Family By Choice- Episodes 1-2
Found Families and Fragile Beginnings
The pilot episode of Family By Choice takes us back to 2003, where young Ju-won, a bright but lonely primary schooler, is picked up by her single father, Jung-jae. After innocently mentioning the term “widower” in class, her classmates tease her father, prompting him to discover she had learned the word from their nosy neighbor, Madam. This playful moment quickly gives way to a deeper longing from Ju-won—she asks her father for a big brother to play with, as he is often busy with work.
Ju-won's wish seems to come true when a new family moves into the building—a couple with a boy named San-ha. She’s excited to make a new friend, but things aren’t as simple as they seem. San-ha’s family is still reeling from the tragic death of his sister, So-hee. Tensions between San-ha’s parents, Jung-hee and Dae-wook, bubble to the surface, and their grief is evident when their loud arguments even draw the attention of the police. However, since Dae-wook is a police sergeant himself, the officers quickly leave, empathizing with his difficult situation.
Despite the heaviness at home, San-ha begins to build a tentative bond with Ju-won. She invites him over to her place, hoping to offer him some warmth and companionship, but San-ha hesitates, haunted by guilt and responsibility over his sister’s death. Even when Jung-jae tries to lure him in with a hot meal, San-ha keeps his distance, quietly eating uncooked ramen on the staircase—until Ju-won finds him and begins chipping away at his defenses with small acts of kindness.
Meanwhile, a new subplot emerges when Seo-hyun, a woman from the neighborhood, returns with her young son, Hae-joon. Jung-jae accidentally douses them with water, much to Madam’s delight—who is eager to set Jung-jae up with Seo-hyun in hopes of finding Ju-won a stepmother. However, Ju-won is not having it. She’s adamant that all she needs is a brother, not a stepmother, and she dismisses Hae-joon outright. But the tides shift when Hae-joon steps in to defend Ju-won during a schoolyard scuffle, forming an unexpected bond between him, Ju-won, and San-ha.
As the kids spend more time together, the cracks in the adults’ lives grow deeper. Jung-hee struggles with her grief, lashing out at Dae-wook and tearing apart old family photos, while Seo-hyun receives a distressing call that prompts her to leave Hae-joon in Jung-jae’s care. Ju-won’s excitement about having a new sibling quickly turns sour when Hae-joon calls her father “dad,” sparking jealousy. At the same time, San-ha overhears his mother contemplating leaving the family, and in a heartbreaking moment, he begs her to stay, promising to cut ties with Ju-won and Jung-jae for good.
In a poignant twist, Jung-hee agrees to let San-ha live with Ju-won, and she quietly leaves. Over time, the three children—Ju-won, San-ha, and Hae-joon—develop a close-knit bond, forming a family of their own. Fast forward to 2013, and we see them now as high schoolers, navigating life as a blended family. Their mornings begin with shared breakfasts prepared by Jung-jae, and the trio’s dynamic is filled with a sense of playful camaraderie.
The episode concludes with Ju-won proposing they solidify their bond by signing an adoption contract to become an official family. When San-ha jokes that this would technically make him her uncle, Ju-won brushes it off with determination, vowing to ensure they all share the same last name. This sweet moment encapsulates the heart of the series—family isn’t always defined by blood, but by the people you choose to love and stand by, no matter what.
Childhood Fights, Hidden Feelings, and Unfolding Family Drama
Episode 2 of Family By Choice brings us deeper into the lives of Ju-won, San-ha, and Hae-joon as they navigate the complex relationships within their found family. The episode kicks off with the trio heading to high school together on the bus, where Ju-won vents about becoming the de facto “messenger” for her brothers. Ever since middle school, she’s been stuck passing gifts from smitten classmates to San-ha and Hae-joon. The constant questions about their different last names have fueled Ju-won’s determination to get them all under one family name—and avoid being bullied for not “belonging.”
Hae-joon suggests Ju-won fight back if bullies hassle her, but San-ha, ever the peacekeeper, advises her to involve the teacher instead. True to Hae-joon’s mischievous nature, though, he teaches Ju-won a few choice insults for her tormentors. And soon enough, Ju-won finds herself confronting two girls who accuse her of interfering in their attempts to date San-ha and Hae-joon.
