Introduction
When the Phone Rings has a vibe of watching a classic K-drama: old school vibe makjang (melodrama), logic thrown out the window, tropes galore, and controversial final episode, yet it’s addictive and entertaining. Here are some details on the drama, characters, and spoilers of many questions and the turn of events. Spoilers will be in a Q & A form with spoiler tags, so you can pick and choose which spoilers you want to reveal.
Drama Info
Drama title: When the Phone Rings (Native title: 지금 거신 전화는 ).
Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Romance, Drama
Aired: Nov 22, 2024 - Jan 4, 2025
Episodes: 12 | Duration: 1 hr. 10 min.
Adapted from the web novel “The Number You Have Dialed" ( 지금 거신 전화는 ) by Geon Eomul Nyeo ( 건어물녀 ).
You can read the English-translated novel on Moonlight Novels (completed)
Director: Park Sang Woo ( 박상우 )
Screenwriter: Kim Ji Woon ( 김지운 )
Where to watch: Netflix
Trailer:
Synopsis
Baek Sa Eon, the youngest presidential spokesman in Korea, comes from a prestigious political family. His background includes roles as a war correspondent, hostage negotiator, and news anchor. Three years ago, he married Hong Hui Ju, a mute sign language interpreter and the adopted second daughter of a newspaper proprietor. Their marriage, based on convenience, has been distant and cold. However, when Hui Ju is kidnapped, their lives and relationships are changed. (MyDramaList)
Characters
Main Characters
Yoo Yeon Seok ( 유연석 ) as Baek Sa Eon
As the youngest presidential spokesperson, Baek Sa Eon had an unusual background as a war correspondent, a hostage negotiation expert, and a public broadcast anchor. Baek Sa Eon had an unprecedented record of not having a single controversy due to his clean image and self-composure. A young political elite from a prestigious political family is the ruling party’s current leader and the only son of a strong next presidential candidate.
He has a ‘quiet’ wife, Hong Hui Ju, the second daughter of the owner of Cheongwoon Ilbo, Korea’s largest media outlet.
Chae Soo Bin ( 채수빈 ) as Hong Hui Ju (formerly Na Hui Ju)
The second daughter of Korea’s top media owner, the only daughter-in-law of the next presidential candidate, and the wife of the spokesperson for the Presidential Office.
She is a stepchild brought in by her mother, a former club singer, and Baek S Eon’s business wife is her true identity.
As a sign language interpreter with outstanding skills, she is sent to courts, broadcasting stations, etc.
Heo Nam Jun ( 허남준 ) as Ji Sang U
Psychiatry specialist and Hui Ju’s college senior. Hui Ju and Ji Sang U met at the sign language club in college and used to volunteer for sign language together.
As a mystery fan with a quirky and curious personality, Sang U is also a content creator with 200,000 subscribers. His main topics are mysteries and unsolved cases. But an experience he had when he was small had a big influence on him. His recent appearance as a panelist on a program that deals with crime resurfaces the incident that had been buried in the back of his memory.
Jang Gyu Ri as Na Yu Ri
Supporting Characters
Baek Sa Eon’s Family
Hong Hui Ju’s Family
People at the Presidential Office
Miscellanous
Original Soundtrack
Q & A Spoilers
Overall Spoilers
Is it a happy ending?
Yes
Detailed ending (what happened to the key characters)
Baek Sa Eon disappeared for several months because he felt bad that his biological father killed Hong Hui Ju’s little brother (the accident was intentional). Hong Hui Ju kept looking for him and found him in a war-torn country Argan. They got married again privately. Sang U and Yu Ri became a couple. Baek Eui Yong apologized to the public on behalf of his family and didn’t win the presidential election. Sim Gyu Jin was convicted of killing her father-in-law, kidnapping her daughter-in-law, and other charges, and she requested the death penalty. The real Baek Sa Eon is dead, shot by the police. Hong In A apologized to her stepsister. Park Do Jae, after being released from prison, becomes Baek Sa Eon’s assistant.
Who is/are the villain(s)?
The real Baek Sa Eon, Baek Sa Eon’s mother, and Park Do Jae.
Character Spoilers
Who is Baek Sa Eon?
The now Baek Sa Eon is Baek Jang Ho’s illegitimate son. The grandfather/father drowned his grandson, the real Baek Sa Eon, and replaced the real Baek Sa Eon with his own son.
Why did he do that? (related to the above question)
The real Baek Sa Eon is a psychopath. When he was a child he killed animals and then kids. Baek Jang Ho knew it so he tried to kill Baek Sa Eon to protect his political career and reputation.
Is Hong Hui Ju mute?
She has selective mutism, an anxiety disorder that prevents people from speaking in certain situations, even though they are otherwise able to speak.
Why is she mute?
When she was small she was involved in an auto accident that caused Hong In Na to become deaf and her little brother died. Hong Hui Ju’s mother forced her daughter not to speak, for fear that they would be kicked out by Hong Il Gyeong.
When did Baek Sa Eon find out that Hong Hui Ju talks?
Episode 4. He saw the police video with Hong Hui Ju screaming asking the police to stop the car because she was going to throw up.
When did Hong Hui Ju start talking to Baek Sa Eon?
Episode 7. After he saved her after falling off the cliff.
Romance Spoilers (Wedding and Marriage)
Any love triangle or obsessed SML/SFL?
Nope.
Any breakup or separation?
Yes. Baek Sa Eon disappeared for several months because the real Baek Sa Eon whispered something to him.
Any side couple?
Yes. Sang U and Yu Ri.
Why is Baek Sa Eon and Hong Hui Ju’s marriage a secret?
The Baek and the Hong families arranged a business marriage between Baek Sa Eon and Hong In Na, but before the wedding, Hong In Na ran off. Hong Hui Ju became the stand-in-bride. She only agreed because he promised to pay for the medical care of her father. The public only knows that Baek Sa Eon married Hong In Na.
Why did she run off? (related to the above spoiler)
She got a mysterious package with DNA results that Baek Sa Eon is not the real child of Baek Eui Yong and his wife.
What are Baek Sa Eon’s feelings towards Hong Hui Ju during their 3 years of marriage?
He secretly loves her but held back his feelings. They met 20 years ago when they were little. She healed his insomnia and other issues. He has liked and cared for her since then.
What are Hong Hui Ju’s feelings towards Baek Sa Eon during their 3 years of marriage?
Similar answer as above. He comforted her when she was bullied when little. She has liked him since then. Sadly, they didn’t communicate their feelings. She became suffocated, felt imprisoned, and wanted out.
Why was Baek Sa Eon cold to Hong Hui Ju during their 3 years of marriage?
He believed she wanted nothing to do with him, and planned all along to divorce her later, so he refrained from any affection and attachment from both sides.
When did they actually get together?
They confessed their love for each other in Episode 7. They got married again in the final episode.
Event Spoilers
Who kidnapped Hong Hui Ju?
The real Baek Sa Eon
Who set the bomb at the presidential office?
Park Do Jae
Why did the person do that (related to the above spoiler)
Park Do Jae’s twin was killed by the real Baek Sa Eon when little. Of course, Park Do Jae thought that the now Baek Sa Eon was the one who killed his twin brother.
Who pushed Hong Hui Ju?
Park Do Jae
What did the kidnapper tell Baek Sa Eon?
Baek Sa Eon’s biological father and the kidnapper’s grandfather orchestrated the past auto accident that made Hong In A deaf, Hui Ju forcedly mute, and killed their little brother.
Conclusion
I hope that the information I collected can help any reader to understand the plot, or pick up missing pieces when watching it for the first time or rewatching it.
