Second Shot at Love- (Final) Episodes 11-12

Family Bombshells, Old Wounds, and One Shocking Stab

If you thought Second Shot at Love had already thrown every curveball it could—Episode 11 is here to say, “Hold my scalpel.”

We open with Ui-joon baring his soul to Geum-ju. He finally shares his painful past: his mother’s death in 1996, his father’s abandonment, and the return of Mr. Seo—drunk, dangerous, and demanding money. After becoming a doctor, Ui-joon has his father admitted against his will. But Mr. Seo fakes his recovery, gets out, and on Ui-joon’s birthday, attacks him—killing Nurse Jeong in the process. Due to his alcoholism, he gets a reduced sentence. Ui-joon has carried that guilt ever since—and it’s why he’s stayed sober.

Back in the present, Gwang-ok is finally discharged, and the Hans welcome her with open arms. Nurse Baek, ever composed, sets her up at home and casually mentions joining yet another club "to look after Ui-joon.” The Hans fawn over her—Geum-ju finds their bond a bit too close, but Ui-joon just teases that he’s popular.

Meanwhile, Mr. Seo continues to cause scenes at the nursing home whenever he’s lucid. Baek starts to suspect that her recent visit triggered him. Elsewhere, Ui-joon tracks down Caretaker Oh with help from the police and learns she used to be classmates with Nurse Baek—though Baek denies knowing her. Suspicious? Oh, just wait.

While Geum-ju investigates a car crash, she finds the van belongs to the very nursing home where Mr. Seo might be. Ui-joon fills her in. The mood lightens when Geum-ju discovers a long-lost gift from Ui-joon—he wants to replace it, but she wears it proudly.

But it’s not all light. Geum-ju feels guilty for being happy while Hyeon-ju is stuck in emotional limbo. The sisters finally have a heart-to-heart, and Geum-ju encourages her to fix things with Seon-hwa. Hyeon-ju agrees, but continues ghosting Seon-wook, who spirals. Young-woong lets it slip that Seon-wook’s last drunken meltdown ruined Hyeon-ju and Seon-hwa’s friendship. Oops.

Meanwhile, Ms. Nosy finally makes amends with Gwang-ok. In a surprisingly touching flashback, we learn Ms. Nosy’s husband drunkenly admitted on their honeymoon that Gwang-ok was his first love. Yikes. Present-day Ms. Nosy owns her insecurity and apologizes. We love a redemption arc.

In another twist, Geum-ju spots Nurse Baek at a bus terminal—but Baek lies and says she’s in Seoul. Geum-ju is left scratching her head as the bus drives off... toward Myeongju, the location of the nursing home.

Back at the hospital, Geum-ju overhears nurses gossiping that Nurse Baek should hate Ui-joon. Curious, she digs around and learns that Baek wasn’t just close to Nurse Jeong—she had swapped shifts with her the night she died. Her guilt runs deeper than anyone imagined.

Things escalate quickly when Ui-joon is informed that the nursing home is co-owned by Baek and Caretaker Oh. He rushes over to confront her—and runs straight into chaos.

Mr. Seo is loose, holding a broken glass bottle, and screaming for blood. He claims he wants to kill Ui-joon—not for revenge against his son, but because Baek lied to him. Then comes the bombshell: in a flashback, we learn Baek told Mr. Seo that Ui-joon is her son.

Before anyone can react, Mr. Seo lunges—and Baek throws herself in front of Ui-joon. She’s stabbed. Geum-ju calls the cops. Mr. Seo runs. And everything changes.

Epilogue: It’s class graduation day. The Hans are picking out bouquets for Ui-joon and Geum-ju. A mysterious woman in red quietly pays for the flowers. It’s Nurse Baek. She watches Ui-joon one last time... and walks away.

Final Goodbyes, First Steps, and One Last Kiss

The finale of Second Shot at Love delivers everything fans could ask for—answers, healing, heartfelt reunions, and just enough laughter to balance out the tears. Episode 12 is an emotional ride that sticks the landing and gives every character the closure they deserve.

The Truth About Nurse Baek

We begin with Geum-ju and Ui-joon heading back to the nursing home to confront the chaos Mr. Seo left behind. He's nearby, drunk and dangerous. As Ui-joon enters the home, Geum-ju stays outside—and calls the cops when she spots Mr. Seo following him.

While Nurse Baek recovers from her stabbing injuries, Geum-ju visits her home to grab some clothes—and stumbles across the truth. A letter reveals the heartbreaking reason Baek gave up Ui-joon.

