The Story
When The Phone Rings is drama that blends thriller and romance, all wrapped in a web of mystery that keeps you hooked from start to finish. At the heart of the story are Baek Sa Eon and Hong Hee Joo, a couple bound together by their families’ political ambitions rather than love. Baek Sa Eon, a respected journalist and presidential spokesperson, is used to navigating the pressures of politics and public life, while Hong Hee Joo, a sign language interpreter with selective mutism, lives a more private yet equally complex life.
The drama begins when Sa Eon receives a strange call after a high-profile national press conference. Sa Eon is confronted with the horrifying news that his wife has been kidnapped. Thinking that the phone call was a hoax, he dismisses all of the kidnapper’s demands and tells him to call back when there is already a corpse. His words struck deeply and hurtfully for his wife who can hear the phone conversation while being held at knifepoint.
Eventually, the call, which initially appears to be a random blackmail scheme, gradually becomes more ominous as the caller begins to show knowledge of intimate details about the couple's lives, leaving Sa Eon shaken and desperate to uncover the truth. As Sa Eon tries to unravel the identity and motives of the mysterious caller, we discover that it was his wife, Hong Hee Joo, who was the one blackmailing him from the other line. The tension escalates with Baek Sa Eon’s relentless attempts to uncover the truth, all the while struggling to keep his own dark secrets hidden.
A Very Good First Impression
The first two episodes set the stage for a gripping story that is hard to look away from. From the very beginning, the show establishes tension between the main characters, Baek Sa Eon and Hong Hee Joo. Since the show opens when our characters have already been married for three years, the viewers are basically dropping in at the height of events. It instantly engages the viewers with an intriguing premise: Why is Sa Eon keeping the identity of his wife secret from the public? Who was the kidnapper, and how did Hee Joo manage to escape? How did they end up in this arranged marriage after all?
It is a given that there are quite a few backstories for the viewers to unpack and a lot of questions to find answers for. And this was where the clever narration, good editing, and brilliant acting came in.
One scene from the first episode particularly stood out for me - the part when Sa Eon received the call in the middle of a party. The actor playing Baek Sa Eon, Yoo Yeon Seok, did an amazing job portraying anxiety and anger as he listens to the blackmailer reveal how much personal detail he knew about their lives. I was hanging on to every word that was being said in that phone conversation because I felt like I was finally understanding how Sa Eon ended up marrying Hee Joo in place of her sister who disappeared before the wedding. The intrigue is expertly crafted, with each new piece of information raising more questions than answers - where is Hee Joo’s sister and why did she not marry Sa Eon?
The pacing was also spot on, with just the right amount of tension building in each scene and letting out slowly the details to help the audience piece together the story. It does not give a lengthy flashback to resolve all confusion; instead, it teases by giving away subtle details that hint at much deeper secrets. It gives its viewers something to think about and then surprises with big reveals.
What makes the first two episodes really stand out, though, are the cliffhangers. The ending scenes of those episodes left me wanting to see more. Episode one leaves its viewers with the biggest plot twist in which it reveals that Hee Joo got hold of the kidnapper's phone and has become Sa Eon’s blackmailer. And as episode two hints at the possibility that there must be some attraction and even shared affection between Sa Eon and Hee Joo, it ends with a flashback showing how Sa Eon made a deal with Hee Joo's sister to switch the bride—that he intentionally and purposely chose Hee Joo to marry.
The Magic of a Great On-Screen Romance
The creators of the show were very generous in giving the audience the romance most of us probably came in to watch - from their first proper kiss to the deeply intimate bed scene, every moment between Sa Eon and Hee Joo felt earned, authentic, and beautifully crafted. Yoo Yeon Seok and Chae Soo Bin brought the characters to life in a way that made their love story feel incredibly convincing, layered, and deeply satisfying to watch. It’s a testament to their acting skill and the undeniable chemistry they share on screen.
From their very first interactions, it’s clear that Sa Eon and Hee Joo’s connection goes far beyond the script. The palpable tension between them, whether they’re cold and distant or slowly letting their guard down, makes their romance feel so real and intimate that it almost feels like I was intruding on their private moments.
And even in the early stages, when they’re supposed to be merely going through the motions of a loveless marriage, their chemistry is simply undeniable. It’s in the lingering glances, the awkward silences, and the slightest touches that convey so much unspoken attraction. It’s a delicate balance that requires both exceptional acting and a natural connection between the actors.
