love for her Sang-wol. Mi-ji and Mi-rae's grandmother dies To Mi-ji, Kang Wol-sun (The Potato Lab's Cha Mi-kyung) isn't just her grandmother. She is the person who helped raise Mi-ji and Mi-rae after the death of their dad. She is the person who saw an act of survival in Mi-ji's three-year isolation. She is the person who understood Mi-ji when no one else seemed to be able to. So, when Wol-sun has a serious heart attack in the final episode, Mi-ji is devastated. At first, she refuses to accept that her grandmother is dying, but Wol-sun's request that Ok-hui, Mi-ji, and Mi-rae bring her home is granted. When Wol-sun dies, Mi-ji is sleeping next to her. She dreams of her grandmother saying goodbye. In the dream, Wol-sun is able-bodied and clear of mind in a way that she hasn't been in the years since her fall. She speaks excitedly to Mi-ji of the adventures she is planning to go on, but tells Mi-ji that she will hold on longer, if Mi-ji needs her to. Mi-ji lets her go. Mi-ji finds her way forward Sang-wol offers to pass on her restaurant to Mi-ji when she retires, but Mi-ji decides she wants to take on a different career path. She goes to college to become a therapist, perhaps inspired by her own struggles with agoraphobia and depression. Meanwhile, both Ho-su and Mi-ji are learning Korean sign language. Ho-su uses the language ability to serve clients with hearing loss. Do Mi-ji and Ho-su end up together? Yes. Following a one-year time jump in the series finale, we learn that Ho-su has bought an engagement ring for Mi-ji. However, when Mi-ji accidentally finds it, the two discuss not getting married until after Mi-ji finishes her graduate degree and gets her first paycheck. In the meantime, however, they play on moving in together. But don't tell their mothers. Do Mi-rae and Se-jin end up together? The relationship status of Mi-rae and Se-jin is less conclusive at the end of Our Unwritten Seoul. They remain 'business partners,' with Mi-rae running Se-jin's grandfather's strawberry farm and acting as an investor in Mi-rae's financial investment advice blog. In the final episode, Se-jin returns from his time in America and immediately goes to find Mi-rae in Seoul. Mi-rae blows off her plans with Mi-ji and Ho-su to travel back to the strawberry farm with Se-jin. It is implied the two will start a romantic relationship, but never confirmed. The viewer can choose for herself. Does Our Unwritten Seoul have a happy ending? Yes, Our Unwritten Seoul has a happy ending—and a pretty realistic one, too. The characters face their share of hardship in the final episode, most notably the death of Wol-sun, and the story recognizes that there will be more reasons to grieve in the future. However, the series main character, Mi-ji, has been able to move past the depression that kept her from chasing her ambitions for years. She has plans to start grad school to become a therapist. She is in a happy and healthy relationship with boyfriend Ho-su. She is loved by her family and friends, including her mother, sister, and Sang-wol. She is no longer afraid of what's next.
The Review Geek
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
Our Unwritten Seoul – K-drama Episode 12 Recap, Review & Ending Explained
The End is a New Beginning Episode 12 of Our Unwritten Seoul begins this finale with Ho-su more hopeful than he was last chapter. He apologizes to Mi-ji for being selfish and pushing her away. Regardless of hardships, he wants them to stick it out together, his father's words echoing in his head. This time, Ho-su hands over the ring for her and he's already wearing his too. To make things even better, Mi-ji organizes for a new sign to go up at Ro-sa's restaurant and Ro-sa even speaks to Ho-su in confidence too, telling him he should hold onto the person who makes him laugh. What happens to Ro-sa? Ro-sa feels like a weight has been lifted now that everything has been settled as her name has been officially changed. She even offers Mi-ji the chance to take over the restaurant too. However, Mi-ji has a lot to think about right now as she's in the process of moving too. Later in the episode, Ro-sa does what she can to try and learn how to read before opening Ro-sa's notebook and reading the various poems and tributes for Sang-wol. Do Se-jin and Mi-rae say goodbye? Meanwhile, Se-jin is impressed by the way Mi-rae is starting to become quite ambitious. She wants to try running a business on her own, using her severance money to build a stock portfolio. She's also thinking of starting an investment blog and give back to the community. She suggests Se-jin take a look sometime, as he also agrees to let Mi-rae stay at the farm for the time being too. Mi-rae is confronted by Sang-yeong who points out that he's paid enough for what happened at KFMC and has been suspended. However, Chung-gu is not finished. He rocks up and decides Park needs to repent and pay interest for his wrongdoings. At the airport, Mi-rae shows up to see Se-jin and he rushes over, explaining that he didn't want