On the episode aired on the 20th, the 'Detective 24 Hours' segment shared a poignant story of a man seeking to reunite with his stepmother, whom he parted ways with 27 years ago. The client recounted a childhood marred by fear due to his father's harsh punishments, which he initially blamed on his stepmother. However, he later realized that she was the one who silently supported him.
When the client severely injured his hand in a cutter accident during his freshman year of high school, his stepmother pleaded with the doctor, saying, "Please save my child's fingers." This incident opened the client's heart, leading him to focus on his studies and eventually attend college. On the day he left for another city, his stepmother, despite her discomfort, ran to give him her savings, which moved him to tears. However, during his first leave from military service, he learned from his father that his stepmother had disappeared with 20 million won, leaving him devastated.
Years later, the stepmother reached out, but the client, burdened by a debt of 100 million won, could only ask for help. She sent him 100,000 won without hesitation, but he couldn't contact her again due to his financial situation. He lamented, "From her perspective, I became someone who took advantage of her." This incident severed their contact completely. Determined to become a son his stepmother could be proud of, he worked tirelessly and cleared his debts in three years.
Now a construction site manager with a happy family, he expressed his longing for his stepmother, especially as he received love from his mother-in-law. The only clue to finding her was a vague memory of his uncle farming loaches in a neighborhood. The Baekho Detective Team began their search but faced unexpected challenges, prompting Yoo In-na to comment, "This is a first." The audience is eager to see if the detectives can reunite the client with his stepmother after 27 years.
Meanwhile, the 'Case Notebook' segment exposed the shocking reality of infidelity chat rooms. A client discovered a post bragging about an affair in an apartment parking lot, complete with photos, which turned out to be his own apartment. This revelation led to suspicions about his wife's absences during weekend dramas.
When questioned, his wife claimed she was buying beer, but the post detailed how the affair partner provided beer as an alibi. The detective team attempted to infiltrate the infidelity chat room, which required rigorous verification, including face, wedding, and baby photos. Defconn criticized the participants for abandoning their last shred of guilt for pleasure, while Kim Poong remarked on the seriousness of their commitment to infidelity. Baekho Detective Team leader Kim Jae-hwan revealed that detectives have infiltrated these chat rooms and even participate in gatherings, adding to the shock. Kim Poong warned of the ensuing paranoia among chat room members after the broadcast.
The client's wife eventually appeared, revealing her secret life. She had been in a relationship with a specific man from the chat room for a year while secretly meeting eight other men. Despite this, she shamelessly blamed her husband for her infidelity, leading him to choose divorce. Yoo In-na expressed her anger, questioning how many husbands she had, while Jung Geun-woo shared his concerns as a father about the world his children would face, emphasizing the importance of proper education.
Jung Se-yoon, TenAsia Reporter yoon@tenasia.co.kr