In the 11th episode of KBS 2TV's weekend mini-series 'Beloved Bandit' (directed by Ham Young-gul, written by Lee Sun), which aired on the 7th, the souls of Hong Eun-jo (played by Nam Ji-hyun) and Lee Yeol (played by Moon Sang-min) are swapped, leading them to choose opposite paths to protect each other, creating a tense atmosphere. A scene where they explain their soul-swapping situation to Daechu (played by Lee Seung-woo) recorded a peak viewership rating of 7.5% (Nielsen Korea, nationwide household standard).
Previously, Lee Yeol defied King Lee Gyu (played by Ha Seok-jin) to protect Hong Eun-jo's brother, Hong Dae-il (played by Song Ji-ho), which enraged Lee Gyu. At the moment Lee Gyu pointed a sword at Lee Yeol's neck, the souls of Hong Eun-jo and Lee Yeol were suddenly swapped, and Hong Eun-jo's soul, now in Lee Yeol's body, faced her father's enemy, Lee Gyu.
However, Hong Eun-jo, considering Lee Yeol's sacrifice to protect her and her family, chose silence over revenge to gauge Lee Gyu's intentions. Meanwhile, Lee Yeol's soul, residing in Hong Eun-jo's body, confronted Lee Gyu with the help of Im Jae-i (played by Hong Min-ki), proving Hong Dae-il's innocence and calming Lee Gyu's anger, thus averting the crisis.
Particularly, after the sudden death of Hong Min-jik (played by Kim Seok-hoon), Lee Yeol decided to protect the devastated Hong Eun-jo. Visiting Hong Min-jik's grave, Lee Yeol's promise to stay by Hong Eun-jo's side and protect her added an emotional depth.
Meanwhile, Lee Yeol's soul, led by the words of Mi-bul (played by Choi Jae-woong), who seemed to know Gil-dong, ventured into an unknown space and was thrown into confusion upon realizing the plot of the rebellion forces to place him on the throne using Gil-dong, or Hong Eun-jo.
At the same time, Hong Eun-jo's soul in Lee Yeol's body was deep in thought after encountering the nun (played by Han Ji-hye) who had proposed treason to her. The harsh reality of King Lee Gyu's tyranny, indifferent to the people, her father's death while trying to correct it, and the ongoing suffering of the people fueled Hong Eun-jo's desire for a better world. Learning that the rebellion forces intended to enthrone Lee Yeol as the new ruler deepened her contemplation.
Unaware of Hong Eun-jo's dilemma, Lee Yeol rushed to the palace to rescue her from the rebellion forces. He urged her to flee, holding her hand, but Hong Eun-jo revealed her resolve with the words, "I can't go." Seeing Hong Eun-jo's determined expression, Lee Yeol's eyes were filled with sorrow.
As the rebellion forces aiming to enthrone Lee Yeol emerge, a poignant conflict is anticipated between Hong Eun-jo, who seeks a new world, and Lee Yeol, who must uphold the royal order. As they face an impending crisis, the choices Hong Eun-jo and Lee Yeol make at this crossroads are eagerly awaited.
The story of Nam Ji-hyun and Moon Sang-min, caught in the whirlwind of unavoidable fate, continues in the 12th episode of KBS 2TV's weekend mini-series 'Beloved Bandit,' airing on the 8th at 9:20 PM.
Reporter: Lim Chae-ryung, TenAsia syjj426@tenasia.co.kr