her to disappear again. They say goodbye but Se-jin wants her to promise that they'll keep in touch. They do agree to keep talking before he turns and leaves for his plane. Does Ok-hui accept Mi-ji's plans? Ok-hui and Bun-hong talk about how they worry about their kids but the former is confident that her daughter is not interested in dating. When she heads over to see Mi-ji though, she notices her kissing Ho-su and is immediately taken aback. In fact she ushers Ho-su away and exasperates, saying 'good god' when she heads inside. A lot of this behaviour is her posturing because of finding out about Ho-su's hearing. She doesn't want Mi-ji to hurt him, and she's also, finally, here to help. Ok-hui offers to help front the cost for a deposit at Mi-ji's apartment and move into a bigger place. The pair go for food afterwards and this whole encounter is a lovely way of breaking generational trauma that's plagued the family. What does Ho-su do for Bun-hong? Meanwhile, Ho-su surprises Bun-hong at school with a bouquet of flowers, calling her mum. There's a bit of a misunderstanding with the strawberry farm, before Ho-su clears it up and explains that he's dating Mi-ji. As Ho-su gets treatment for his ears, Mi-ji is shocked when she finds out Wol-sun is being brought home. She's very old and sick, and she's been wanting to head home for a while. It's a difficult situation, especially when the end nigh, and the pair do what they can to make her comfortable. Does Wol-sun pass away? After some bickering with her sister, who reprimands Mi-ji and tells her she needs to study hard if she wants to pass her exams, Mi-ji winds up having a dream with a sprightly Wol-sun who's up and about. However, it's clear that this is just her spirit ready to move onto the next phase of life. Mi-ji struggles to let go, but eventually lets her leave, promising to live a fulfilling life. What happens after Wol-sun's death? With this chapter now closed, our characters move into the next stage of their lives. Ho-su learns sign language, Mi-rae works hard at the strawberry farm, and she continues to keep in touch with Se-jin, updating him on what's happening. The pair do continue to talk, and Se-jin admits he's left something 'bitter' for her, which happens to be a bottle of booze. At the same time, Mi-ji continues to work hard on her grades and eventually passes, while Ok-hui is much more cheerful and accepting than before. One Year Later We then cut forward one year. Mi-rae has a distributor meeting after a second strawberry harvest. She's learned a lot over the year and has a firm understanding of the business. As for Ho-su, he's taken up sign language to help clients and he even has respect for Chung-gu. The feeling is very much mutual, when Chung-gu reveals to his junior colleague that he's 'good'. Mi-ji is now at college studying psychology while Sang-wol honours her friend's memory by reading out her poems to a crowd of adoring fans. Among them happens to be Mi-ji and Ho-su, who show up to lend support for her big presentation. Do Mi-rae and Se-jin get their happily-ever-after? Meanwhile, Mi-rae visits Su-yeon, who's back working again. She hands over some strawberries to share with her colleagues and it seems she's in a better job and environment now. When Mi-rae leaves, she's surprised by a returning Se-jin showing up. He's back now and she messages her sister to let her know that she won't be heading over after all. How does Our Unwritten Seoul end? Mi-ji decides to stay at Ho-su's and she winds up finding a wedding ring in Ho-su's drawer. However, Mi-ji has also decided what she wants to do in life – she wants to be a therapist. As the episode closes out, Mi-ji reflects on life's ups and downs, deciding that each blank page is a new beginning, and an opportunity to live new experiences and make new memories. The Episode Review Our Unwritten Seoul's ending is pitch perfect and beautifully written, bowing things out with a realistic conclusion to this lovely story. The pinnacle of this chapter has to be the tearful farewell between Mi-ji and her grandmother which is honestly such a heartbreaking and moving segment. The whole scene is so pitch perfect and well paced, with Park Bo-young once again managing to show what an incredible actress she is. There are so many stand-out moments here showing real character growth, from Ok-hui finally breaking that generational trauma of abuse and actually supporting Mi-ji and helping her get a lease in Seoul. The scene involving Ho-su using sign language is another good emphasis on this chapter's title, with 'the end' definitely feeling like a new beginning as he leans back into law work again. It's rare to have a show like this manage to fire on all cylinders and pay off all the character arcs in a believable and satisfying way at the end. A slow beginning leading into one of the best finales this year; Our Unwritten Seoul is easily one of the best K-dramas this year. Previous Episode Expect A Full Season Write-Up When This Season Concludes!
