DNA Lover- Episodes 11-12
This week’s episode is all about confronting the painful truth, and boy, does it pack a punch. With the revelation that Kang-hoon is So-jin’s true DNA match, all the lies, secrets, and forgotten memories start bubbling to the surface. But what’s a girl to do when her heart is set on someone who just isn’t in her DNA?
Last week, we got the bombshell: Kang-hoon, not Yeon-woo, is So-jin’s genetically perfect match. But that’s a major issue now that So-jin’s emotions are wrapped up in Yeon-woo. Determined to prove the DNA test wrong, So-jin embarks on a mission to convince herself that her connection with Yeon-woo is the real deal.
However, she soon realizes that the “telepathic” moments she believed she shared with Yeon-woo could easily apply to Kang-hoon as well. Every time she put out her mental feelers, Kang-hoon showed up, but she’d been tweaking her experiments to fit the outcome she wanted. Her colleague even calls her out on her bad science, but So-jin still isn’t ready to give up.
In a last-ditch effort, she reruns an experiment where she and Yeon-woo are supposed to meet at the same place, at the same time, without telling each other. But once again, Yeon-woo cheats by having a friend follow her. This time, though, So-jin catches on. When she calls him, he lies about where he is—while she’s standing right behind him.
Heartbroken, So-jin confronts Yeon-woo, and he finally admits that he knew from the start that Kang-hoon was her true DNA match. He explains that he lied because he wanted to make her happy, believing that their feelings for each other were more important than genetics. But So-jin feels deeply betrayed, like her beliefs were exploited, and tells him they need time apart to sort things out.
Yeon-woo doesn’t want to break up, and it’s Kang-hoon—always looking out for So-jin—who nudges him to apologize. Yeon-woo eventually reaches out, expressing regret for hurting her. So-jin understands he didn’t mean harm, but she realizes she let herself get hurt because she believed they were fated. Now, she needs time to accept that they might not be.
But things take a dark turn when Yeon-woo is suddenly thrust into a personal tragedy. His father dies in a fire, which was apparently set by his mother in an attempt to end both their lives after years of marital turmoil. As his mother lies unconscious in the hospital, Yeon-woo retreats to the seaside to mourn. So-jin, feeling guilty and heartbroken for him, finds him there and takes him home, where he finally opens up about his family’s toxic dynamics. His mother’s obsessive love and his father’s infidelities have left him terrified of deep emotional connections, which is why he’s been so afraid to say he loves So-jin.
They fall asleep holding hands, but when Yeon-woo wakes in the middle of the night, he leaves her a note that says, “Thank you. And I’m sorry,” before disappearing. It’s a gut-wrenching moment for So-jin, who finally breaks down in tears—only to have Kang-hoon, once again, show up at just the right time. With quiet understanding, he takes her hand and says, “Let’s go eat.” It’s the first truly heartwarming moment of the episode, and you can’t help but root for Kang-hoon.
In a move straight out of the Noble Idiot handbook, Yeon-woo decides to officially break things off with So-jin, coldly returning the couple’s bracelet she gave him. He tells her to give it to her real DNA lover (ouch), convinced that this is the right thing for her, even if it tears him apart. Meanwhile, Kang-hoon steps up, getting a full makeover (finally!) and asking So-jin out. Despite being sick with heartbreak, she agrees, and they go ice skating, though everything reminds her of Yeon-woo. It seems like she’ll never move on—until a sudden scare changes everything.
When So-jin hears a news report about a firefighter in critical condition, she races to the hospital, fearing the worst. But when she arrives, Kang-hoon is safe and unharmed. Overcome with emotion, she rushes into his arms, remembering how he stood by her side when her father died years ago. It’s a powerful moment of realization for So-jin, who suddenly sees just how much Kang-hoon has always protected her.
In a voiceover, So-jin reflects on how Kang-hoon has been her constant guardian. As he gently wipes away her tears and brushes her hair aside, she finally admits to herself that he is her true DNA match. As the episode closes, it’s clear that the tables have turned—and Kang-hoon might just be the one she’s meant to be with after all.
DramaZen's Opinion
Can’t we just shake things up for once and give our second leads the spotlight they deserve? Because honestly, it’s not just Kang-hoon that’s stealing my heart — I’m also all in on Mi-eun. She may have had limited screen time this week, but every moment with her and Yeon-woo was pure gold. Their chemistry is effortless, open, and flirty, and they just seem like such a better match.
By the way, Mi-eun has ditched her lineup of boyfriends and is now all about finding “the one.” I’m reserving judgment for now, but it feels like a missed opportunity for such a layered character.
Oh, and did I mention there’s a serial killer lurking around? Because what rom-com in 2024 doesn’t have one, right? Turns out the shady priest (Lee Chul-woo), who’s been hovering around with suspicious vibes, might be the one behind Yeon-woo’s dad’s death. And if that wasn’t enough, he seems to have Yeon-woo and his mom in his crosshairs next. The silver lining (if we can call it that) is that this guy might actually have a valid motive — there are hints that he could be Yeon-woo’s long-lost brother. But all this drama is set to unfold next week, when, let’s be real, we’ll probably have to watch our beloved second leads get their hearts shattered (along with mine).