A dark shadow has been cast over the fresh lives of three young individuals.
In episodes 3 and 4 of JTBC's Wednesday drama 'Assembled Family', aired on the 16th, the main storyline of Kim San-ha (played by Hwang In-yeop) and Kang Hae-jun (played by Bae Hyun-sung) began to unfold.
Episode 3 delved into the turmoil faced by Kang Hae-jun due to the sudden appearance of his biological father, Yang Dong-gu (played by Lee Jong-hyuk). Although he tried to smile as if nothing was wrong, only Kim San-ha sensed something was amiss. Upon learning about the appearance of Hae-jun's father, San-ha stepped in to help resolve the issue.
Through his aunt Kang Yi-hyun (played by Min Ji-ah), San-ha and Hae-jun learned that Yang Dong-gu had abandoned his son for his own survival despite knowing of his existence. They confronted him directly and discovered that his reason for returning after 19 years was to find an heir to his wealth and take him to the United States. Shocked by this revelation, Hae-jun was comforted by San-ha, who quietly stayed by his side.
However, Yang Dong-gu secretly approached Yoon Jung-jae (played by Choi Won-young) with a bribe to take Hae-jun away, but Jung-jae firmly rejected the offer. After Yang Dong-gu left, Jung-jae and Hae-jun shared a heartfelt moment, expressing their deep affection for each other and shedding tears, providing a touching moment for viewers.
In episode 4, another crisis emerged as Kwon Jung-hee (played by Kim Hye-eun), who had coldly abandoned Kim San-ha in his childhood, returned. Despite visiting after 10 years, she blamed San-ha for his sibling's death, infuriating him. San-ha told her not to return and walked away, but Jung-hee went as far as to confront her ex-husband Kim Dae-wook (played by Choi Moo-sung), causing further turmoil.
Witnessing this, Hae-jun was reminded of his own mother, Kang Seo-hyun (played by Baek Eun-hye), who had left him, bringing back painful memories. This led to increasing conflicts with San-ha, culminating in a heated argument and a physical altercation, shocking everyone.
San-ha's anguished cry, "To others, we're just kids abandoned by our mothers," in front of Jung-hee, left viewers with a heavy heart. As unexpected events disrupt the peaceful lives of these two youths, once warmed by the assembled family, it remains to be seen if they can embrace each other's pain and find happiness once more.
Lee So-jung, Ten Asia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr