CAST: Na In Woo, Kim Ji Eun, Kwon Yool

DIRECTOR:  Han Chul Soo

In the first episode of “Longing For You,” three murders unfold. Two of these killings arouse suspicion towards a specific individual. The initial murder leads us to question Bae Min Gyu, the victim’s husband. Known for his abusive behavior and an affair with actress Lee Eun Byul, he becomes a prime suspect. Although the prevailing notion is that he murdered his wife upon discovering her own affair, he holds an alibi. Having spent the evening at a karaoke club with his girlfriend until 1 AM, he escapes immediate arrest.

Yet, the prosecuting attorney, Go Young Joo, entertains the possibility of a loophole. This centers around the club’s unmonitored backdoor, which might provide an escape route not captured by CCTV surveillance.

Furthermore, the footage provided by Bae Min Gyu’s girlfriend lacks a clear view of his face. This deficiency leaves them without concrete evidence to implicate him while also preventing complete exclusion.

However, when another victim is discovered murdered in a manner strikingly similar to Bae Min Gyu’s wife, Cha Young Won deduces the emergence of a serial killer. He suggests a collaborative investigation into the serial killings, an idea that significantly wounds Young Joo’s pride.

Although it appears that Young Joo is presently in a relationship with Oh Jin Sang, suspicions arise that she might have been romantically involved with Young Won during their college days.

Instances of his past interest in her, reciprocated with a smile, suggest potential unexplored dynamics. Based on our observations of Young Won’s familial environment, his mother’s controlling nature over his achievements likely extends to other aspects of his life. This influence may have extended to Young Joo as well, explaining her resentment towards him taking over her investigation, despite his rational intentions.

As Young Won continues his efforts, he uncovers that the victims’ fatal wounds contain traces of saline and a substance commonly found on knives used for cutting seafood. Further investigation reveals that Eun Byul was given a set of knives by her boyfriend, Bae Min Gyu, which perfectly match the murder weapon.

The circumstances around the emergence of a certain video appear suspicious. Originally uploaded by the actress nearly a year ago, it was subsequently deleted, possibly due to Bae Min Gyu’s status as an Assemblyman’s son involved in an extramarital affair. Yet, the video resurfaced online exactly during the ongoing investigation. This occurrence could be an extraordinary coincidence or a carefully orchestrated scheme. Despite this evidence, attention shifts back to Bae Min Gyu. However, Eun Byul shatters this line of inquiry by revealing that the sashimi knife had been stolen from the set a year prior. She reported the theft due to its high value, making it implausible that they had been planning Min Gyu’s wife’s murder for such an extended period. This setback returns the investigation to square one, although Young Joo’s demeanor softens as Young Won acknowledges her role in achieving progress.

Meanwhile, a distinct issue unfolds in Woojin. Jin Sang finds himself imprisoned for assaulting some gamblers and requires settlement money to secure his release. His younger brother, Jin Woo, resolves the matter using his savings, much to Jin Sang’s dismay, as he wants his brother to prioritize his own well-being. Jin Sang retrieves the money by leveraging evidence of the thugs’ wrongdoing, and he advises Jin Woo to work and save for his future, as the family’s circumstances prevent them from doing so on his behalf.

At the closing of episode 1 of “Longing For You,” a possibility emerges: if Jin Woo is indeed the one responsible for the death of Hae Ju, it occurred on the same day he crossed paths with Cha Young Woon. A common thread between both murder days is Jin Woo’s exposure to the idea that he might be lagging behind in life.

These notions weren’t personal attacks, often stemming from his well-wishers, yet they might have triggered a sense of inadequacy within him. On the day of the café murder, Jin Sang encouraged Jin Woo to unleash himself, while on the day of the schoolgirl’s murder, Jin Woo encountered someone highly accomplished.

These events could have sparked an inferiority complex driving him toward the murders. This detail could serve as a straightforward clue or an intentional misdirection to engage the audience. The unfolding episodes of “Longing For You” will reveal the truth behind this aspect soon.