DNA Lover- Episodes 9-10

Bad Timing

Episode 9 kicks off with Mi-eun lost in thought, flipping through old photos of her and Yeon-u. She’s questioning the timing of their relationship and the emotions she’s been feeling lately. Meanwhile, Yeon-u, completely unaware of Mi-eun’s inner turmoil, is happily planning a romantic date with So-jin, enjoying their budding relationship. On the flip side, Gang-hun realizes he has feelings for So-jin and worries that he may have missed his chance with her.

On the day of So-jin's discharge from the hospital, Yeon-u gifts her a pair of shoes, and she gives him a set of matching couple bracelets. Yeon-u, who isn’t the type to wear cheesy couple items, fibs and tells her he loves it. So-jin asks him to wear it always. Enter Gang-hun, who arrives to help So-jin out, trying to act casual but feeling the sting of unspoken feelings. He forces himself to be happy for her while secretly suffering inside.

Elsewhere, Jung-tam jumps at the chance to be part of a gym promotion photoshoot with Sung-mi. She promises to help him sculpt his body for the shoot, but the workouts become too much for Jung-tam. He confides in Yeon-u, who advises him to be honest with Sung-mi. If she truly cares about him, Yeon-u reasons, she’ll understand.

As days pass, So-jin and Yeon-u grow closer, their phone calls filled with playful flirting and plans for romantic dates. Yeon-u proves himself a devoted boyfriend, so much so that he decides not to attend a friend's wedding shoot, disappointing Mi-eun, who was hoping to see him there.

However, So-jin’s happiness is interrupted when she forgets Gang-hun's memorial service and scrambles to make it up by rushing to the cemetery with flowers. She cancels her date with Yeon-u, and in turn, he decides to attend the wedding shoot. Coincidentally, the wedding happens to be at the same venue where Gang-hun’s dad took his own wedding photos. As So-jin and Gang-hun take a walk together, they bump into Yeon-u, Mi-eun, and the rest of Yeon-u’s friends.

Tensions rise as So-jin tries to play it cool but can’t hide her irritation when she notices Mi-eun helping Yeon-u with something on his head, and worse, they’re wearing matching hanboks. She’s fuming inside but doesn’t say anything. Meanwhile, Yeon-u is surprised by So-jin’s cancellation for Gang-hun's sake, but brushes it off, telling Mi-eun it doesn’t bother him.

Later, Mi-eun and Gang-hun meet up at a food stall, where Mi-eun urges him to confess his feelings for So-jin before it’s too late. Meanwhile, So-jin starts to feel uneasy when she notices how many women seem interested in Yeon-u during one of their dates. She starts blaming his “Indecent Octopus” gene and grows increasingly anxious.

Mi-eun also can’t stop thinking about Yeon-u, so she arranges a consultation with So-jin. During their meeting, Mi-eun subtly flaunts how well she knows Yeon-u, mentioning that she’s wearing shoes just like the ones he bought So-jin. Her words weigh heavily on So-jin, who’s already fretting over Yeon-u’s supposed "cheating genes." After some advice from her friend A-ri, So-jin has an epiphany: she decides to create a serum to weaken Yeon-u’s “cheating genes” and enhance his monogamy gene. She later gives him the serum, asking him to always use it.

Things take a comedic turn during their movie date when So-jin misreads Yeon-u’s affectionate gestures and thinks he’s about to make a move on her in the car. Embarrassed yet again, she can’t help but laugh at herself. Meanwhile, Jung-tam and Sung-mi, on their own date, have a minor spat about Sung-mi's lack of sensitivity—though it’s more of an observation than a fight.

The scene shifts to A-ri, who visits Father Andrea at the church, confessing the trauma she’s been carrying since high school. She recalls the tragic night when her best friend, Yoon-hye, was killed by bullies, while A-ri, paralyzed by fear, hid in a closet. Father Andrea reassures her, telling her it wasn’t her fault and urging her to find happiness.

Meanwhile, Yeon-u's family drama escalates as his dad officially breaks up with his mom. His mother, Jang-mi, begs him to stay, but he accuses her of killing his mistress and their unborn child. Yeon-u, rattled by this news, confides in Gang-hun, putting on a brave face but clearly troubled by his family’s unraveling. Though he thinks the divorce is ultimately a good thing for his mom, it still leaves him feeling hollow.