Frustrated, Ju-won decides to act on Hae-joon’s advice and drags one of the girls to the school pond—where, instead of fighting, she jumps in, leaving the bully behind. As expected, Ju-won’s classmates now think she’s crazy, but the unexpected move wins her some sympathy. San-ha and Hae-joon rush to her side, with San-ha scaring the bullies away and dragging Ju-won home, not without scolding Hae-joon for encouraging her to stir up trouble.
On their way home, the rain starts pouring, and the three of them decide to run through it instead of waiting for the bus. They stop by the neighborhood convenience store, where curious elderly locals quiz Hae-joon about whether his mother will ever return. Ju-won steps in to defend him, asserting that she, San-ha, and Hae-joon are a family, regardless of how others see them. That night, Ju-won once again raises the topic of adopting a shared last name to put an end to the gossip.
Meanwhile, San-ha gets a call from his maternal grandmother—one he pointedly ignores. Dae-wook takes the call instead, excusing himself from dinner. Ju-won remarks bitterly that San-ha’s grandmother has no right to interfere now that his mother, Jung-hee, has remarried and moved on with a new family. After an awkward pause at the dinner table, Jung-jae sends Ju-won upstairs with rice for San-ha, just in case he gets hungry.
Later that night, Dae-wook and Jung-jae share a candid conversation, with Jung-jae urging Dae-wook to stand up to his ex-mother-in-law and move on. Meanwhile, Ju-won and Hae-joon continue trying to cheer up San-ha, who stubbornly insists that they focus on their studies and kicks them out of his room—though he can’t hide the small smile as they leave.
On their way out, Ju-won playfully teases San-ha, calling him "oppa" and demanding he pay for the privilege. San-ha rolls his eyes but eats the rice balls Ju-won brought, finally letting down his guard.
The next day, San-ha meets with his school counselor, who encourages him to apply to a prestigious medical school in Seoul. However, San-ha stubbornly insists that all doctors are equally qualified, regardless of where they study. His focus remains on staying close to home to support his family. Meanwhile, Ju-won gets wind of rumors spreading about her being "crazy" after the pond incident, but rather than being upset, she takes it in stride, amused by her reputation.
Later, Ju-won and her friend Dal spot San-ha heading to the music room with a classmate named Hui-ju, sparking jealousy in Ju-won. Dal suggests that the two might be dating, further upsetting Ju-won. Inside the music room, San-ha firmly tells Hui-ju that they shouldn’t hang out alone, as it could lead to misunderstandings. Hui-ju, however, presses him about not applying to university in Seoul, fueling Ju-won’s insecurities.
Ju-won confronts San-ha after school, accusing him of hiding his relationship with Hui-ju because they aren’t a "real" family. Stung, San-ha retorts that Ju-won’s insecurity about their lack of blood ties is what’s really causing problems between them. Their argument leaves Ju-won feeling even more conflicted.
Meanwhile, Hae-joon finds himself in an unsettling situation at school. After basketball practice, he notices a strange man taking photos of him. When Hae-joon confronts the man, he runs off, leaving behind his camera. Hae-joon examines the photos, realizing they’re all of him, and wonders if his estranged mother, Seo-hyun, might be behind it.
That evening, Hae-joon’s pregnant aunt, Yi-hyun, drops by with gifts. Madam, ever the meddler, seizes the moment to guilt-trip Yi-hyun for leaving Hae-joon in Jung-jae’s care and laments how Jung-jae has taken on the burden of raising him. Outside, Hae-joon offers to pay for Yi-hyun’s cab ride home, but she reminds him that the money was from his father and warns him to use it wisely.
Later, Hae-joon reflects on his childhood and how customers at the restaurant had labeled him a burden. However, he also remembers how Jung-jae stood up for him, reinforcing just how much his guardian’s selflessness means to him. During dinner, the tension between Ju-won and San-ha remains palpable, prompting Jung-jae to scold Ju-won for fighting with her brother.