The Review Geek
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
Our Unwritten Seoul – K-drama Episode 11 Recap & Review
At The End of the Sentence Episode 11 of Our Unwritten Seoul begins with Mi-ji getting rejected for numerous different jobs. Ho-su tries to cheer her up though, heading out and getting rings for them before heading to Ro-sa's restaurant. Then it happens. Ho-su loses hearing in both his ears but Mi-ji and Ro-sa are obviously unaware of this. In fact, Ho-su heads back home and he doesn't tell Mi-ji the truth when she shows at his apartment, worried about him. In fact, he slams the door and tells her he's tired. It's clear Ho-su is struggling though and simple things like getting a taxi to the hospital are monumental tasks for him, given his hearing loss. He does eventually get there and heads to the ENT department. They diagnose that he has sudden sensorineural hearing loss. The doctors give him steroids to help his hearing but it's still touch and go. His charts don't look good and his hearing is down across all frequencies. A full recovery is very unlikely and the doctor warns that he needs to brace himself and prepare for the worst. Meanwhile, suits from the Fair Trade Commission show up at KFMC looking for Gyeong-min. They're investigating the Sihan Construction Case and it even makes the press too. The CEO is pissed and lashes out at Director Choi, telling him to handle this. While Tae-i is happy with how things are going, Mi-rae is ready to quit and turn away. Hanging about just to see the management punished is not her style and she admits that coming to work still fills her with anxiety. Ho-su shows up to see Chung-gu and asks for his help in handling the Mi-rae sexual harassment case. He wants a lawyer like Chung-gu who will take no prisoners and win no matter what. Ho-su knows that Chung-gu has a soft spot for him, even with the bullying and Ro-sa restaurant fiasco, and Chung-gu does eventually agrees to do this for him. Ho-su also says goodbye to Ro-sa here too, explaining about his hearing… kinda. He shields her from the worst of it but Ro-sa explains that he can't hide this from Mi-ji. Ho-su explains though that Mi-ji has just starting to spread her wings, and he doesn't want her to see him as a weight holding her down. The thing is, even hiding this from her isn't going to be a simple task. At dinner, he doesn't hear the waitress switch the ingredients around and he can barely hear Mi-ji as she excitedly chirps on. Eventually he decides to hit the classic penultimate episode K-drama trope – he's going to break up with Mi-ji. She calls him out for it though and Ho-su eventually comes clean and explains that he may lose his hearing completely. He knows he'll change and it may be too much of an adjustment for her. He doesn't want her to compromise for him anymore as she of all people knows that being pitied sucks. Ironically, the words she uses to plead with Ho-su actually echo how she felt when she could no longer run. Unfortunately, just like in the past, it ends in heartbreak. Back home, Mi-rae is shocked about the break-up and tries to be there for her sister. It's Gyeong-gu who actually serves as a best friend though, and when he finds out about the break-up, he teases her about the reasons and tries to cheer her up. Elsewhere, Wol-sun has sodium deficiency and she's not eating much. Ok–hui shows up to see her in hospital but Wol-sun raves on about how her husband is beating her daughter. Now it makes more sense why she was so sensitive about Ok-hui being rough with Mi-ji, and what she's been so ashamed to keep from hr daughter. Wol-sun never told her any of this because she didn't want Ok-hui to live a bad life and follow in her footsteps. When she composes herself, Wol-sun apologizes to her daughter, prompting Ok-hui to break down in tears. At work, Mi-rae walks out with her head held high, ignoring all the badmouthing from her colleagues. She also leaves something for Tae-i to give to Su-yeon too. On the way out, Director Choi tries to intimate her but it doesn't work. In fact, one of the girls shows up and apologizes to Mi-rae for staying quiet all this time. She explains that Mi-rae's actions have helped give her