K-drama Review: When the Phone Rings
- Very Average Joe
- Aug 17
- 4 min read
English Title: When the Phone Rings
Korean Title: 지금 거신 전화는 [lit. the phone call just made]
Director(s): Park Sang-woo & Wi Deuk-gyu
Screenwriter(s): Kim Ji-woon
Studio: Bon Factory & Baram Pictures
Released: 2024–2025
Runtime: 12 episodes, ~1h 10m each.
Starring: Yoo Yeon-seok, Chae Soo-bin, Heo Nam-jun, Jang Gyu-ri
My Verdict: Stereotypical cold male lead and soft female lead. Intriguing premise but the plotting and pacing need to be better. Relies too much on Chae Soo-bin to carry the show.
Adapted from the web novel of the same name by Geon Eomul Nyeo, this is a blend of mystery-thriller and romantic melodrama. I have not read the web novel so this review is of the series only.
Baek Sa-eon (Yoo Yeon-seok) is the spokesperson for the president’s office. He married Hong Hui-ju (Chae Soo-bin) three years ago but it is an arranged marriage for the mutual benefit of the two prestigious families. They barely communicate and sleep in different rooms. Although it is no secret that Sa-eon is married, the fact that it is to Hui-ju is kept secret.
Hui-ju is apparently mute, and one night she gets carjacked, the kidnapper calling Sa-eon to threaten him using a secure phone. Sa-eon doesn’t buy it and the kidnapper is too stupid to give proof of life and then loses control of the situation. Hui-ju gets away, taking his secure phone but without having the kidnapper arrested or otherwise dealt with… which is nonsense.
Accepting that, the plot follows Hui-ju as she uses her newfound toy to threaten Sa-eon, hoping for a divorce, while Sa-eon has his own plans for everyone else. And of course, the kidnapper is still on the loose and making threats. Over time, the Sa-eon and Hui-ju warm up to each other.
[Minor Spoiler] In the first episode, it is revealed that Hui-ju was a last-minute replacement for her older sister in the marriage to Sa-eon. Also, Hui-ju can actually speak. This may not be a surprise but perhaps it is revealed a little sooner than expected.
Sa-eon is the stereotypical cold male lead who is very curt to Hui-ju. He shows her no affection. Hui-ju is the stereotypical “weak” female lead who struggles. Despite living a life of relative luxury, she is treated as a doormat.
Chae Soo-bin is a perfect cast for Hui-ju as she looks like the sad and fragile doll who can’t speak, and she gives a solid performance. Yoo Yeon-seok does well as Baek Sa-eon, although the character doesn’t change that much throughout. He mostly remains his usual cool self.
Their action and reactions are a little limited in the first few episodes before expanding to fuller characters. It’s not that their performances are bad, it has more to do with the writing and the direction. The tone of the show in the first few episodes is a little unfocused; the thriller and romantic elements are not mixed well. It’s not outright jarring but it is noticeable. The tone does settle after two or three episodes, as do the two leads.
Ji Sang-u (Heo Nam-jun), Hui-ju’s friend from college, and news presenter Na Yu-ri (Jang Gyu-ri), Sa-eon’s former colleague, form the token second couple. Given their connection to the two leads, they provide a little dramatic tension and are used for exposition as well as relief for the two leads. Unfortunately, they are under-utilized, appearing in merely one or two scenes per episode when there should be at least three to form some sort of arc for that episode.
Visually, it is shot nicely enough. As expected for this type of drama, there are many one-shots but there is some variation in angles and camera movement. There is the occasional scene in which the two leads are in the same frame when they are actually physically apart (using the phone). There can be more of these semi-arty setups as heavier stylization is justified given the premise. Perhaps the director is trying to avoid being too pretentious. But then again, too much effort is made in making the male lead look cool, which is just the usual cheese, and this can be toned down.
The series pacing is not bad for what it is, but the timing of the expositions and the progression is convenient. The main focus initially is the conflict between Hui-ju and Sa-eon. This is fine in itself, but the kidnapper and Sa-eon’s own agenda are shoved too much into the backseat.
There are also, as expected, personal and family history and secrets and these are revealed later than they need to. As such, both the timing and whatever is revealed come across as convenient.
The other problem is that even after expositions, the motivations of the characters are not entirely clear or make sense. For example, Sa-eon is cold towards Hui-ju but then, without spoiling, it is revealed that there is a reason and he does actually care. If he cares, then it makes no sense to maintain that coldness over three years. It’s trying to be dramatic for the sake of it.
To sum up: the production is solid and the premise is intriguing, but the plotting and pacing are not sufficiently refined. Even accepting the 12 episodes more or less as is, this could be mitigated if each episode is tightened by about ten to fifteen minutes. On balance, it relies too much on Chae Soo-bin to carry the show.
Be sure to subscribe to our mailing list so you get each new Opinyun that comes out!
Comments