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Our Unwritten Seoul’s Heartwarming Ending Explained

BBG News

In the K-drama series titled “Our Unwritten Seoul,” despite its initial unusual twist involving twin swaps, it manages to maintain a realistic and down-to-earth atmosphere throughout its 12 episodes. From the get-go, it’s evident that the story will unfold in an authentic manner. The character Mi-ji, portrayed by Park Bo-young from “Melo Movie,” considers swapping places with her identical twin sister, Mi-rae (also played by Park), who is so overwhelmed at work that she contemplates jumping out of a third-story window to escape the toxic environment. This isn’t about comedic shenanigans; it’s a serious and poignant situation.

In the everyday story penned by writer Lee Kang, an emotionally charged setup serves as a launchpad to delve into profound, intricate, and resonant themes such as adapting to life with disability, dealing with workplace mistreatment, and overcoming deep-seated grief. The Netflix series concluded its run on June 29, marking the end of one of the most tenderly impactful Korean dramas from 2025. Here’s a look at the poignant finale of Our Unwritten Seoul…

Mi-ji finally leaves her room

As a teenager, Mi-ji aspired to channel her athletic abilities to chart a unique life course for herself, hoping it would earn her the long-desired recognition from her mother, Kim Ok-hui (Jang Young-nam from “Love Next Door”), who appeared to bestow that attention solely on Mi-rae.

In the unfortunate turn of events when my track career was suddenly halted due to an ankle injury, I plunged into a profound depression. It was my dear friend Mi-rae who persisted in attending classes for me, ensuring I graduated from high school. For three long years, I became confined to my room, battling severe agoraphobia. However, it took the fall and injury of our beloved grandmother, which occurred in our family home, for me to muster the courage to break free. With determination burning within, I braved the miles on foot to seek help for my grandma, a journey that ultimately brought me back to life.

In the story “Our Unwritten Seoul”, which takes place some time later, Mi-ji finds herself trapped in a sense of stagnation, even though she moves around and carries out daily activities such as visiting her grandmother at the nursing home, taking up temporary jobs, or socializing with neighbors. However, fear continues to hold her back, preventing her from making bold moves. She chooses to live in her small-town home because it offers a sense of security. In essence, she’s been confined not just to one room but also to the mental boundaries she has set for herself. Her decision to exchange places with Mi-rae arises from sisterly affection yet also marks the first time in years that she steps out of her comfort zone.

In the closing stages of Our Unwritten Seoul, Mi-ji and Mi-rae have swapped roles previously. However, Mi-ji remains in Seoul and is now questioning what her genuine life aspirations are. Fortunately, she has someone by her side providing encouragement…

Mi-ji and Ho-su choose to stay by each other’s side

For quite some time now, Mi-ji and Lee Ho-su have shared a deep affection that began during their high school years. Many believed it was the studious pair, Mi-rae and Ho-su, who found a connection, but in truth, it was the contrasting duo of Mi-ji and Ho-su. Mi-ji played a pivotal role in drawing out the shy, introverted side of Ho-su, who, despite his peers’ unawareness, was struggling to adapt to life following the car accident that took his father. Unbeknownst to their classmates, Ho-su was learning to cope with the disabilities he acquired as a result. Mi-ji and Ho-su held significant importance in each other’s lives, but due to a sequence of misunderstandings, they never grasped that their affection was reciprocal. Eventually, Ho-su ventured off to Seoul for higher education and a career as an accomplished lawyer, while Mi-ji remained in their hometown.

As a film enthusiast, I found myself captivated by the tale of two women – Mi-ji and Ho-su. Years after their initial encounter, Mi-ji returns to Seoul, and it’s Ho-su who first discerns the extraordinary swap between Mi-ji and Mi-rae. Even before this truth is unveiled, Ho-su forms a deep bond with Mi-ji, becoming her most trusted ally.

With time, Mi-ji finally confesses her true identity, and both women express their heartfelt feelings for each other. For a while, their relationship blossoms beautifully. However, as the story unfolds, Ho-su begins to grapple with his worsening hearing loss. Convinced that he may one day become a burden to Mi-ji, he makes the difficult decision to end their relationship.

Ho-su’s struggles with depending on loved ones didn’t arise when he met Mi-ji, but rather stemmed from his past experiences. Following the demise of his biological parents, Ho-su was brought up by his stepmother, Yeom Bun-hong (Kim Sun-young from “Crash Landing On You”), and he never fully confronted his survivor’s guilt. His guilt is intensified by the fact that the car accident that claimed his father’s life also left Ho-su with impairments that necessitate special accommodations.

