A Hundred Memories Episode 5 Review: Fateful Accident

Episode 5 delivers a gripping mix of friendship and heartbreak, pushing every character to their limits. The return of Jong-hui’s abusive brother sets off a chain of tense confrontations, while Yeong-rye’s devotion shines brighter than ever. Yet, beneath the camaraderie, hidden affections simmer until the story explodes in a devastating accident.

A Hundred Memories Episode 5 has a runtime of around 60 minutes.

This new Korean drama has 12 episodes, and one episode will be released every Saturday and Sunday.

A Hundred Memories Episode 5 Recap

The episode begins with a quiet narration from Jong-hui, who reflects on how her morning seemed beautiful, filled with small comforts, until everything shifted the moment Jae-pil spotted her working as a bus attendant. Overcome with shame, Jong-hui flees from him. Jae-pil notices Yeong-rye as well, but chooses to run after Jong-hui, who manages to hide before he can reach her. Gasping for breath, she chastises herself for running, weighed down by embarrassment.

At the office, Yeong-rye shoulders the blame for Jong-hui’s sudden disappearance from her shift. She tries to defend her friend, explaining that she took over the work willingly, but the manager lashes out in frustration. Jong-hui soon returns, handing over her wages as compensation and firmly asking the manager not to scold Yeong-rye further. Later, Yeong-rye gently asks if Jong-hui is all right, but Jong-hui brushes the concern aside, insisting they have work to finish. That night, the two share drinks, venting their frustrations. Yeong-rye becomes tipsy, and Jong-hui quietly puts her to bed, showing her unspoken care.

Meanwhile, Jong-hui’s brother has been scouring bus companies in search of his sister, Jong-yeon, who now goes by Jong-hui. At the same time, Jae-pil pays a visit to Jong-hui’s place. He is met by Yeong-rye, who hurries to warn her friend of his presence. Jong-hui eventually faces him, bluntly declaring that she does not like him. When he questions why she asked to meet if only to reject him, she tells him she wanted to say it in person. Yeong-rye then explains the whole truth to Jae-pil, who surprises her by responding with calm acceptance rather than anger.

Elsewhere, Sang-cheol struggles with his own emotions. Though disheartened to discover that both Yeong-rye and Jong-hui are older than he is, his affection for Yeong-rye remains unchanged. He resolves to pursue her regardless of the gap.

Jong-hui’s brother eventually tracks down the bus company where she works and confronts Yeong-rye with a photograph. Sensing something is deeply wrong, Yeong-rye lies, claiming not to recognise the woman in the picture. She rushes to Jong-hui and warns her, and Jong-hui’s panic confirms her fears. When Yeong-rye learns the truth about her abusive brother, she takes Jong-hui to her own home, pleading with her mother to allow her friend to stay.

That night, Jong-hui lies awake, troubled. Yeong-sik, noticing her unease, offers her the milk bottle his mother had set aside for her. They share a gentle conversation that offers Jong-hui a small measure of comfort. But peace does not last long. The next day, Jong-hui’s brother storms into her workplace and attacks her. Yeong-rye bravely intervenes, headbutting him and urging her colleagues to throw water on him. She quickly ushers Jong-hui onto a company bus and drives them away, only for the brother to steal a scooter and give chase. The pursuit ends in a violent clash when the bus is forced to stop.

Just as things take a darker turn, Jae-pil, who happens to be nearby, charges in and fights off Jong-hui’s brother. At the police station, officers uncover his extensive criminal record and press further charges. Yeong-sik and Jung-hyun arrive to support the women, reassuring Jong-hui that her brother will not be released any time soon. Shaken but grateful, she thanks them before walking away. Jae-pil follows, only for her to shout at him, distressed that he has seen her at her most broken. He gently tells her to think of him as Yeong-rye and encourages her to let her emotions out.

Meanwhile, subtle hints of affection stir elsewhere. Jung-hyun, previously expressionless when Yeong-rye held Sang-cheol’s hand, quietly adjusts a mirror to steal a glance at her, betraying feelings he has yet to voice.

Time passes, and the four friends – Jae-pil, Sang-cheol, Yeong-rye, and Jong-hui – slip back into a fragile harmony. On a picnic, Jae-pil deliberately spills ramen to avoid eating, prompting Yeong-rye to rush to his side and wipe his hands with worried urgency. Sang-cheol notices the unusual closeness and begins to suspect that something deeper is happening. Later, as rain falls, the group seeks shelter. Jong-hui runs alongside Sang-cheol, while Yeong-rye ends up apart from Jae-pil. Jong-hui hints to Sang-cheol that Yeong-rye and Jae-pil may be growing close, but he challenges her, asking if she truly knows who her best friend’s belongs to.

Elsewhere, Yeong-rye and Jae-pil share a lighter moment, blowing bubble gum and laughing together. In her imagination, Yeong-rye confesses that she liked him first, a silent truth she has never dared to speak aloud.

The following day, Yeong-rye covers an extra shift for a friend. While searching Yeong-rye’s locker, Jong-hui stumbles upon a kerchief bearing the name of the gym where Jae-pil trains. The discovery stops her in her tracks. She finally realises that the man Yeong-rye has quietly loved all along, even before Jong-hui entered the picture, is Jae-pil himself. The episode closes on a haunting image: a bloodied shoe, signalling that Yeong-rye has met with a terrible accident during her shift, leaving the future uncertain.

A Hundred Memories Episode 5 Review

This episode balances raw emotion with high-stakes drama, showcasing the struggles of friendship, love, and survival in a world weighed down by secrets and violence. Jong-hui’s ongoing battle with her past, embodied in the menacing presence of her abusive brother, brings a chilling tension to the story. Yeong-rye once again shines as a fiercely loyal friend, stepping up to protect Jong-hui at every turn, even risking her own safety. The bus chase and violent confrontation provide a thrilling burst of action, while quieter moments, such as Yeong-sik offering comfort or Jae-pil’s tender support, highlight the compassion and humanity that run beneath the chaos.

The romantic undercurrents also add layers of intrigue. Jae-pil and Yeong-rye’s growing closeness is portrayed with subtlety, leaving viewers torn between delight and dread as Jong-hui begins to sense the truth about her best friend’s heart. Meanwhile, hints of Jung-hyun’s hidden feelings create the beginnings of another love triangle, promising further complications ahead. The episode ends on a gut-wrenching cliffhanger with Yeong-rye’s accident, setting the stage for emotional fallout and tough choices in the episodes to come.

A Hundred Memories is streaming on Viu.

Also read: A Hundred Memories Season 1 Review