When the Phone Rings- Episodes 1-2
Episode 1 Recap: A Web of Lies and Betrayal Unfolds
This episode starts with an unassuming yet pivotal moment: Hee-joo, calmly interpreting sign language at a news station, unaware of a glitch that briefly compromises her broadcast. Her routine is interrupted by a live announcement from Sa-eon, the President’s spokesperson, regarding a high-stakes hostage situation. Terrorists have abducted South Korean nationals, demanding the withdrawal of troops and a hefty ransom—or they’ll execute hostages. Sa-eon’s firm refusal to negotiate sparks nationwide tension. As the broadcast concludes, Hee-joo flips him off in frustration, hinting at their tumultuous connection.
Later, Hee-joo faces a grilling from her domineering mother-in-law, who demands she quit her job to support her husband’s presidential ambitions. Adding insult to injury, her mother criticizes Hee-joo’s failure to “secure” the man she once stole. Shaken, Hee-joo retreats to her car under a stormy sky, where eerie events escalate. Her car is mysteriously hijacked, spiraling out of her control. Desperate and trapped, she recalls news of malware attacks and realizes she’s under siege. A masked figure appears, unlocking the doors but leaving her fate ambiguous.
Meanwhile, in Sa-eon’s office, whispers of his past as an FBI-trained negotiator surface, raising public calls for him to lead the hostage crisis. But Sa-eon’s calm demeanor shatters when he receives a chilling phone call: the unknown caller threatens to kill Hee-joo. Skeptical of the caller’s intentions, Sa-eon dismisses the threats, even telling them to call back “when there’s a corpse.” His dismissal sends shockwaves as the attacker taunts Hee-joo, questioning whether Sa-eon values her life.
As the kidnapper’s threats grow darker, Sa-eon finally acts. With the help of an insistent reporter, Hyuk-jin, he traces the enigmatic number while wrestling with his own fears. Sa-eon races home and finds Hee-joo safe, yet his relief is fleeting. The unknown caller resurfaces, this time revealing shocking knowledge of Sa-eon’s personal life. The threat shifts focus: not Hee-joo, but his true love, Hong In-a—Hee-joo’s estranged sister and the runaway bride from their wedding.
In a jaw-dropping revelation, we learn Hee-joo isn’t Sa-eon’s wife by choice. She’s a stand-in, forced into a marriage contract to salvage political ties after her sister abandoned him at the altar. Bound by an ironclad agreement, Hee-joo must remain silent and loyal—or face a hefty penalty.
The episode crescendos with Sa-eon confronting the caller, who demands he abandon Hee-joo and return to Hong In-a. A final twist leaves viewers stunned: the caller is Hee-joo herself. Fueled by betrayal and vengeance, she orchestrates the entire scheme to expose Sa-eon’s cold disregard for her. Her voice drips with venom as she recounts her ordeal, confronting Sa-eon with his own cruelty.
In the final moments, Sa-eon, shaken to his core, vows to catch the caller—unaware he’s facing the woman he’s underestimated all along. As Hee-joo grants him a deadline to decide her fate, their tangled web of lies and grudges tightens, leaving us breathless for what’s next.
Episode 2 Recap: Secrets, Seduction, and a Spark of Suspicion
In this thrilling episode, Hee-joo unexpectedly meets her former college friend, Sang-woo, slipping away from her bodyguards without notice. Chaos ensues when the panicked guards text Sa-eon, who, consumed with jealousy, urges them to find her. The situation escalates as the bodyguards send him a photo of Hee-joo laughing with Sang-woo—a sight that rattles Sa-eon more than he’s willing to admit.
Back home, Hee-joo faces another round of pressure from her mother, Yeon-hui, who presents her with provocative lingerie, urging her to rekindle Sa-eon’s interest. The stakes are high: Hee-joo’s marriage is now a bargaining chip for her father’s medical treatment. But instead of playing along, Hee-joo uses the lingerie in her own scheme. Posing as the kidnapper, she sends Sa-eon a picture of a birthmark on her thigh, daring him to question how well he knows his own wife.