When Bun-hong learns from the doctor that Ho-su has an extra hearing issue, she challenges her son for not disclosing this earlier. Upon his admission that he thought Bun-hong might resent having to care for him, Bun-hong clarifies the situation. Since Ho-su’s father passed away, it was he who had been a source of strength and motivation for her. Bun-hong genuinely cares for Ho-su, and caring for someone involves standing by their side during triumphs and hardships alike.

Through their talk, Ho-su comes to understand that he desires Mi-ji’s presence beside him. At the same time, Ho-su’s earlier choice to distance Mi-ji causes Mi-ji to ponder how her loved ones felt when she withdrew during her depression. Eventually, they reconcile and vow their devotion to each other. They decide that no matter what, they want to stand together.

Mi-rae brings her company to justice

Similar to Mi-ji, Mi-rae has faced challenges as an adult. She’s long been burdened by the expectation of being her twin’s intellectual and professional superior, often sacrificing personal wellbeing for this image. Contrary to the assumption that it comes naturally to her, she strives tirelessly for every achievement. Despite multiple unsuccessful attempts at passing the civil service exam, Mi-rae eventually renounces this path and secures a stable position at a state-owned financial management company known as KFMC.

Mi-rae seems to struggle with her life, yet she manages to persevere. However, one evening, a married supervisor makes an inappropriate advance, which Mi-rae tries to brush off quietly. Unfortunately, the supervisor spreads rumors about her alleged promiscuity, fueling office gossip and bullying. Encouraged by her resilient coworker Kim Su-yeon (Park Ye-young), who has also experienced workplace harassment, Mi-ji decides to formally report the incident. Later, Su-yeon departs, leaving Mi-rae feeling particularly isolated.

In my situation, I gratefully accept Mi-ji’s proposal to trade roles for a while, reminiscent of our youthful escapades. This swap leads me to embark on a temporary position at a strawberry farm, which Mi-ji had arranged earlier – under the guidance of the prosperous businessman Han Se-jin (Ryu Kyung-soo). Although he inherited the farm from his grandfather, Se-jin is clueless about farming. With my assistance, we manage to kickstart the farm and, in the process, mend some lingering wounds from our past.

With Se-jin’s encouragement, Mirae feels empowered to go back to Seoul and confront the harmful management she had previously departed from. Not only does Mirae refile her harassment complaint, but she also employs evidence compiled by Tae-i (Hong Sung-won) to uncover KFMC’s shady arrangement with a construction firm. Tae-i is Su-yeon’s younger brother and a current employee at the company, driven by his desire to seek justice for his sister who, after being tormented out of KFMC, now isolates herself in her room.

Although the ending seems a bit abrupt, considering Mi-rae’s prolonged struggles at work, justice is served in her case. The harasser is dismissed and receives a court-ordered suspension. The department head, who put his corrupt, profit-driven scheme ahead of a safe working environment for his staff, is relocated to an unwanted regional office. Lastly, Su-yeon emerges from her room, bringing her brother great relief.

Kim Ro-sa and Sang-wol’s love story

A significant side story in “Our Unwritten Seoul” revolves around the character of Kim Ro-sa (played by Won Mi-kyung), an elderly woman operating a local eatery within the area that KFMC plans to modernize. Upon Mi-ji taking over from Mi-rae at the company, she is given the mission to persuade Kim Ro-sa into selling her restaurant for their development project. However, after 35 years of managing this establishment, Ro-sa steadfastly declines such an offer.

In Episode 10, it’s revealed that Kim Ro-sa, whom we thought we knew, harbors a significant secret. It turns out that her real name is Sang-wol, and she was raised in an orphanage alongside the actual Kim Ro-sa, with hints of a past romantic relationship between them. Life’s twists and turns separated them, but fate brought them back together when Ro-sa was married with a child. Unfortunately, her husband had been abusive, resulting in their son being born with developmental issues. Moved by this, Sang-wol steps in to help, taking Ro-sa and her son and starting a new life with them.

When Ro-sa’s husband catches back up with them, Ro-sa and Sang-wol kill him in self-defense.

Due to the circumstances surrounding the baby, Sang-wol ends up taking the blame for the murder. Later, when they meet again after Sang-wol’s release from prison, Sang-wol faces difficulties finding employment due to her criminal past as a convicted murderer. Ro-sa persuades Sang-wol to use her name instead. They shared it until Ro-sa’s death from cancer. Before she passed away, Ro-sa admitted her son to a care facility and asked Sang-wol to continue using her name. Legally, Sang-wol ceases to exist and Kim Ro-sa continues to live on.