the courage to stand up and speak out against the company. Meanwhile, Bun-hong is shocked when she receives a call and finds out about Ho-su's hearing loss. She breaks into his apartment and demands the truth. She's livid and eventually speaks plainly, pointing out how his dad brought them together so they can hold onto each other. Her love for him is the reason for her to carry on, reinforcing that they're family and as far as she's concerned, he's her son. At the hospital, Mi-rae reveals to Ok-hui that she's quit her job and the true reason for the switch-over with her twin. Having come clean, she shows at the strawberry farm and speaks to Se-jin next. She explains that his offer was a dream come true for her… but she's turning it down. She doesn't think she's ready and needs to prepare. Mi-rae is not sure on herself and she wants to see things through to the end where she is. Specifically, in being his replacement at the farm. She's following her heart, even if it's wrong, for once in her life. At Ro-sa's restaurant, Mi-ji finds a letter from the family court regarding the registry but it's signed from Ho-su, which makes her feel emotional. Of course Ro-sa and Mi-ji both know what's up with Ho-su here and eventually move over to the topic of the break-up. Ro-sa encourages her to be by his side and do what she's best at, just like she was all those episodes ago. Despite not knowing the answer to their relationship woes, just being there for him is enough. The thing is, Ho-su comes to the same conclusion thanks to a chat with Bun-hong about his father's words of encouragement. These resonate with him, offering encouragement to stick it out no matter what, even if you're on the losing team. Ho-su heads over to Mi-ji's and throws his arms around her, pleading with her to stay by his side and apologizing. As the episode closes out, Su-yeon finally looks set to leave her room, while Ho-su and Mi-ji look like they're going to be alright after all. The Episode Review So the 'we're going to break up in the penultimate episode before getting back together' trope is in full swing here. The difference here though, is that the execution is solid and grounded in reality, leaning into those aforementioned themes about courage, taking a leap of faith and pushing through your fears. The show dodges those miscommunications that usually comes with this, and lays all the cards out on the table first before slamming into the emotional crux of the relationship. Both Ho-su and Mi-ji know they're not going to have the perfect relationship and it's going to have a lot of ups and downs. They each have a reason for their motivations and across the episode, they're both helped along by the supporting characters, who have had their own journeys of self discovery and perserverance. Ro-sa's past speaks for itself, given the tragedies that have befallen her, and if anybody knows a thing or two about living with a 'burden' it's her. Meanwhile, Bun-hong finally gets through to Ho-su and there's some lovely moments between them as they reflect on Ho-su's father's words. 'Love isn't about winning or losing. It's about remaining on the same team until the very end even if you lose. Love isn't about staying together… even if you lose a hundred or a thousand times.' This quote is so powerful and works incredibly well, especially for those who know relationships are hard work at times! The break-up scene though is so eerily parallel to Mi-ji's past too and it shows how far she's come from all those years ago. Meanwhile, Mi-rae leaves work with her head held high. The moment she says 'My heart still pounds anxiously every time I come to work,' is going to relate to anybody who has been stuck in a toxic workplace, and thankfully Mi-rae has managed to bow out on a high. She's already won and no amount of badmouthing from management can change that now. Ultimately though, Our Unwritten Seoul has been a great watch and it's easily one of the best acted K-dramas of the year. Park Bo-young is absolutely killing it as the twins and if she's not up for some awards this year, I'd be shocked. Roll on tomorrow's finale! Previous Episode Next Episode Expect A Full Season Write-Up When This Season Concludes!
