Love and Healing: Lee Jae-wook and Choi Sung-eun's Journey Through Trauma in 'Last Summer'

Lee Jae-wook and Choi Sung-eun's love grows stronger as they navigate through difficult times.

In the 10th episode of KBS 2TV's weekend mini-series 'Last Summer,' aired on the 30th of last month, Baek Do-ha (played by Lee Jae-wook) and Song Ha-kyung (played by Choi Sung-eun) confront their trauma related to Baek Do-young (also played by Lee Jae-wook). The series started with a 2.7% viewership rating on the 1st of last month, which was its peak, but later hit a low of 1.5% on the 29th.

Do-ha confesses to Ha-kyung that he brought Do-young back, leaving her in shock. As their serious conversation unfolds, Do-ha's parents, Baek Ki-ho (played by Choi Byung-mo) and Nam Hye-min (played by Woo Hyun-joo), make an appearance, capturing attention.

The four gather for the first time in a while due to Do-young. Hye-min reveals that Do-ha's extended stay in the U.S. was to bring Do-young back to Korea. Do-young is laid to rest in Korea, and the family, along with Ha-kyung, Oh Seung-taek (played by Ahn Dong-goo), and Lee Seul (played by Jung Bo-min), gather to pay their respects.

However, after Do-young's funeral, Do-ha struggles with guilt and exhaustion. Even after returning to Korea, he relies on sleeping pills and eventually collapses, evoking sympathy from viewers.

Ha-kyung takes the distressed Do-ha to a mountain they once visited with Do-young. On their way, they reminisce about memories with Do-young and gradually open up about their feelings. Like Ha-kyung, Do-ha also harbors guilt towards his brother and admits to seeing visions of Do-young due to this guilt.

Ha-kyung empathizes deeply with Do-ha's struggles and offers warm comfort. For the first time, they open up to each other, and on the train ride home, they fall asleep side by side, relaxed. During this moment, Do-young's narration of a postcard he sent to Ha-kyung reveals his true feelings, showing that he cherished and loved his brother Do-ha more than his unrequited love for Ha-kyung, leaving viewers deeply moved.

Lee So-jung, TenAsia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr