The Interest of Love (사랑의 이해) is a Korean romantic-drama series directed by Jo Yeong-min and stars Yoo Yeon-seok, Mun Ka-young, Keum Sae-rok and Jung Ga-ram in lead roles. The series is based on the novel by Sarangui Ihae by Lee Hyuk-jin. The series takes over JTBC’s Wednesday-Thursday 10.30 PM KST timeslot previously occupied by Insider starring Kang Ha-neul.
The Interest of Love episode 16 has a runtime of 87 minutes.
Netflix’s description reads:
FOUR MEN AND WOMEN WORKING AT THE SAME BANK GET ENTANGLED IN A COMPLICATED ROMANCE AS THEY DISCOVER HOW FAR THEY’RE WILLING TO GO FOR LOVE.
– The Interest of Love Episode 16 Recap Contains Spoilers –
The Interest of Love episode 16 starts at the bank as Sang-su works diligently. Things go on as usual, with calendar season rolling around and Sang-su getting promoted to assistant manager. He looks happy, but when it comes to Su-yeong, he switches between completely forgetting and remembering her clearly.
And just like that, 4 years pass by, and the entire office gets together for Du-sik and Eun-jeong’s wedding. There’s excitement all around, and the bride and groom look beautiful together. The employees are still the same, constantly ribbing each now that they are meeting after some time. Through this conversation, we learn that Mi-gyeong has been promoted to manager.
After the wedding is over, Sang-su leaves for a previous engagement and narrowly misses meeting Mi-gyeong. She comes across Gyeong-pil, and when he asks her whether he should call Sang-su, she dismisses the notion and calls him just an ex. Meanwhile, Sang-su goes out on a date but gets rejected when the woman tells him that she’s not ready for a relationship at the moment.
At the wedding, after bidding everyone goodbye, Mi-gyeong asks Gyeong-pil about Su-yeong, but he tells her that he doesn’t know where she is. Mi-gyeong mentions that it’s curious how she sometimes thinks about her to this day. On the other hand, Min-hee goes to meet Su-yeong, who is a barista now and probably owns a café.
They talk about their previous coworkers, and Min-hee asks her whether she is curious about what Sang-su is up to. Su-yeong tells her that she thinks about him sometimes, and Min-hee mentions that it’s ok for every love story not to find its happy ending. Min-hee, all of a sudden, asks her about the café’s security deposit, and Su-yeong tells her that the owners are increasing it this year, so she will have to visit a bank soon. And the bank, as it turns out, is the one to which Sang-su is being transferred.
Meanwhile, while taking out Seok-hyeon’s trash, Sang-su comes across his wedding album and goes through it to find Su-yeong’s picture. We see what happened after that day they spent together at Tongyeong – Sang-su went over to meet her but was unable to get in touch with her.
In the present, on his way to the new office, Sang-su sees Su-yeong crossing the road while standing at a traffic light. He gives chase to her, but it turns out that it’s someone else. He looks broken at the realisation but turns around to find a café named ‘Future Happiness’ with the cherry plant sitting outside.
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Remembering what Sang-su and Su-yeong had talked about 4 years ago, he goes inside, and the artwork inside reminds him of every place they had been to together and the memories that made those places special. Of course, he can’t stay back, but before he leaves, he asks the attendant about the meaning of the café’s name. Meanwhile, Su-yeong makes her way to the bank to get the loan, and unfortunately, Sang-su just misses her by a minute.
Su-yeong makes her way to her favourite artist’s exhibit and runs into Mi-gyeong. Their conversation isn’t awkward or resentful but is rather quite honest and warm. Mi-gyeong talks about her breakup and how people’s gossip doesn’t bother her anymore, while Su-yeong tells her about her café.
Interestingly, Mi-gyeong talks about how she still, after all this time, doesn’t understand why Su-yeong did what she did. Su-yeong agrees that she also missed her over the years and gives her her café’s card, and asks her to visit. Mi-gyeong mentions that she will bring her boyfriend. She asks her about Jong-hyeon, and whether he became a police officer and as it turns out, he did.
Later, at work, Sang-su gets an inspection duty, which so happens to be at Su-yeong’s café while Su-yeong goes through the pictures on her desktop and reminisces about Sang-su after seeing a picture of him that she had taken on their last meeting at Tongyeong. When Sang-su does finally see the business license, he is shocked to find Su-yeong’s name on it.
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He goes to the café after closing and looks at the nameplate intently. Meanwhile, Su-yeong thinks about Sang-su fondly over a glass of wine. At home, Sang-su uses the business license to give her a call but stops himself just as he is about to do so. He remembers the time when Gyeong-pil had mentioned if Su-yeong wasn’t the only person who gave up on the relationship – maybe he gave up as well. Sang-su denies the claims, but it seems like there is some truth to the claim.
The next day, Sang-su asks his colleague to call Su-yeong and let her know that he will be going to the café to talk about some missing documents. Su-yeong looks shell-shocked, and before she can take in the information, Sang-su walks in. Both are left speechless, seeing each other after so long.
They sit down to talk, and it’s clear that things are quite awkward between the two. Sang-su doesn’t drag the conversation forward too much and gives her the documents they will need to secure the loan and proceeds to leave. Su-yeong asks him whether he’d like to have coffee, and he accepts the proposal.
Sang-su’s clumsiness breaks the ice between the two, and she asks him whether he’s been well. Sang-su repeats the same question back, and they both mention that they have tried to be happy. He further asks her why she named the place ‘Future Happiness’, and she replies that just because. As he leaves, Sang-su tells her that he will meet her during the inspection. It’s clear that both of them still have feelings for each other.
Later, Su-yeong goes to meet Min-hee after she gives birth and the latter advices her to stop being so hard on herself. Regardless of whom she decides to date, she shouldn’t bottle everything up inside her and live her life, especially because she now has a job that she likes and is making a living out of it. The words seem to touch Su-yeong, who seems to consider the advice.
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Afterwards, while crossing the road, Su-yeong spots Jong-hyeon on duty and walks right by him, happy that he has finally gotten the job of his dreams. She does stop on the other side to smile at him, and the two shed a tear. As she walks away, Jong-hyeon salutes Su-yeong, keeping his promise to her. That night, Mi-gyeong, while on a run, finds a 500 yen coin on the ground and thinks about the day at the wedding – she had seen Sang-su look back at her name being called and then smile.
The next day, Sang-su goes to Su-yeong’s café for the inspection, and after handing over some papers to her, he starts to leave but decides to paint before leaving. When he finishes, they laugh over his clear lack of talent for drawing. When it comes time to leave, though, it’s clear that Sang-su is awaiting for her to say something, but she bids him farewell and a nice life.
They both look crestfallen, but as luck would have it, they eventually run into each other that night while walking down their old path. Sitting at the café from before, he asks her why she came there that night. Su-yeong mentions that she comes here sometimes because it’s good exercise. She further asks him why he is not asking her about why she ghosted him. He tells her that he found the answer on his own, even though it might not be exactly correct.
He jokes about her not keeping her promises about the pork cutlets and asks her to go with him the next day to have them. Su-yeong accepts the proposal, and the next day when he can’t match the funds at the bank, simply adds his own money to make it to the date. He does get there, but maybe a little late, and Su-yeong laughs when she sees him.
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As they walk to the restaurant, they talk about college and how the place hasn’t changed in 4 years. Sang-su suddenly brings up why she didn’t call him back, and she asks him why he didn’t come looking for her. He tells her that he did go to her but just couldn’t find her. Su-yeong tells him that at that time, there was nothing to give and nothing to receive either.
The two walk together and pull each other’s legs as they talk about their regrets and what would’ve happened had they made different decisions. The next couple of scenes are absolutely heartbreaking to watch as they go over their relationship, and every time they stopped themselves from expressing everything that was on their minds back then.
The Interest of Love Episode 16 Ending
But in the present, they are walking down to the pork cutlet place, imagining what could’ve been had they been brave enough. They talk about whether they would’ve broken up while handling their hypothetical child and fighting about everyday stuff, and Su-yeong mentions how their imaginations are also not very special. Sang-su mentions that that’s probably what love is – staying together while going through everyday life.
The comment makes her take notice, and they wonder whether, while going through this life, they were already in love with each other or whether they were blinded by the interest. They reach the top of the hill by this point, and she asks him whether he has forgotten something today. He simply replies that he has forgotten absolutely nothing, and they start to walk back again.
The Interest of Love Episode 16 Review
I think they ended this messy series perfectly – giving us those flashbacks hurt my heart, and I just can’t believe they would play with our hearts like this. However, regardless of what I needed this drama to end like, I think the ending fits so well. Unsure but hopeful – they talked, took time for each other, and are back in each other’s lives with a better perspective. Nothing is for certain, but things might just work out.
It’s also great that we see them being completely honest with each other. They both agreed to not being honest previously and thoroughly discuss how they could’ve probably circumvented the entire ordeal if only they could move past their fears.
Also, what is that scene with Jong-hyeon; man, they really put the emotions on 100 when they made this episode. The creators cranked up on the tears, and it honestly does not disappoint. I was even happy to see Mi-gyeong making so much progress. Sure, she is still a bit soft for Sang-su, but it’s not in a romantic way. He’s the one that got away, you know.
Either way, I enjoyed The Interest of Love finale more than I thought I would. Those last flashback sequences are too precious and can push anyone to tears.
The Interest of Love is streaming on Netflix.
Also Read: All of Our The Interest of Love Reviews
I AM PISSED!!! That was the weakest shite ever! i’m so mad.
but like you said, they’d written themselves into a corner. any other ending would’ve felt forced/rushed
i’m glad toy cop passed the test. i really did wonder if he would amount to anything
i have so many unanswered questions.
does migyeong really wanna marry her boyfriend?
did suyeong’s mother get her leg fixed well?
is mr. yang still with his ex?
how exactly did gyeongpil and sangsu repair their friendship?
what was with mr. yuk’s hairpiece?
did anyone notice the purse changes from brown to white at the oldest wall place?
i was so proud of sangsu when he pulled out 180,000 so he could get to his date. but i’m still not watching him in anything else. he always looks like he lost his puppy. even when he’s laughing at something he looks seconds away from tears. i have to go watch cartoons now
no more k dramas for a month. unless i rewatch deokwha’s scenes in Goblin hehehe
Let’s be clear that watching Goblin is always a good idea, regardless of what you watched before or after it haha
Anyway, my biggest questions were about Gyeong-pil and Seok-hyeon. It’s a bit sad that they simply glossed over that. I don’t know whether friendship can be repaired in such a situation, especially because Sang-su didn’t listen to the voicenote in the end.
Shi-kyung’s hairpiece comment made me cackle. Thanks for the laugh!
Yoo Yeon-seok was fantastic in the drama, personally. He really brought forth all of his emotions through his eyes. It’s weird that they wrote the character so pathetically that he has a sadness behind his eyes even when he is smiling. However, I think he truly does laugh when he’s with Su-yeong.
Either way, the ending is perfect for the series. It’s maddening, but I guess so is love and life, isn’t it?
also i’m not clean on what happened with suyeong’s brother. his friend told him Pops was going to that house everyday. bro follows him to the house and? why was cheating the only possibility? did bro kill himself? hit by a car?
speaking of, what exactly happened with sangsu’s dad? did loan sharks kill him?
these questions are gonna plague me
they could have done better than that…. it would have been better if episode 10 is the last episode….
to me, the ending did not justify the wait…. it was so full of suppressed emotions.. oh common,, just let go mates!,,,
Ok, I watched this final episode last night and here’s my take. Su-Yeong seems someone who is self-destructive. Maybe it’s the episode with her parents and the loss of her brother, where she blamed her father for and could never forgive them, but she seems incapable of making warm, sustained relationships. There is a hint at this with the sandcastle, where she says she would destroy her own beautifully-wrought sandcastles, rather than them being destroyed by others or the tides. Similarly, she seems to sabotage her relationships, both with Sang-su and the police guy, rather than seeing if they work out or not. When Sang-su walks away from that restaurant early on, she really cannot forgive him, as his doubt just confirms in her mind that it’s gonna fail anyway. She is a perfectionist (in her job, for instance, also in her painting and her piano), but the problem with relationships is it takes 2 people. Then there is Sang-su. He’s basically a passive person who waits for other people to do stuff. In his job he takes little initiative (except for the few rare moments, eg when he helps Su-yeong stands up to Yuk). But he overall just waits and let the tides push him, hence that ill-advised relationship with Mi-Gyeong. Hence, all those missed opportunities for instance at the end of episode 15 where he gets on the bus. Just a little more initiative to help the self-destructive, doubting Su-yeong along would’ve helped. The show could have ended there with him saying that it was the last time he saw her. But years later, we get a sense that maybe finally Su-yeong has found some balance. She made peace with her parents, she’s out of her terrible work environment, she patiently builds out her café. Maybe now she is finally ready? I think Sang-su was already ready for a long time, definitely when he went to her hometown to look her up. Su-yeong can now also see that Sang-su has been steadfast and faithful and so, that she does not need to destroy her sandcastle pre-emptively. So maybe, just maybe, they can finally build something together.
Hi Helen,
Nicely done! 👍 The relationship between the two leads started rather cute and full of hope. The hesitation or whatever that was played out as a Cardinal sin. She saw the man running towards her like a mad man! He hesitated maybe to realize what an idiot he is for screwing this up as well. But early on, the hug scene was where SY actually changed her mind, but PMY announced to her that she confessed to SS. That crushed her, she couldn’t go up against a rich, beautiful, aggressive woman like PMY. She gets into an ill advised rejection with a pathetic, depressed guy! Who breaks up with her, and Ashe BEGS to stay with him! She drags him back to her apt – she realizes later that, this relationship is just a burden to him as that guy will never be happy., meanwhile, SS is in a relationship which is really weird, he is like a shy 17 year old teenager , he tries everything to undermine a relationship which really didn’t exist! SY and SS realize their feelings finally, even SY admitted that she may have actually led SS on,.. .. but they are in a mess because My figured out that SS loves SY…. SY has to take the terrible step of becoming a very nasty woman to keep SS’s name out of a scandal and also breaking up with JJH. Then the series become sad and goes south completely! They become lovers, and all that was shown was the guy smoking a cigarette outside after spending the night with the woman he loved so much!!! Last episode showed that, SY could not move on, she maybe content , but still longs for the man who loved her! Both are single! SY never contacts SS, maybe out of guilt! I don’t know why else she couldn’t call him and let him know to forget about her, she is doing great! She is clearly uneasy to talk with him because he doesn’t bring up the ghosting issue. She clearly wants to talk more and is very sad the last time he is at the cafe. She walks distraught towards the cafe where SS comes when he is down…. She is clearly happy to see him! She accepts the date fir pork cutlets, and then she is more open on the hill! But the dialogue is disjointed and unclear on many things! The regret their mistakes and clearly tell each other how they felt in those days! At the top of the hill, SS says, he has forgotten nothing! Not her or the feelings for her! She is happy to hear that … they walk together forward. But the scenes were cold, devoid of any heartfelt feelings… please they were lovers once and waited for 4 years! ….. come on!
This was one bugged-out, damaged chick. Of all the tragic, self-destructive KDrama queens, this one was the worst. The unforgiving, self-absorbed, dead-pan, expressionless face of the lead female really chaps your hide. She stares repeatedly at the poor, heartbroken guy at the dinner table—even though she told him to go away. You unlock the bank door for her, she stares at you. Hand her a coffee, more stares. Is the tragic character incapable of saying thank you? Do tragic, self-efacing, wilted “palace flowers” even exist like this anymore? KDrama scriptwriters have a serious vendetta against men. The formula is getting old. And yet, we watch all of them gladly. 5 STARTS TO ALL THE ACTORS—ALWAYS.