Flashback: In college, Baek becomes pregnant. Her father is furious and demands she get an abortion. When she refuses, he forces her to give the baby to Mr. Seo’s mother and ships Baek off abroad. She returns quietly for Ui-joon’s graduation and stays close as “just a nurse,” believing it’s kinder if he thinks his mother passed away. On the day of Nurse Jeong’s death, she had swapped shifts with her to meet her father one last time. After that, she made it her mission to make Mr. Seo pay.

In the present, Ui-joon confronts her. She finally admits she was scared. Meanwhile, the town ladies learn she secretly paid for all of Ui-joon’s education—and start seeing her in a new light.

However, the law has questions. Baek may have saved Ui-joon, but she also kidnapped Mr. Seo and held him captive. A police investigation begins.

Ui-joon’s Reckoning and Mr. Seo’s Final Chapter

Ui-joon is overwhelmed. He avoids Baek at first, unsure how to process it all. But Baek makes a quiet plea through Geum-ju: please don’t push her away. She also tells Geum-ju why Ui-joon really distanced himself years ago—he was afraid Mr. Seo would hurt her.

Not anymore. Ui-joon promises Geum-ju that he’s staying. No more running. She jokes that she’ll protect him now.

Together, they find Mr. Seo—but it’s too late. He dies of alcohol poisoning at his mother’s grave. Ui-joon holds a funeral. At first, it’s just him. But then, the people of Bochun slowly show up. Even elderly patients send condolence wreaths. Ui-joon is overwhelmed, still blaming himself—for Seo, for Jeong, for Baek’s injuries.

Geum-ju reminds him: Baek sacrificed so much so he could finally live. He listens.

He brings Baek to the funeral. In front of the town, he thanks her, calls her Mom, and embraces her. She breaks down. It’s the moment they both needed.

Seon-wook and Hyeon-ju’s Long-Awaited Love

Seon-wook flees to Seoul, heartsick and heartbroken. Seon-hwa is distraught until her mother-in-law steps in with surprising wisdom: no one can stop true love—not even a stubborn in-law.

Hyeon-ju secretly tries to drop off food but gets caught by Seon-hwa. She confesses she’s ready to wait until Seon-hwa forgives her. She admits she’s fallen for Seon-wook but will walk away if that’s what it takes. But Seon-hwa, touched, tells her not to give him up.

Even Gwang-ok shares her love story with Hyeon-ju: a rich guy, a poor girl, and a lot of fear. But love won. She tells Hyeon-ju to be brave.

And she is. Hyeon-ju finds Seon-wook, tells him she’s ready, and that Seon-hwa gave her blessing. His jaw drops. They hug. And we cheer.

One Year Later

We flash forward a year, and life has bloomed.

• Nurse Baek is out of probation and happily cooking with her new club.

• Geum-ju and Ui-joon are still going strong.

• Ui-joon has left the clinic and opened a hospital specializing in alcoholism.

• Geum-ju attends team dinners—but stays sober.

• Seon-wook and Ui-joon constantly bicker over who will be the better son-in-law.

• And the Han family? Still a delightful mess, but closer than ever.

In the final scene, Geum-ju and Ui-joon go for a morning run. She admits she still craves a drink now and then. So, Ui-joon distracts her—with a kiss. She chases him, laughing, wanting more.

Because healing isn’t a straight line. It’s a daily choice. And love—real, messy, earned love—makes the fight worth it.

DramaZen's Opinion

What an emotional, satisfying end to a beautifully messy story.

Episodes 11 and 12 packed in everything: shocking reveals, long-awaited healing, and a resolution that felt earned. Nurse Baek’s secret? Absolutely gut-wrenching. Watching Ui-joon go from crushed to forgiving and finally calling her “Mom” had me in tears. And Mr. Seo’s quiet, tragic end was the perfect reminder of how destructive addiction can be.

Geum-ju continued to shine—fierce, funny, and always showing up for the people she loves. Her growth from rock bottom to someone who can support others while staying sober was so satisfying. And that final kiss-and-run scene with Ui-joon? Perfect.

As for Seon-wook and Hyeon-ju? I didn’t expect to love them so much, but their slow-burn romance, sibling complications, and eventual happy ending totally won me over.

The show wrapped things up with warmth, realism, and just enough humor. Second Shot at Love wasn’t just about romance—it was about redemption, forgiveness, and learning to fight for yourself.

I’ll miss these characters, but wow—what a sendoff.