One of the standout moments that perfectly encapsulates their chemistry is the wedding scene. On paper, it’s a moment meant to highlight the cold, contractual nature of their marriage. Sa Eon is meant to come across as cruel, and Hee Joo, a victim in the arrangement. But in a beautiful twist, the small gesture of Sa Eon placing his tuxedo jacket around Hee Joo to cover her, and the way he kneels to place a ring on her finger, inject an unexpected tenderness into the scene. Instead of solidifying a loveless marriage, it turns into a strangely intimate and romantic moment. The act of Sa Eon binding Hee Joo to him with a ring becomes a metaphor for the emotional bond they are quietly forming, making the scene feel both sweet and deeply confusing—because it’s not what the story’s initial setup promised.
The beauty of their romance isn’t just in the sweet, tender moments. It’s in the undeniable sexual tension that simmers beneath the surface. A perfect example of this is the intense scene in the second episode when Sa Eon confronts Hee Joo about her kidnapping. The way he carefully unravels the ribbons of her dress to check her injuries is charged with an energy that goes beyond concern - it’s raw, intimate, and almost painfully intense.
Then there's the iconic scene at the dining table. Sa Eon’s struggle to maintain control as he resists the urge to lift Hee Joo’s skirt to check for marks on her thigh is a masterclass in building tension. The impact of this chemistry doesn’t stop at the screen. The scene was so good that it was chosen to be used as a backdrop during the MBC Drama Awards when the actors were being recognized for their performances.
This show delivered romance that shows the beauty of their connection by how restrained it is, which makes every moment between them feel significant. Sa Eon, despite his aloof demeanor, is constantly protective of Hee Joo. We can see it in the small things - the sigh of relief when he realizes she’s safe, his attention to her needs, the care he takes to shield her from unnecessary worry, the effort to learn her language. These gestures, so small yet profound, reveal the depth of his feelings for her, even if they’re not immediately apparent.
The situation the characters find themselves in - a forced marriage, complex family ties, and dangerous circumstances - is far from what most people will ever experience, yet it’s the way Sa Eon and Hee Joo’s emotions are fleshed out that makes the romance resonate. There’s a rawness in every kiss they share, whether it’s in reality or within a dream sequence. We can feel the passion, the desire, and even the ache in their longing, especially during times of uncertainty and separation.
My favorite, and perhaps one of the most powerful moments in the entire series, is the warzone confrontation between Sa Eon and Hee Joo. In this scene, Hee Joo, fully aware of how much she’s disrupting Sa Eon’s plans, tells him to let everything fall apart because she’s going to ruin it all. Sa Eon’s response with a confession - that holding back from touching her is his punishment - cuts through the chaos and noise of the world around them. The weight of guilt, regret, and longing in that moment is so intense that it’s hard not to be completely absorbed by it. Then, when Hee Joo pulls him closer for that kiss, it’s the culmination of all the tension, all the emotions they’ve been harboring. It was, without a doubt, the moment we were all waiting for, and it lived up to every expectation.
A K-Drama That Masterfully Delivered All The Tropes
The storyline of When The Phone Rings is a masterful blend of K-drama tropes, and one of the most prominent ones is the classic dynamic between a rich, powerful, and cold male lead, Baek Sa Eon, and a damsel-in-distress female character, Hong Hee Joo. This familiar pairing sets the stage for a traditional yet captivating narrative. At the heart of their relationship is a contract, which becomes a pivotal element in driving the plot forward.
Hee Joo is forced into a marriage with Sa Eon as collateral to solidify ties between two powerful families. Her life becomes a series of compromises, where she’s little more than a pawn in a game of power and influence. However, as the story progresses, Hee Joo, unable to live with her circumstances, resorts to pretending to be the kidnapper in a desperate attempt to escape the binding nature of this marriage contract. The conditions, despite being clear, become fluid as the characters begin to emotionally evolve.
As Sa Eon and Hee Joo’s bond transforms from one of inconvenience and resentment to mutual love, the contract changes shape to reflect their newfound emotional reality. This shift culminates in Sa Eon’s revelation in the final episode, where he admits he had to break one of the contract’s original stipulations so that they could divorce and remarry under a new identity—suggesting a new start, free from secrets and traumas of the past.
