Nine Puzzles Episode 9 begins with a confession no one saw coming. Jung-ho calmly says he killed everyone. His tone is cold. Han-saem arrests him right away and starts questioning him. But Jung-ho has one condition. He says he’ll confess everything, but only after facing the press. Strange, right? That’s where things start to feel off.
At his house, a group of young adults is seen. These kids once lived in an orphanage. After turning 18, they had nowhere to go. Jung-ho gave them shelter. He helped them without asking anything in return. Meanwhile, I-na visits the motel where Jung-ho used to live. It’s small, dirty, and looks worn down. But something surprising happens there.
She finds letters. Tons of them. Photos too. These were sent by the same kids he helped. Letters full of gratitude. Pictures showing their achievements. College graduations. Jobs. Families. Jung-ho clearly had a real impact on their lives. This side of him doesn’t match what he claims to be.
Later, I-na and Han-saem visit the orphanage he once donated to. Something doesn’t add up. It looks like Jung-ho is hiding something. Maybe he’s trying to frame himself for a reason. Han-saem is upset. His instincts say there’s more to the story. I-na agrees. She believes someone with such a warm heart can’t be the killer.
Then comes the twist.
Han-saem releases Jung-ho. It turns out Jung-ho wasn’t even at the crime scenes when the murders happened. The evidence is solid. He couldn’t have done it. But still, Jung-ho insists he’s the killer. It’s puzzling. He keeps repeating it. No one understands why.
A Strange Past and A Dark Secret
I-na starts digging further. She visits Dr. Hwang, the therapist. She questions how she ended up getting referred to him in the first place. Something feels odd. Therapists aren’t supposed to share patient details like that. But Dr. Hwang doesn’t react. He brushes it off.
At the same time, Choi San is secretly following Jung-ho. His car leads him to an old barn in a quiet area. Suddenly, Choi San gets distracted. That’s when Jung-ho attacks. It’s unexpected and fast.
Nearby, two hunters are seen shooting animals. Suddenly, a blur appears. A gun is pointed at one of the hunters. Jung-ho fires a shot into the air. Then chaos starts. Shots are heard. Everything goes out of control.
Han-saem, following Choi San’s car, arrives at the scene. He finds Jung-ho on the ground, shot in the back. He’s badly hurt. Blood everywhere.
A Desperate Leak and a New Clue
Before losing consciousness, Jung-ho says something strange. He says he tried to stop all of this from the start. But he failed. He calls all the past victims “scums.” He says everything started because of something he did. Then he names someone—Shindoga Apartments.
Now things are getting darker. The 7th victim is Sang-beom, a chief prosecutor and the same hunter from the scene. But wait—he’s still alive. Barely. He’s rushed to the hospital.
I-na makes another bold move. She shares case details with the media. She does this because it’s exactly what the killer wanted. Sounds risky, but maybe there’s a reason behind it. She calls Han-saem the final puzzle piece.
Then another twist.
A new clue arrives. It’s sent to a media house. A drawing. It shows a big man leading many kids. The image is disturbing. At the same time, Sang-beom struggles in the hospital bed. But it’s too late. He dies.
Everything feels connected, but nothing is clear. Jung-ho said he was the killer. But the facts say otherwise. There’s still someone hiding in the shadows. Someone is pulling the strings.
Conclusion
Now, only two episodes are left, which will be released on 4th June (Wednesday). It indicates everything started from the orphanage, and one of the kids has started this thing to get revenge on greedy & selfish adults who ruined children’s lives. Maybe that’s why I-na was selected to convey this, as she was also an orphan, as she lost her parents too & then her only family, Dong-hoon, as well.
This episode mixes truth with lies. It shows how hard it is to tell guilt from guilt feelings. Jung-ho’s actions don’t match his words. His care for the orphans feels real. But his secrets are still buried.
Only time will tell how deep this story goes.
Here is the recap of the rest of the episodes:
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.