The gambit works—Sa-eon is unnerved. In their next tense encounter, he tries to confirm the birthmark himself, leading to a clumsy, intimate moment that throws them both off balance. He deflects the tension by suggesting a professional opportunity for Hee-joo, offering her a chance to interpret for the President. But the interaction also brings back memories of their early marriage, when Hee-joo once tried to seduce him, only for Sa-eon to coldly warn her not to fall for him. Now, as he reflects, does he regret pushing her away?
Elsewhere, Sang-woo has his own subplot brewing. After a fateful encounter with You-ri, an outspoken journalist, sparks fly—both good and bad. From spilled coffee to debates over fan culture, their banter hints at unresolved feelings Sang-woo may harbor for Hee-joo. As their dynamic evolves, the question of Sang-woo’s true intentions lingers.
Meanwhile, Hee-joo visits her father at a nursing home, uncovering a bittersweet truth: he sacrificed their bond so she could chase her dreams. Overwhelmed by the weight of her life’s compromises, Hee-joo breaks down, questioning her identity and purpose.
Sa-eon, on the other hand, begins piecing together clues. CCTV footage of the night Hee-joo’s car was tampered with reveals a mysterious man entering her vehicle. A conversation with a nosy reporter stokes Sa-eon’s suspicions—could Hee-joo be involved in a dangerous affair? His instincts flare as he studies the footage, noting the man’s confident stride.
The tension peaks when Hee-joo, still playing the kidnapper, calls Sa-eon again. This time, he flips the script, hanging up on her and asserting control. A sudden explosion interrupts their verbal sparring, leaving Hee-joo rattled. The next morning, she wakes to shocking news: a bombing at an office in Yeouido has been linked to a call she made as the kidnapper. Before she can process this, Sa-eon storms into their home, cornering her with a single, unsettling demand—to confirm the truth about the birthmark.
The confrontation escalates as Sa-eon looms closer, his piercing questions cutting through her defenses. In a chilling moment of vulnerability, Hee-joo is left wondering how far Sa-eon will go for answers—and how much longer she can keep her secrets.
The episode ends with a game-changing revelation: in a flashback, it’s revealed that Sa-eon orchestrated Hee-joo’s marriage switch. Determined to save her from marrying a notorious figure from the Yeonghwa family, Sa-eon made a choice that would bind their lives in an uneasy alliance. But was it truly an act of protection, or something far more calculated?
DramaZen's Opinion
OMG, This Show Is EVERYTHING!
I went into this drama with zero expectations, and now I am absolutely OBSESSED. Hee-joo is killing it as the queen of chaotic brilliance. One moment she’s pulling off these jaw-dropping moves to outwit Sa-eon, and the next, she’s fumbling through her schemes like a total mess. Honestly, watching her try to outsmart her master negotiator husband—who sees through everything—is both nerve-wracking and hilarious. She’s making it up as she goes, and I am LIVING for the chaos.
Now let’s talk about Sa-eon. Is it too soon to label him as one of those "touch-my-girl-and-die" types? Because he’s got the vibe DOWN. The man is a walking contradiction. He married Hee-joo to “protect” her from her mom and Yeonghwa (swoon-worthy in theory), but then he goes and treats her like a hostage. Yet, he’s jealous over Sang-woo and casually makes her breakfast? MAKE IT MAKE SENSE! Oh, and his line about “call me when there’s a corpse” to the kidnapper? Savage.
But wait, he’s not giving Hee-joo the one thing she desperately wants—freedom. Like, come on, dude, you can’t cage her in and also act like her knight in shining armor. Are you secretly in love with her, or is there something even darker going on? Either way, I’m here for the emotional whiplash.
Hee-joo, girl, you better step it up because Sa-eon is playing 4D chess while you’re over here stuck on checkers. And don’t even get me started on her mutism—it’s driving me crazy with curiosity. What’s the real story? Why is she hiding the fact she can talk, and what pushed her to switch places with her sister? Sure, her dad’s health is a big part of it, but is there more? GIVE ME ANSWERS.
This drama is delivering twist after twist, and we’re only two episodes in! The tension, the intrigue, the unresolved sexual tension—it’s all chef’s kiss. If they keep this up, we might have the next big K-drama classic on our hands! 😍
