In Would You Marry Me? Episode 5, brought drama, tension, and a little bit of chaos. Kim Woo-joo, played by Choi Woo-shik, returned with his usual mix of pride and confusion.
Jung So-min as Yoo Me-ri continued to handle his sudden emotions with her quiet strength. Things between them started to feel more real, but not in the romantic fairytale way—more like two people stumbling through old wounds.
Kim Woo-joo’s ex, played by Seo Beom-jun, also made his move. He called Me-ri out of nowhere, right after returning to Korea. His tone was casual, as if nothing had happened.
But he was the same man who cheated, broke off their engagement, and disappeared. Me-ri was shocked by the call and quickly shut her phone off. It was a small moment, but it showed how much pain still lingered.
Woo-joo didn’t stop there. When she ignored him, he talked to himself, saying, “Yeah, you have pride, too. Just ignore me.” His shameless confidence made viewers sigh. It felt like he never learned from his mistakes.
At the same time, Me-ri faced questions from her work life. Baek Sang-hyun, played by Bae Na-ra, greeted her in the morning, asking politely about her day.
When he mentioned Woo-joo, Me-ri lied, saying her husband worked late last night. It was a quiet moment that carried a lot of tension. Every lie seemed to make their fake marriage more fragile.
Later, Woo-joo had to face Baek Sang-hyun unexpectedly. He tried to avoid him by pretending to have stomach trouble. It was funny but awkward. Still, fate forced them to meet.
Their awkward exchange revealed how easily their secret could collapse. Woo-joo’s nervous energy filled the screen, making the scene both tense and slightly comical.
The Lies Keep Growing
After the awkward encounter, Woo-joo became even more controlling. He told Me-ri to contact him four times a day—morning, noon, dinner, and before bed. His excuse was “preventing danger,” but it sounded more like jealousy. Mary hesitated, clearly uncomfortable, but agreed anyway.
The scene highlighted their strange chemistry. Woo-joo acted bossy, yet his face softened whenever Me-ri looked away. His emotions were messy. He wasn’t just pretending anymore—he was getting attached.
At the same time, Woo-joo’s past returned painfully. He visited a temple for a memorial ceremony. It was also his birthday, which made the moment heavier. His mother once said his parents died because of him, and that guilt stayed with him for years.
The flashback showed young Woo-joo crying at his parents’ funeral, saying sorry through tears. It was heartbreaking, especially knowing he still carried that pain into adulthood.
The Meaning Behind the Birthday Soup
Me-ri later found out about his birthday. Without saying much, she invited him over. She cooked seaweed soup—a small, traditional gesture that meant a lot. Woo-joo looked touched but also broken. He told her it was the first time he’d eaten birthday soup since he was eight.
Beyond the Plot: The seaweed soup (miyeok-guk) is a powerhouse of symbolism here. Koreans traditionally eat it on their birthdays, a custom stemming from the soup eaten by mothers after childbirth.
For Woo-joo, who hasn’t had it since he was eight, this isn’t just a meal. It’s Me-ri symbolically acknowledging his existence and his pain, reconnecting him to a tradition of care and family he thought he lost.
The subsequent double rainbow is a universal symbol of hope and promise, signifying that after the storm of their pasts, a new, fragile hope is possible for them together.
That scene said more than words could. It wasn’t about pity. It was about two lonely people finally acknowledging each other’s pain. The rain stopped, and a double rainbow appeared outside. It was a quiet but symbolic touch. Me-ri pulled Woo-joo out and told him to make a wish.
Between Past and Present
The warmth didn’t last long. Me-ri’s ex-boyfriend returned, just in time to see Woo-joo and Me-ri getting close. As Woo-joo leaned in to kiss her, the ex appeared in the background. The camera caught his face, frozen in disbelief. It was a perfect cliffhanger—awkward, intense, and full of emotion.
This episode carried an interesting shift. It stopped being about a fake marriage and started feeling like a real emotional mess. Every scene felt grounded, not overly dramatic. The story focused on reactions, not big speeches.
Woo-joo’s feelings were hard to define. He acted jealous but didn’t admit it. He smiled when he shouldn’t. He looked sad even when he laughed. His layers came out more clearly in this episode, showing both guilt and longing.
Me-ri, on the other hand, seemed torn. She didn’t know if she could trust him again, but she also couldn’t deny her feelings. Her calm presence balanced Woo-joo’s chaos. Together, they felt both real and frustrating.
Review
Would You Marry Me? Episode 5 review gives viewers a better look into their complicated hearts. The writing stayed consistent, showing everyday emotions in simple ways. It was less about dramatic turns and more about quiet realizations.
Even the ex-boyfriend’s return didn’t feel forced. His presence made sense. It represented Me-ri’s past, which she tried so hard to forget. Woo-joo’s guilt over his parents’ death and Me-ri’s unresolved love created a parallel—two people haunted by what they lost.
By the end of episode 5, one thing was clear: their story isn’t about marriage anymore. It’s about facing what they’ve been avoiding—truth, guilt, and desire.
Would You Marry Me? episode 5 review shows that small moments can tell big stories. The simple breakfast, the awkward greetings, the short calls—all build tension naturally. The characters feel like real people, not idealized lovers.
This episode blended pain, humor, and quiet emotion in a way that felt human. It’s not about perfect love; it’s about imperfect people trying to understand each other again.
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.
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