The Sun
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Unwritten bonds, unspoken pain
A slow-burn drama about identity and emotional healing, Our Unwritten Seoul, directed by Kim Yun-joo, proves not all stories need fireworks to make an impact. The 2025 tvN series, also available on Netflix, is a deeply introspective piece powered by subtle performances and a quietly poignant script. Dual lives of twin sisters At the centre of this tender narrative are Yoo Mi-ji and Yoo Mi-rae, twin sisters who could not be more different, both played with extraordinary precision by Park Bo-young. Mi-ji is a reclusive writer battling panic attacks and professional burnout, while Mi-rae is an energetic drama script coordinator masking her emotional fatigue with forced optimism. A surprise reunion leads the estranged sisters to impulsively swap lives. What begins as escapism turns into a revealing emotional journey, as each sister is forced to confront not only the life the other lives but also the emotional burdens they have tried to ignore for years. This is not a dramatic identity switch in the conventional sense, but more a study of empathy and long-suppressed pain. The writing leans into psychological realism, gently pulling viewers into the emotional lives of its characters with patience and care. Cast and characters Bo-young is unquestionably the heart of the series. Known for her expressive eyes and emotionally resonant performances, she steps into two completely distinct roles and she disappears into both. As Mi-ji, she captures the heavy stillness of someone suffocating under her own thoughts while as Mi-rae, she reveals the fatigue of a woman trying too hard to hold herself together. The transition between these characters is seamless, never once feeling like a performance trick. Supporting her is Park Jin-young, who plays Ji-won, Mi-rae's co-worker and a man who learns to see beyond surface identities. His portrayal is grounded and gentle, serving as a steady emotional counterbalance to the chaos the sisters navigate. Ryu Kyung-soo also shines as Han, someone with a restrained presence that slowly unravels as he bonds with Mi-rae. Their scenes are filled with quiet intensity. Every performance, no matter how minor, feels emotionally real, never exaggerated, never hollow. Even the fleeting characters that pass through the twins' lives are written with a purpose, adding to the show's emotional richness. Beautiful slow burn Visually, Our Unwritten Seoul is shot in warm tones and natural light, leaning into minimalist cinematography that reflects the characters' inner solitude. Scenes are often slow, filled with silence or subtle expressions rather than exposition-heavy dialogue. This, however, is also where the series may test viewers' patience. The pacing in the first few episodes is undeniably slow, and it takes time before the emotional momentum builds. But when it does, the payoff is moving and memorable. That said, the drama's core themes of healing and the messy love between siblings are delivered with sincerity and depth. Our Unwritten Seoul airs every Saturday and Sunday on tvN, with new episodes available to stream on Netflix at the same time. PLOT: 7 ACTING: 7
The Review Geek
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
Our Unwritten Seoul – K-drama Episode 8 Recap & Review
An Unconventional Whole Episode 8 of Our Unwritten Seoul begins with a look at Ho-su's past. He was never fully happy with Bun-hong being part of their family, given he was always so close with his father. After the death of his mother, the 'three eyes' in his family became two, and it upset the equilibrium of their group. When Bun-hong ended up as his step-mum, Ho-su wasn't particularly happy, wishing it could go back to 'two eyes' once again. Ho-su and his father wind up in a car accident not long after, explaining Ho-su's injuries. He moved in to this house with Bun-hong, opposite the twins, and did his best to seem fine on the outside. He didn't want to seem like a burden to her and tried to sail through without causing drama. Back in the present, Ho-su and Mi-ji are officially seeing each other but things are awkward between them. Mi-ji heads back to Seoul for the time being while Mi-rae stalls and learns from her mum that having one unemployed daughter 'is enough'. This doesn't help her case for quitting her job! Mi-rae shows up at the strawberry farm and winds up with a big plan about helping his farm to thrive. In return, he offers to bring her out on a stargazing expedition that night. It's a nice moment and the pair certainly grow closer during this time. Ro-sa is discharged and offered to enrol in the Adult Guardianship program. She doesn't know who else to ring so she calls Ho-su. Unfortunately, Chung-gu shows up and questions Ro-sa about Sang-wol. He gives her an ultimatum to sell her restaurant to the company, promising to bring up Sang-wol again before stirring the pot further. He explains his ties to Ho-su, calling him one of his 'favourite junior colleagues'. Ro-sa, as a result, is frosty toward Ho-su. Ok-hui's behaviour with the twins though is the complete opposite to Bun-hong and Ho-su. The pair over-indulge and go over the top with their affection, and it's clear there's an undercurrent of uncomfortableness that's never fully been addressed. Bun-hong tries to compensate for the void in their life, while Ho-su wants her to live freely without his 'burden'. Further flashbacks do help to flesh out this awkwardness. On the anniversary of the ancestral rites for his mum and dad, Ho-su was