Another powerful trope at work in the series is the "enemies to lovers" storyline. From the very beginning, Hee Joo is essentially married to a man who views her as little more than a hostage, a piece in the larger game between two families. Her bitterness and desire for divorce are entirely understandable. At the start, it’s clear that she is deeply unhappy in the relationship, and the idea of pretending to be a kidnapper just to get out of the marriage seems like a logical step. It’s an over-the-top solution, but one that resonates emotionally because of how trapped she feels.
Despite the seemingly antagonistic nature of their marriage, there’s a key element that softens the harshness of their dynamic: the lack of actual hatred between the two. Even when Hee Joo screams in frustration at Sa Eon’s indifference to her well-being, her anger is tinged with hurt rather than pure resentment. The fact that she cares enough to be hurt suggests that there is an underlying connection between them—one that goes beyond simple hatred. Even when they appear to be in a loveless marriage, there are subtle, almost imperceptible moments that hint at something deeper. The slow build-up of their relationship, mixed with the childhood connection trope, makes their love story feel earned rather than forced.
While this show is loaded with staple clichés of a K-drama, they’re executed in such a way that viewers remain engaged, rooting for Sa Eon and Hee Joo to find their way toward a love that transcends the past and all the secrets. The tropes, woven together with emotional growth and the promise of redemption, actually make a great story. This is proof that even predictable plot elements can have a profound impact when done right.
The Thriller Behind the Romance
In essence, the story had all the makings of a stunning thriller, but the romance just took center stage in a way that diluted the darker, more complex elements of the plot. The narrative could have been so much more gripping if it had fully embraced its thriller potential. I mean, this is, after all, a story with a murderous psychopath on the loose.
The mystery surrounding Hee Joo's kidnapping, for instance, was a great hook. Who was behind it? The looming suspicion and the complex layers of misdirection would have been fascinating to explore in depth, especially as the second leads, who were investigating the disappearance of the missing orphans, unraveled its connections to Sa Eon’s family secrets.
The reveal that Sa Eon wasn’t even the real Sa Eon, but a replacement for the mentally disturbed grandson of the Baek family, was a brilliant twist. Instead of being sidelined, the unmasking of the actual Sa Eon, the deranged Baek family heir, would have been even more unsettling if the story had built a stronger sense of fear and mystery around this character. Eventually, the twisted family dynamics and dark secrets really started to pile on as it’s eventually revealed that Sa Eon (the main character) is actually the illegitimate child of Chairman Baek. An accident had to be staged to keep the Baek family's darkest secrets hidden as it ultimately caused the tragic death of Hee Joo’s brother and led to Hee Joo having to pretend to be mute from then on.
The twists were well-crafted into the plot, and they kept the viewers on edge until the final episodes. I, for one, was guessing all along but couldn’t have imagined the actual culprits until the last three episodes when everything was finally revealed. The secrets, the guilt, and the tragic, weighty decisions that Hee Joo and Sa Eon had to carry could have made for a far more engrossing psychological thriller if it weren’t too overshadowed by the romance.
Final Thoughts
As someone who has seen close to a hundred Korean dramas, I came to a point when I started to lose interest so easily (for random reasons such as not liking a character or just plain boredom with the story). Sometimes it just feels like I have seen it all and there is really nothing that would surprise me anymore. And as much as I also enjoy some newer dramas with big productions and really well-thought-out stories, I felt like most dramas have lost the magic on me (not all but most).
Not until I began watching When The Phone Rings did I become invested in a Korean drama again. The story captivated me, and I was irresistibly drawn to the wonderful chemistry between the main leads. Needless to say, this K-drama cast its spell on me, and it still hasn't worn off. The hype created around it on various social media definitely does not help me let go of this series or our main characters altogether either. And despite some backlash and negativity about the last episode - the complaints about the plot holes, issues on the use of sign language, Hee Joo’s attire in the middle of a warzone, and mishaps on fictional country names - I have truly enjoyed this show. Perhaps, it even now holds a spot among my favorite Korean dramas of all time.
I have to say though that this may not be everyone’s cup of tea. At its core, When The Phone Rings taps into the comforting, escapist nature of K-dramas. But while it can be cringey and clichéd at times, I believe that it delivered exactly what its audience was looking for - a show that delivers the emotions and drama they crave without taking itself too seriously. It has woven the tropes well into the story in order to create the thrills and romance that gave us a K-drama we can all still gush about long after the final credits rolled.
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