That night, San-ha follows Ju-won to her room to apologize. He assures her that he isn’t dating Hui-ju and promises to be more open with her and Hae-joon moving forward. Their reconciliation brings the family back together, with everyone sharing a meal and finding comfort in each other’s company.
The next day, San-ha teases Hae-joon, causing him to cross paths with Hui-ju, who wants to rekindle their relationship. However, Hae-joon firmly rejects her, revealing that she had tried to date San-ha after dumping him—a move he won’t forgive, especially since it could hurt Ju-won’s feelings.
Meanwhile, Dal learns about Hui-ju’s failed relationship with Hae-joon and is baffled that someone like Hui-ju would be interested in him. At school, Hui-ju approaches Ju-won, but their conversation quickly escalates into an argument. Hui-ju tries to paint Ju-won as a bully, but San-ha steps in to defend his sister, threatening to expose Hui-ju and jeopardize her chances of getting into university.
That night, the family gathers on the rooftop for fried chicken and laughs, with Hae-joon presenting Ju-won with a cake to make up for not standing by her earlier. However, the lighthearted mood is cut short the next day when a mysterious man arrives at school in a luxury car, making a beeline for Hae-joon. To everyone’s shock, the man reveals himself to be Hae-joon’s biological father—setting the stage for even more family drama in the episodes to come.
DramaZen's Opinion
A Promising Start with Drama, Mystery, and Heartfelt Moments
Our boys can’t seem to escape the ghosts of their pasts, and these episodes dig deep into their emotional scars. San-ha, already grappling with abandonment, continues to dodge relentless calls from his grandmother. Each call is just another reminder of his mother’s shiny new life: a wealthy doctor husband, a new baby, and a swanky apartment far removed from the family she left behind. The emotional punches keep coming as San-ha struggles with the bitter realization that he’s been replaced.
Meanwhile, Hae-joon faces his own emotional turmoil when his aunt—now heavily pregnant—drops by to visit Dad Yoon’s restaurant. Hae-joon catches her leaving and walks her to the bus stop, offering her cab fare as a gesture of kindness. But she coldly refuses, reminding him that it’s not his money—it’s Dad Yoon’s. Her parting words are cutting: “Don’t be a burden. Learn to read the room.” Ouch. With those words hanging heavy over him, we get a glimpse into the guilt and weight of expectations Hae-joon has carried throughout his life.
But that’s not the end of the strange happenings. Hae-joon’s life takes a suspicious turn when he realizes he’s being followed. A strange man is spotted snapping photos of him during basketball practice, prompting Hae-joon to chase him off the court. The man drops his camera during the escape, and when Hae-joon flips through the photos, every single one is of him. Things get even weirder when campus security later informs Hae-joon that the man came back to retrieve his camera—and left his business card behind. Turns out, the mystery photographer is a private investigator.
And just when you think the tension has peaked, we get the big reveal: Hae-joon is mid-practice when a flashy sports car pulls up. A well-dressed man strolls onto the court, drops a bombshell, and declares: “I’m your father.” Cue the mic drop! This cliffhanger leaves us wondering—could this mystery man be connected to Hae-joon’s estranged mother? Is he the reason she’s gone into hiding? I don’t know about you, but my mind is already racing with possibilities.
These opening episodes pack a solid punch, laying the groundwork for an emotionally rich story that blends family drama with intrigue. The chemistry between the characters shines, and their found-family dynamic is already tugging at my heartstrings. I’m fully invested in learning more about their two Dads’ backstories—because you know there’s something juicy there. And while teenage angst isn’t usually my thing, the way it’s shaping up here feels like it’s serving a greater purpose, setting us up for deeper emotional payoffs down the road.
I have to say, the characters are off to a great start. They’re warm, relatable, and—thankfully—likable, which is a must for me when committing to a new drama. With a mix of heartwarming moments, tension-filled confrontations, and just the right touch of mystery, Family By Choice is shaping up to be something special. I’ll admit, I’m fully on board—for now—and I’m excited to see where this story takes us. If this pace keeps up, we’re in for a fantastic ride!