Recap Korean Drama "Curtain Call (2022)" Episode 1-2

As our drama opens, we’re introduced to JA GEUM-SOON (played in her youth in a double role by Ha Ji-won) as she and her husband (similarly played by our leading man Kang Haneul) are fleeing from North Korea during the Korean War. As the ships approach, Geum-soon and her husband, holding their infant, rush to board as the desperate mass of people pile up.

After pushing their way through the crowd and climbing aboard the ship, a woman’s child falls back down into the water. Geum-soon’s husband heroically helps the child reconnect with his mother, but as a result is unable to get back to Geum-soon as the weight of the ropes snaps. Geum-soon reaches out to her husband and child as they fall back down onto the North Korean soil and the ship pulls away. This whole segment was absolutely stunning to watch — heartbreaking and poignant.

Present day, we’re re-introduced to an older Geum-soon (now played by Go Du-shim) as she has a panic attack, calling out for her long-lost son during a CT scan. It is revealed that she has cancer and only has three months to live (thanks Ahn Nae-sang cameo). During her lifetime in South Korea, she has built up a conglomerate called Nakwon (which means “paradise”), and the newly opened hotel is revered as the highest ranked hotel chain in South Korea.

Geum-soon’s aid, SECRETARY JUNG SANG-CHEOL (Sung Dong-il) realizes that Geum-soon’s dearest wish before she passes is to see her lost grandson again. Back in 2002, we see a flashback of Geum-soon reunited with her son and grandson for the first time. Her son (cameo by Kim Young-min) recounts how his father was faithful to her till his last breath, and while he seems to have a hard time reconciling this meeting, his little boy RI MOON-SUNG is adorable and loving. Although grandmother and grandson make plans to meet again, they’re thwarted and we later learn her son died.

In an effort to find the missing grandson these twenty years later, Secretary Jung hires an investigator to search for him — only for them to find out that he has become wrapped up in a criminal syndicate, trafficking drugs to and from China and North Korea. We see present-day Moon-sung (Noh Sang-hyun) in action, and learn he’s also a contract killer who easily commits other heinous acts.

Secretary Jung understands that Geum-soon would be crushed to find out who her grandson has grown to be, so in searching, he comes across struggling stage actor YOO JAE-HEON (Kang Haneul). In his current play, Jae-heon’s role is a North Korean soldier who has been stranded in South Korea. He is a gifted actor, but is nowhere near fulfilled where he is currently at. We see him scrambling at this part-time jobs just to make ends meet, and attending casting calls, hoping for a big break.

During Jae-heon’s performance, Secretary Jung takes note of how good his North Korean accent is, and believes that he might just be a good enough actor to play the part of Geum-soon’s long-lost grandson. He pitches his offer to Jae-heon and arranges to pay him generously. Even with the money and a careful review of what’s at stake, it doesn’t look like Jae-heon will agree.

This brings us to Geum-soon’s current heirs, her three grandchildren who are convening for a shareholder meeting for Nakwon Hotel. Her youngest grandchild PARK SE-YEON (Ha Ji-won), works faithfully for the hotel and strives to keep her grandmother’s legacy strong as time goes on. The two have a tender bond, and seem to be very much alike.

On the other hand, Se-yeon’s eldest brother, PARK SE-JOON (Ji Seung-hyun)(ah, so glad to have him in this cast!), is stuck in a purely business mindset regarding the hotel’s future. He has some pent up resentment towards the family business, and is looking to sell the hotel. Se-yeon’s other brother, PARK SE-GYU (Choi Dae-hoon), is the outlier as he seemingly doesn’t care what happens to the hotel either way. He portrays a very colorful and self-centered character, but this may change as his story unravels. Although he’s close to Se-yeon, he also doesn’t want to be caught in the family politics.

We see a bit more of Se-yeon than her siblings this week, and learn she has worked her way up from the bottom to become the general manager of the hotel — despite being one of the largest shareholders. In fact, when we first meet Se-yeon, she’s putting the finishing touches on the hotel’s grand opening which is clearly a labor of love.

Here we meet an important character from her past. When the hotel’s ridiculously expensive penthouse gets immediately booked, Se-yeon is surprised to learn that it’s BAE DONG-JE (Kwon Sang-woo) who’s staying there. As a favor to her. Because they were once engaged, and maybe he still has a thing for her? Se-yeon doesn’t pay him much mind, and she seems much more worried about the potential sale of the hotel than his presence there.

Meanwhile, Jae-heon is reconsidering the offer from Secretary Jung. After some internal debate, he decides to accept the role. He tells Secretary Jung that making one person happy through his performance is his real goal as an actor.

Pushing forward with the deal, we see Secretary Jung set up their passports and other documentation. Jae-heon pulls his friend SEO YOON-HEE (Jung Ji-so) into the “play” to act as his young wife, and together the two study their parts and get in character. After all the preparation is complete, Secretary Jung explains to Geum-soon that he has found her “grandson” and that he is bringing him into South Korea from China to meet with her.

The drama has done a superb job of laying the groundwork for these two worlds to collide, and the final scene of this week’s episodes left us with Geum-soon and her entire family awaiting the arrival of her grandson. She holds a solemn but relieved look in her eyes as she looks up at Jae-heon.

The debut week of Curtain Call was phenomenal! I’m already hooked to these characters and hungry to learn about their pasts — especially Se-joon, and why he has such disdain towards his family and the hotel. Ha Ji-won shines as Se-yeon and brings a powerful presence every time she’s on screen, as does Kang Haneul, who’s a force to be reckoned with (as usual!).

In addition to the top notch acting from this great cast, these premiere episodes were already enough for me to know that I love Geum-soon and Secretary Jung’s relationship. He is extremely loyal and cares so much for her, and the show is already hinting at the important question of whether a well-meant lie really is for the better.

I’m super excited to see where this show goes as it progresses. After a strong introduction to our characters – and all of them poised to meet under complicated circumstances — the story is teetering perfectly on the tightrope of joy and disaster.