The following morning, Mi-eun makes a bold move, dropping by Yeon-u’s place unannounced. She brings abalones, but she’s really there to confess her feelings. However, their conversation is cut short when an excited So-jin video-calls Yeon-u to invite him over for breakfast. Shocked to see Mi-eun in the background, So-jin plays it cool but immediately ends the call, saying she has to go for a run.

Both A-ri and Gang-hun are unsettled by the situation. A-ri questions why Mi-eun would be at Yeon-u’s place so early if she didn’t stay the night. Though So-jin defends Yeon-u, her frustration is clear. She heads out for a run, and as the rain starts pouring, both Gang-hun and Yeon-u rush to find her. Yeon-u gets to her first, and after an emotional outburst, she embraces him, trusting his reassurances. Gang-hun, watching from a distance, feels a pang of regret. For the third time, Yeon-u has gotten to So-jin before he could. Now, Gang-hun wonders if anything would change, even if he finally confessed.

In the end, Gang-hun, heartbroken, finds solace in the park where he and So-jin first met as kids, reflecting on the timing he always seems to get wrong.

A Hurdle 

Episode 10 opens with Yeon-u driving So-jin home after a sweet day together, but things take a turn when So-jin bravely confesses her feelings. Yeon-u, caught off guard, finds himself unable to say “I love you” back, leaving the air thick with awkward tension.

Once home, he’s greeted by the sight of his mom, Jang-mi, drowning her sorrows in alcohol. The scene pulls him back to a painful memory from his school days when his mother warned him never to confess his love to anyone, insisting that love only brings hopelessness and pain.

Meanwhile, Gang-hun isn’t faring any better. His unrequited love for So-jin has been weighing heavily on him, making him seem distracted and distant. Sung-mi notices his mood and gives him a harsh scolding at work after a mistake, but even his dad can’t pinpoint what’s really bothering him—he thinks it’s Mi-eun. But Gang-hun isn’t alone in feeling the pressure. So-jin is unraveling over Yeon-u’s inability to say he loves her, struggling to understand why her confession left him so cold.

Mi-eun, too, is wrestling with her complicated feelings for Yeon-u. Even while busy filming her show with So-rin, she can't shake the idea that she still has a chance with him. She pays a visit to So-jin at work, under the guise of a consultation, but is secretly fishing for information. Overhearing So-jin talking about the DNA tests she runs to ensure Yeon-u is her “DNA lover” only deepens Mi-eun’s resolve.

At the gym, Jung-tam is struggling with his rigorous training routine under the ever-demanding Sung-mi. She eventually realizes she’s pushing him too hard out of her own ambitions and suggests they take a break. Jung-tam jokes about skipping the photoshoot altogether, but when Sung-mi ends up doing the shoot with another man, Jung-tam’s humor vanishes, and he becomes genuinely upset.

Back to Yeon-u, he brushes off Jung-tam’s advice and decides to finally open up to So-jin about his feelings. Unfortunately, it only leads to more friction between them. Even the hospital nurses start betting on how long it’ll take before Yeon-u breaks up with So-jin. No matter how hard So-jin tries to get closer, Yeon-u keeps his distance, his father’s unexpected visit only clouding his thoughts further. Yeon-u, who never believed his dad truly loved his mom, feels like he’s caught in a cycle he can’t escape.

On the flip side, A-ri, after a heart-to-heart with Father Andrea, decides to take control of her happiness. She gets a fresh haircut, visits the church, and expresses her gratitude, determined to live a better life. But when Father Andrea mentions he only confides in God, A-ri becomes fascinated with the idea of becoming his confidant, even diving into a book about forbidden love between a woman and a priest. She shares with So-jin her growing feelings for Father Andrea, believing he might be “the one.”

Though happy for her friend, So-jin is preoccupied with her own relationship struggles. She feels like she can’t talk to Yeon-u anymore, sensing an emotional distance between them. Meanwhile, she doesn’t realize that Gang-hun has also been eerily quiet. In an attempt to patch things up with Yeon-u, she suggests they keep each other updated on their daily lives. It works for a bit, and things begin to improve, but an unexpected run-in with Gang-hun during a jog stirs the pot.

