In Would You Marry Me Episode 1, Yoo Mary (played by Jung So-min) is a hardworking designer who runs her own brand, Mary Design. Her life seems steady until one presentation changes everything.
During a meeting for the Hongju Crab Festival, she faces sexual harassment from a client and snaps. The moment shows her frustration, not only with her work life but also with how people try to walk over her.
At the same time, Kim Woo-joo (played by Seo Beom-joon) is shopping for an engagement ring. He looks like a loving boyfriend, but behind the scenes, he is cheating with another woman. His fiancée, Mary, is planning their new life, completely unaware of his lies.
Later, while unpacking in her new home—one her mother helped her rent—Mary finds an earring under the bed and a strand of hair that’s not hers. Something feels off. Her gut tells her that Woo-joo has brought another woman into their house.
The next day, she confronts him. She gives him the earring and asks about his relationship with Jenny, a woman who keeps liking his social media posts. Woo-joo denies everything, but his reaction gives him away.
A Brutal Breakup and a New Disaster
When Mary keeps pushing, Woo-joo turns defensive. He says she nags too much and blames her for his stress. Then, he acts pitifully, hitting his own head to look guilty. He claims it was a one-time mistake, but she no longer believes him.
The argument grows physical when Woo-joo steps on his phone to destroy evidence and accidentally steps on Mary’s hand. She looks at him and says calmly, “You brought another woman here. I’m done.”
Mary ends the engagement. She says she doesn’t want to live with someone who will only hurt her again. They had been together for five years, but that night, everything ended.
Just when she thinks things can’t get worse, she learns she’s been scammed out of her home deposit. The jeonse house she rented with her mother’s help turns out to be fake.
The police tell her the landlord is abroad, and a fake agent signed the deal under someone else’s name. The real owner now wants her out. To get her money back, she has to sue a fake person who doesn’t even exist. It’s a cruel reality.
Mary, desperate and heartbroken, asks her ex-fiancé for help. “It’s 300 million won. My mom’s money, savings, everything,” she pleads. But Woo-joo, now with another woman, cuts her off coldly. “We’re strangers now,” he says. His indifference breaks her again.
She loses her fiancé, her home, and her trust—all in one breath.
What’s truly compelling here is the double betrayal Mary endures. The show brilliantly parallels the breach of trust from her fiancé with the breach of trust from a fraudulent system (the housing scam).
This elevates her character from a simple victim of infidelity to a symbol of a generation struggling against systemic and personal injustices. Her loss isn’t just emotional; it’s a complete financial collapse, making her subsequent desperation feel earned and powerful.
A New Man, A Familiar Name
After the breakup, Mary’s life hits rock bottom. Then, a strange twist happens. She meets another man named Kim Woo-joo (played by Choi Woo-shik). He’s not the same person, but fate plays its trick.
This Woo-joo is kind, different, and carries his own scars. Their meeting isn’t romantic at first—it’s chaotic. A car accident brings them together when Mary, drunk and lost, mistakes him for her ex and attacks him in confusion.
He offers her help despite the misunderstanding. She’s embarrassed but also touched. This new Woo-joo doesn’t pity her; he listens. Something about him feels real.
This moment begins a new story between two people broken in different ways. Their meeting isn’t magical—it’s messy and human.
Later, the story takes a lighter turn. Mary wins a 5 billion won townhouse from Beaute Department Store’s wedding event. The rule says only newlyweds without a home and with low income can win.
She qualifies, but there’s a catch—the couple must attend the ceremony together. Since she hasn’t officially divorced her ex, her paperwork still shows she’s married to the old Kim Woo-joo. The department store asks for ID, income proof, and marriage documents.
Mary panics. The prize could fix everything in her life. But her ex refuses to help. Desperate again, she turns to the new Kim Woo-joo and asks him something wild—“Will you be my husband?”
It’s not a romantic confession. It’s survival. The line between fake marriage and real emotion starts to blur.
Reality, Love, and a New Start
Episode 1 of Would You Marry Me mixes heartbreak, betrayal, and second chances in a very grounded way. It doesn’t idealize love. Instead, it shows how fragile it is when mixed with money, pressure, and pride.
Yoo Mary is not just a broken woman; she’s someone trying to stand up again after losing everything.
Kim Woo-joo, both the ex and the new one, reflects two sides of modern relationships—selfish love and sincere connection. The drama feels messy, but that’s what makes it believable.
At its core, Would You Marry Me asks one question: when love collapses, can trust ever grow again?
Jung So-min delivers a strong and natural performance. She makes Mary’s pain and humor feel genuine. Choi Woo-shik brings his usual warmth, showing a man who quietly supports her recovery. The chemistry isn’t built on fantasy but on awkward, real moments.
Visually, the show looks simple but expressive. The tone jumps between quiet sadness and light comedy, which mirrors how life really works.
This SBS drama stands out because it doesn’t paint marriage as a dream—it paints it as a test. It’s about people in debt, in pain, and in love, all trying to survive.
Would You Marry Me?’ (Episode 1) succeeds because it earns its central premise. Mary’s decision to propose a fake marriage isn’t a quirky rom-com trope; it’s a strategic, last-ditch effort for survival. The chemistry between the leads works because it’s built on a foundation of shared chaos and vulnerability, not instant attraction.
For viewers tired of flawless characters and predictable meet-cutes, this drama offers a refreshing, gritty, and ultimately hopeful look at starting over when you have absolutely nothing left to lose.
Which moment from 'Would You Marry Me' Episode 1 hit you the hardest?
How Does this Article Make You Feel?
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.
We pour our hearts into every K-drama recap. If our work brings you joy, please buy us a coffee. Your support keeps us going ❤️
🛍️ Earn Cash Back
Sign up on Rakuten via my link to get cashback + bonus when shopping online.
Join & Get Cash BackReferral link — you get a bonus too!