The daily drama 'Woman Who Swallowed the Sun' on MBC has captivated audiences with its intense portrayal of a mother's fierce love for her daughter and a shocking reunion with a past adversary.
In the episode aired on the 18th, viewers were taken aback by the revelation of Baek Seol-hee (played by Jang Shin-young) and Kim Sun-jae's (played by Oh Chang-seok) tragic past from 16 years ago. The episode delivered a stunning twist as Seol-hee and her daughter found themselves in despair once again due to cunning media manipulation, despite a momentary glimpse of justice.
The most shocking scene of the episode was the reunion between Seol-hee and Sun-jae. Appearing as a lawyer for Min-gang Distribution, Sun-jae insulted Seol-hee's daughter, Baek Mi-so (played by Lee Ru-da), by calling her "the daughter of a single mother running a small snack shop in a rundown neighborhood," and threatened to cover up the incident. Mi-so bravely retorted, "Like you, sir?" challenging Sun-jae's vile behavior. The intense eye contact between Seol-hee and Sun-jae in the hospital room signaled the reawakening of their past enmity.
Later, as Seol-hee and Sun-jae faced each other, they couldn't escape the shadows of their past. Sun-jae was shocked to learn that Mi-so was Seol-hee's daughter and questioned if she was his child, which Seol-hee vehemently denied. Their conversation revealed Sun-jae's cruel betrayal of Seol-hee years ago, leading her to scornfully remark, "You've become a dog for the chaebol family," as they engaged in a tense standoff.
Sun-jae's threat, "Don't make this a big deal. This is not a request, it's a warning," was met with Seol-hee's defiant declaration, "I won't let you have your way again. I'm not the naive Baek Seol-hee you used 16 years ago. Handle it yourself," delivering a powerful warning.
In a flashback, Seol-hee, who was once a devoted partner to Sun-jae during his bar exam days, dreamed of a future together. She confessed her 12-week pregnancy, and Sun-jae promised to take responsibility if he passed the exam. However, after passing the final exam, his attitude changed drastically. He handed Seol-hee medicine, claiming it was good for the fetus, and after she took it, he coldly announced, "I won't have to take responsibility for any child now," delivering a cruel and heartless breakup. The sight of Sun-jae leaving Seol-hee as she collapsed in pain was a shocking moment.
Meanwhile, at Min-gang Distribution, a power struggle unfolded over the recruitment of Moon Tae-kyung (played by Seo Ha-jun). Chairman Min Doo-sik (played by Jeon No-min) announced Tae-kyung's joining and the launch of a new business, creating tension between Kyung-chae and Sun-jae. Amidst this, a glimmer of hope appeared for Seol-hee. The assault case involving Min Se-ri (played by Park Seo-yeon) was reported in the newspaper, and the black box footage provided by Seol-hee was aired on the news. Seol-hee reassured Mi-so, "Now Se-ri will be punished," but their joy was short-lived as a subsequent interview turned everything upside down.
In the interview, Mi-so's closest friend and the café owner where Mi-so worked falsely claimed that Mi-so provoked Se-ri for money, labeling the incident as "a vile act of extortion," completely distorting the truth. Mi-so was devastated by the news, and Seol-hee tried to comfort her distraught daughter, but the betrayal by those they trusted left deep scars on the mother and daughter.
Behind all this was Kyung-chae. Watching the fake news with a satisfied smile, Kyung-chae's phone conversation, where she praised the news and the interview, incited viewers' anger.
Reported by Tae Yuna, TenAsia youyou@tenasia.co.kr