In Head Over Heels Episode 4, something finally shifts. The connection between Seong-ah and Gyeon-u is no longer vague. It feels real now, even if neither of them knows how to name it yet.
The episode starts with the two holding hands—an innocent gesture, but both look distracted and flustered. They aren’t saying it, but it’s obvious something is blooming. Seong-ah, still following her shaman duties, gets a strange tip from her mother. She must gift something with a face—eyes, nose, lips. She chooses a lip balm. It has a cartoon sticker on it, which kind of fits.
In Korean folklore, gifts with facial features are believed to absorb negative energy. Seong-ah’s choice of lip balm (not a traditional item) hints at her struggle to balance ancient customs with modern feelings—a clever character detail often missed by international viewers. It’s awkward. She hesitates but still gives it to him, using a silly excuse. Gyeon-u doesn’t mind. He even teases her. That’s when he begins opening up. Things get a little more complicated.
Gyeon-u Chooses Her, But the Past Won’t Let Go
Ji-ho watches all this unfold from the side. It’s clear he’s feeling left out. His expressions say enough. But no one really knows why Seong-ah behaves sweetly toward Jin-ung, the bully. They find it odd. Only Seong-ah sees the dog ghost clinging to the boy. She tells Ji-ho about it. The ghost, though spooky in theory, is gentle.
The loyal dog spirit isn’t just plot filler. It mirrors Ji-ho’s unspoken protectiveness and contrasts Yeom-hwa’s aggression, showcasing the drama’s theme that not all ghosts are monsters, and not all humans are safe. This layered symbolism elevates the supernatural premise beyond cheap scares. The dog loves her owner and doesn’t bother Gyeon-u.
Gyeon-u, meanwhile, is feeling confused. When he gets home, he meets Yeom-hwa. Their interaction is sharp. He knows her. She knows him. She says she’s protecting others from him. Yeom-hwa throws salt at him. Salt rituals in Korean shamanism historically ward off evil spirits. Yeom-hwa’s public salt-throwing isn’t just dramatic—it’s a culturally authentic “curse reveal” tactic. That’s the most direct sign yet—something dark is going on inside Gyeon-u.
Things Start Getting Messy
The next morning on the bus, Seong-ah is half-asleep. She worked all night. Her head nearly hits the window, but Gyeon-u stops it gently, faster than Ji-ho. In that small moment, he chooses her.
Later in school, a student watches an online haunted vlog. He recognizes Seong-ah under the shaman mask. He tries to get her to repeat a line. It’s not malicious, but she freezes. Then Gyeon-u steps in. His voice rises. He says she should stop apologizing when she didn’t do anything wrong. It hits hard. It also makes something clear—he hates shamans. Because of Yeom-hwa & his childhood. Because his grandma used to smile during rituals, but it was always a forced smile. Not real. That stuck with him.
Ji-ho tries to talk to him. They argue at first. Then Ji-ho says something soft—he admits that Seong-Ah once made her smile just a week into school. He brings up how Seong-ah feels left out. He tells Gyeon-u to notice it. To see her.
And then Ji-ho says it. He likes Seong-ah. He’s not proud of it. But he’s honest. He warns he might act badly, but he just wants to protect what he has left. At a ritual site, Gyeon-u spots Seong-ah with the mask and Yeom-hwa together. He tries to prove that this shaman isnt the shaman his classmates were accusing Seong-ah of. But she won’t let it happen. She pushes him away. Later, he texts her. A real apology. It’s short. But it matters.
She shows up to meet him in a simple dress. They talk. It’s calm for once. The power goes out. They sit together in silence. She holds his hand. There are ghosts nearby. She can feel them. But she wants him to feel her hand instead. Something warm. Something alive. He tells her not to smile like that—the fake smile. It reminds him of his grandma. She hugs him and promises nothing will hurt him. Not even ghosts. That was one of the few soft scenes in the show that didn’t feel forced.
Final Blow Hits Gyeon-u
The next day, they ride to school on a bike. Close, casual, like something normal kids do. But the show never gives them peace for long. In a haunted area, Yeom-hwa performs a dark ritual. Seong-ah walks in by accident. She mistakes her for someone her mom sent. Yeom-hwa takes off her mask. They dance. Not like a fun dance. It’s strange. Symbolic. Gyeon-u shows up. He sees them together. His face changes. That small hope he had—maybe things could be different—is gone.
In the next episode preview, Gyeon-U walks away. The next scene is hard. Seong-ah asks him for just five more days of friendship. The curse has 21 days total. Only five are left now. She knows the time is ticking.
This episode transforms Head Over Heels from a supernatural curiosity to a nuanced exploration of inherited trauma. Gyeon-u’s shaman-hating backstory and Seong-ah’s secret identity collide to challenge K-drama tropes, setting up a finale where emotional honesty may be the only counter-curse.
Gyeon-u looks broken. Not because of ghosts. Not because of salt or curses. But because she didn’t tell him the truth. And this is where the real tension begins. Not just supernatural fear. But human disappointment. Secrets. Trust. Misunderstanding. The story finally finds its bite in this episode.
Kavita Mishra is a dynamic writer and passionate Korean entertainment enthusiast, combining her love for K-pop and K-drama with a flair for storytelling. With a keen eye for the latest trends, Kavita crafts articles that capture the pulse of K-pop idols, chart-topping hits, and the most buzz-worthy dramas taking over screens worldwide.
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