In her lifetime, Sang-wol, who struggled with dyslexia and had a challenging upbringing that left her unable to read or write, kept a hidden truth close to her heart – a secret she intended to carry to her grave. However, a twist of fate unfolded when a lawyer from the KFMC, assigned to persuade Kim Ro-sa to sell her restaurant, stumbled upon this concealed fact. Instead of revealing the truth, he chose to manipulate it, painting Sang-wol as a murderer and an imposter. It was not in Sang-wol’s favor that she had been using Ro-sa’s name for managing the restaurant, but her transgressions grew more severe when she began claiming credit for Ro-sa’s poetry, which gained acclaim following the genuine Ro-sa’s passing.

Thanks to Mi-ji and Ho-su’s assistance, Sang-wol is now able to share her true life story with Ro-sa. For years, Sang-wol has been utilizing the earnings from Ro-sa’s poetry book sales to establish a college scholarship. Numerous students, among them Lee Ho-su, have profited from this fund. Upon reading the papers left by Ro-sa for Sang-wol, it becomes evident that all of Ro-sa’s possessions rightfully belong to Sang-wol, as stated in an official document.

Reflecting on the heartwarming journey, I found myself inspired by Mi-ji and Ho-su, who motivated Sang-wol to embark on a new adventure: learning to read. As the story unfolded, I marveled at Sang-wol’s progress, culminating in her ability to decipher the profound poetry that Ro-sa penned, expressing her deep affection for none other than Sang-wol herself.

Mi-ji and Mi-rae’s grandmother dies

To Mi-ji, Kang Wol-sun (known as Cha Mi-kyung in “The Potato Lab”) is more than just a grandmother. She was instrumental in raising Mi-ji and her sister Mi-rae after their father’s demise. She recognized resilience in Mi-ji during her three-year isolation. She was the one who empathized with Mi-ji when no one else seemed to understand her. Consequently, when Wol-sun suffers a severe heart attack in the last episode, Mi-ji is inconsolable. Initially, she struggles to accept that her grandmother is dying. However, Wol-sun’s wish for Ok-hui, Mi-ji, and Mi-rae to bring her home is granted.

When Grandmother Wol-sun passes away, Mi-ji is lying beside her asleep. In her dream, Mi-ji’s grandmother seems vibrant and lucid, as she has not been in years since the fall. In this dream state, Wol-sun shares plans for future adventures with Mi-ji, but offers to stay if Mi-ji requires her presence longer. Mi-ji allows her grandmother to depart peacefully.

Mi-ji finds her way forward

Sang-wol proposes to hand over her restaurant to Mi-ji once she retires, but Mi-ji chooses a different professional route. Instead, she enrolls in college to study therapy, perhaps influenced by her personal battles with agoraphobia and depression. At the same time, both Ho-su and Mi-ji are acquiring Korean sign language skills. Ho-su employs this skill to cater to clients who have hearing impairments.

Do Mi-ji and Ho-su end up together?

Indeed, at the end of the series, after a time leap of one year, we discover that Ho-su has purchased an engagement ring for Mi-ji. Yet, when Mi-ji serendipitously stumbles upon it, they both contemplate postponing their marriage until after she completes her graduate studies and receives her first salary. For now, they consider cohabiting, but let’s keep this a secret from our mothers.

Do Mi-rae and Se-jin end up together?

At the close of “Our Unwritten Seoul,” it’s not entirely clear where things stand between Mi-rae and Se-jin. Instead, they continue to function primarily as business associates. Mi-rae manages Se-jin’s grandfather’s strawberry farm, while simultaneously serving as an investor in Mi-rae’s financial advice blog.

In the last episode, Se-jin comes back from his stay in America and straightaway seeks out Mi-rae in Seoul. Mi-rae ditches her arrangements with Mi-ji and Ho-su to join Se-jin at the strawberry farm instead. Though it seems they might be starting a romantic relationship, it remains unclear. The audience is left to decide for themselves.

Does Our Unwritten Seoul have a happy ending?

Indeed, the captivating tale of “Our Unwritten Seoul” concludes on a hopeful note, one that resonates with authenticity. The characters grapple with heartrending challenges, particularly the sorrowful demise of Wol-sun, as they confront life’s inevitable hardships. Yet, the narrative sensitively acknowledges that grief is an ongoing journey and there will be more moments to mourn in days to come.

The protagonist, Mi-ji, however, has triumphantly emerged from her prolonged melancholy, finally ready to pursue her dreams of higher education in psychology. She’s found solace and companionship with her devoted partner, Ho-su, and is surrounded by the unwavering love and support of her family and friends, including her mother, sister, and Sang-wol. No longer shackled by fear, Mi-ji faces an uncertain future with courage and determination.

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2025-07-01 00:08

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