hurt and saw this as performative. He called out Bun-hong for this and pushed her away, encouraging her to leave him alone. But then when she did leave the house one night, having got the wrong bus, he realized how alone he actually is. As for Bun-hong, the reason for her delay was actually because she learned her mum was in hospital. Her sister, unfortunately, completely snubbed her and refused to help, leaving her in an unenviable position. Kicked out of one family and struggling to fit into another; Bun-hong ended up in an impossible position. Interestingly, this is also the first time that a young Mi-ji wound up seeing how vulnerable Ho-su actually was. Mi-ji and Ho-su's ties are very different now though and they awkwardly navigate their newfound romance. The pair hang out and while Ho-su is happy to call her his girlfriend, Mi-ji lies and pretends to be Mi-rae when a couple of Ho-su's old work friends show up. Mi-ji explains after that she didn't want to be an embarrassment to him but this only feeds into what he said earlier about being a burden, so they cut their day short. Mi-ji bemoans how she's ruined the day but things get worse at work when Mi-ji notices that a returning Park Sang-yeong looks exactly like her father. This now puts Mi-rae's words before about their father into more perspective, and Mi-ji begins spiralling. After composing herself, she speaks to Park at lunch about the HQ project. He wants one of them to stop working on this (namely Sang-yeon himself) so it'll give people less reason to gossip. He promises to take care of the repercussions and do what he can to help her. Mi-ji appreciates the sentiment but instead decides that she's going to drop out and wants him to make sure that she doesn't get penalized in any way. He also has a gift for her too, which happens to be a bookmark. To make things even more awkward, this guy also has a daughter called Mi-rae too. Park Sang-yeong is in the pocket of senior management though, and they scheme between Mi-ji's back that night. Park explains that she won't be a problem anymore now that she's dropped out (clearly using reverse psychology with her) and they contemplate moving her out to the Childal Branch 'before she causes trouble'. They suss that the identical twins may have switched and intend to test them later on in the episode. That night, after all the awkwardness, Mi-ji rings her sister and questions her about Park. She demands to know her side of the story. Mi-rae has kept this a secret because she obviously misses their father so much, and Mi-ji feels the exact same way. They've both kept this pain from each other and they break down crying on the phone together. At work, Tae-i is surprised that Mi-ji has dropped out of the HQ Project. Given she and Mi-rae are about to switch back again, she tells him to be nicer to her (ie. Mi-rae) in the future. Ok-hui shows up to see Bun-hong and helps wash her hair. Midway through, Bun-hong admits that she's been trying to act like Ho-su's mum all this time and only realized what a bad impression she's done until now. Ok-hui is surprisingly encouraging to her, pointing out what a great family they have. Meanwhile, Ho-su clears the air with Mi-ji and explains he just wanted them to have a normal date and it wound being really weird and awkward. He hands over a guidebook and instead of a handshake, the pair wind up hugging. Mi-rae shows up to see Se-jin and they aren't quite on the same wavelength. The thing is, Se-jin was earlier visited by Director Yoon and apparently there are plans for someone taking over for him as he's not sure he'll be able to finish this year's farming. Apparently he's thinking about leaving to go back to the States to work again. However, Mi-rae hears this through someone else so it's unclear if that's actually true or not. That night, Tae-i shows up and confronts Mi-ji. He arrives outside her house and explains that he's Kim Su-yeon's brother. She's the Senior Specialist who left the company. Back at work, things take a horrible turn when the senior management confront Mi-ji about her identity and encourage her to scan her fingerprint to enter the data processing room, leaving things on a tenuous cliffhanger. The Episode Review Our Unwritten Seoul closes out this weekend's double-bill with a big episode that ends things on a huge cliffhanger. It's unclear whether Mi-ji will be able to get out of this in one piece, and what the repercussions could be if she's outed as the wrong twin. The situation at work is made that much more complicated by the revealed about Park Sang-yeong and the scheming between the upper-management too. It's clear he's not a nice person and very much forcing Mi-rae (when she was working there) to keep her head down and not make any trouble. Of course, Mi-ji is not that same twin, and she may have unintentionally caused trouble for her sister at work. The ties between Ho-su and Mi-ji are at least a little better and cleared up somewhat by the end of the episode, while the drama involving Bun-hong and Ok-hui takes an unexpected turn when the latter is actually nice to her neighbour. As for Mi-rae, we've got more misunderstandings when it comes to the strawberry farm and I can't help but feel this is just going to be resolved by Se-jin explaining it's only a temporary gig rather than a permanent position. Either way though, the ending certainly leaves things on a big cliffhanger and we'll have to wait and see where this one goes next week. Previous Episode Next Episode Expect A Full Season Write-Up When This Season Concludes!