Gang-hun and So-jin are coincidentally wearing matching jumpers, ones they bought years ago as a couple’s set. Though innocent, the sight makes Yeon-u uncomfortable. He invites them both to dinner, where So-jin finds a mysterious photo and message from Mi-eun hidden in an abalone box. With Gang-hun’s help, she keeps calm, pretending not to notice.

As they eat, So-rin and Mi-eun’s show becomes a topic of conversation, specifically a discussion about the appropriate response after a love confession. So-jin voices her confusion, wondering why it’s so difficult for some people to express their feelings. Yeon-u argues that actions speak louder than words, while Gang-hun lightly scolds So-jin for confessing too quickly. After So-jin steps out, Gang-hun discreetly hands Yeon-u the picture Mi-eun left behind, and Yeon-u promises to deal with it.

Later, a sad So-jin heads home while Gang-hun contemplates throwing away the old jumper but hesitates. Meanwhile, Yeon-u confronts Mi-eun over drinks about the photo. Mi-eun subtly tries to confess her feelings, but Yeon-u, dodging the subject, asks her about Gang-hun instead. She dismisses the idea of being with Gang-hun and takes a jab at his easy compatibility with So-jin, casually mentioning that So-jin believes Yeon-u is her DNA match.

The next day, Yeon-u unexpectedly invites So-jin on a beach trip, sparking excitement. But her joy is cut short by a surprise visit from Mi-eun, who apologizes for the photo and smugly boasts about her long history with Yeon-u. She needles So-jin, insisting that she’ll never be able to change Yeon-u, despite her efforts. So-jin, growing frustrated, defends herself by pointing out that Yeon-u wears their couple bracelet. Still, Mi-eun lands a final blow by reminding her that Yeon-u has never said “I love you” or opened up about his family, leaving So-jin in turmoil.

That weekend, So-jin packs for her trip, eager to spend the night with Yeon-u, only to be embarrassed when he clarifies they aren’t staying overnight. Despite this, they have a pleasant day at the beach, but So-jin’s heart sinks when Yeon-u refuses to take couple photos and even admits he’s not bothered by her relationship with Gang-hun. The final straw comes when she sneaks a peek at Yeon-u’s postcard—meant to be read a year later—where he writes that he hopes she’ll have someone by her side to protect her if they’re no longer together. Realizing Yeon-u may never truly commit, So-jin feels her heart breaking.

Before the tension can boil over, Yeon-u receives an urgent call from the hospital. As they rush back to the city, So-jin holds his hand, worried that his eyesight issues could be the result of his RP gene manifesting.

Back in the city, Mi-eun drops by Gang-hun’s dad’s restaurant, where Gang-hun tries to avoid her but fails. They talk, and Mi-eun casually reveals a shocking truth: So-jin has been running tests on Gang-hun’s DNA, and it turns out he—not Yeon-u—is her true DNA match. Gang-hun is stunned, but before he can process the news, So-jin arrives and overhears everything, shattering her world.

DramaZen's Opinion

We always knew So-jin had messed up when she secured the wrong jersey, but what we didn't see coming was the depth of Yeon-u’s deception. He knew the truth from the very start, yet he chose to string her along, fully aware of how much this whole "DNA lover" concept meant to her. The betrayal stings even more because he played her like a fool, knowing exactly how vulnerable she was. At this point, I can’t see how he can possibly redeem himself, though I’m sure the writers will find some way to spin it. But right now? I’m firmly on Team Gang-hun.

Then there’s Jung-tam and his unnecessary outburst. Why is he so worked up about Sung-mi doing the photoshoot with another guy? He’s been complaining about the workouts for ages, and she reassured him that she likes him just as he is. Now that the shoot is over, he can finally focus on their relationship outside the gym. His tantrum feels so over-the-top, especially since Sung-mi isn’t having some secret affair with the model. It's honestly frustrating.

But the real bright spot in episode 10? A-ri and Father Andrea! Watching her blush every time she’s around him is absolutely adorable. I’m really rooting for her, and I hope things work out between them.