The Story of Park's Marriage Contract 열녀박씨 계약결혼뎐 [2023-2024]

[mademoiselle]

@gilaswan Awesome, you are here too!

 

Story-telling: Yes, a little bit messy at the moment. I'm not sure yet whether this is deliberate.

 

SH Group: All I know is they own the shopping mall. The art exhibition is to impress the foreigners who liked the artist's artwork. The foreigners are important people for them to get into the US market (New York). They want to open a branch in NY, if I understand correctly. Midam specialises in traditional hanbok, so they want to collab with Midam and bring Midam to NY (introduce the world to Korean hanbok). The idea is they want to be "different".

 

Half brother is a newbie actor. By the way, have you seen The Queen's Umbrella? Or is it Under The Queen's Umbrella? Anyway, you should totally check that one out. Bae In Hyuk is in there and more importantly hot guy alert (190cm tall - very suave) in there.

 

The girl in the marketing team: I suspected her to be a spy, too. But now I think she just has a one-sided crush on Kangdro.

 

Lee Mi Dam had to be the descendant of Yeon Woo's family. For when she showed Tae Ha the embroidery, she mentioned the technique. So, I'm guessing she might be from Yeon Woo's mother's bloodline.

 

Mystery lady Cheon Myung: I think she'd have looked fine without the silver hair. I don't know if she meant to play a foreigner, either. Maybe she's one of those mix blood children, i.e., a foreigner came to Joseon and impregnated a Joseon woman, and she is their offspring and descendant. This show has element/characters in there whom we don't yet know the purpose or how they are there.

 

Lots of questions, and again, will it be all answered? I doubt it. I'm not going to make the same mistake thinking it will be answered again. DWY had fooled me since it was trying to give me some answers, which led me to keep believing I will get everything answered. 😅

[gilaswan]

@mademoiselle Yup. I watched Under the Queen’s Umbrella and quite liked it. But nah, he’s definitely not 190cm tall. That would make him Rowoon tall and he doesn’t look it at all. Did a google and he’s 180cm? Still tall, for sure. Half brother is an idol actor, but he’s for sure no Rowoon. (Yes. I’m very much in camp Rowoon now. hahaha.)

 

I do like the idea of modernising traditional costumes - I have a modern knee-length hanfu which I do like to wear every now and then. I’ve liked the modern hanbok she’s worn to the office so far and honestly wouldn’t mind owning one or two, except I’m not Korean, so… 😅 But I am someone who likes to wear traditional costumes as an everyday sort of item, except my current work situation is very casual so I’m in denim and corporate polo every day now. Sad, actually. 

 

If Yeon Woo in the past never consummated her marriage and never had children, and she never had any other siblings, what offspring would she have? Family lineage would then be from a second cousin or something… no? So who is Midam to her, and who is grandpa to historical Tae Ha?

[mademoiselle]

5 minutes ago, gilaswan said:

 Yup. I watched Under the Queen’s Umbrella and quite liked it. But nah, he’s definitely not 190cm tall. That would make him Rowoon tall and he doesn’t look it at all. Did a google and he’s 180cm? Still tall, for sure. Half brother is an idol actor, but he’s for sure no Rowoon. (Yes. I’m very much in camp Rowoon now. hahaha.)

The hot guy 190cm is Moon Sang Min 😆, not BIH. I felt nothing for BIH in Umbrella, knowing he'd die. Moon Sang Min was like a dark horse, suddenly stood out (his height definitely made him stood out too) amongst the princes. He is definitely Rowoon tall. Would love to see them both stand side by side.

 

Half brother was also in Umbrella. He played the gay Prince.

 

8 minutes ago, gilaswan said:

If Yeon Woo in the past never consummated her marriage and never had children, and she never had any other siblings, what offspring would she have? Family lineage would then be from a second cousin or something… no? So who is Midam to her, and who is grandpa to historical Tae Ha?

Yeah probably cousins. Yeon Woo learnt her skills from mum, and her mum probably learnt from her grandma. If she has aunts, then her cousins would inherit this skill. Tae Ha is the mystery. Show hasn't addressed if he's descendant of Tae Ha. I imagine Tae Ha also had a half brother in Joseon.

[ktcjdrama]

Finished all 6 episodes... Enjoying them, mostly because of LSY's acting. And the mystery behind the time travelling.

 

23 hours ago, gilaswan said:

For example, I don’t get what business they’re in and what this 1st Anniversary celebration is - of what? Why the collab with Midam? Why the art exhibition? The setting seems a bit off. And not the most “scandalous” for the purpose of political ousting.

Agree with you about this. But I've learned to ignore any "side" corporate stuff, unless it is a workplace drama. 

 

23 hours ago, gilaswan said:

Also, what’s with that girl on the marketing team? She’s a double agent for step mum?

One sided crush on Tae Ha, and I think she is the mysterious person playing with lighter. Not necessarily double agent.

 

23 hours ago, gilaswan said:

I’m hanging around cos I want to know why grandpa has that painting, how Midam is related to Yeon Woo’s family, if she’s able to return to Joseon and prevent the death of her husband, is her “future” in Joseon or present day Seoul. 

Same reasons for me too. I am curious how they will wrap the story up. 

 

 

[ktcjdrama]

On 12/9/2023 at 12:38 PM, mademoiselle said:

That said, whose house would have so many white sheets to wash in a day? 🙄

Haha.... and to have the clothes line set up where there are automatic garden sprinklers.... 

[mademoiselle]

BTS

 

[mademoiselle]

New stills

Are these two trying to learn swimming? 😆

[mademoiselle]

New stills

This had better NOT be a teaser only!

 

Pre-release

 

[gilaswan]

@mademoiselle Ah… Moon Sang Min… whatever happened to him? Nothing since Under the Queen’s Umbrella? 

 

Half brother was okay as the gay prince. Perhaps the range of emotions required weren’t great. I feel he’s not doing so well as a deranged/angry/off kilter rich kid. The expressions aren’t convincing - smiles look plastic and the glare looks soulless. I think my cat has a wider range of expressions than he. 😐

[mademoiselle]

21 minutes ago, gilaswan said:

@mademoiselle Ah… Moon Sang Min… whatever happened to him? Nothing since Under the Queen’s Umbrella? 

He has a drama (noona-dongsaeng romance) coming next year.

https://janghaven.com/topic/1125-wedding-impossible-웨딩-임파서블-upcoming-2024/

 

22 minutes ago, gilaswan said:

I think my cat has a wider range of expressions than he. 😐

OMG, I died

[abs-oluteM]

Oooooo I cannot wait to watch tonight’s! The romance took off , there was a kiss . But Tae Ha also finds out about his fate from that mysterious lady

Pre-released eps 7 

 

Preview eps 8

 

[mademoiselle]

 

[Tofu]

@mademoiselle I didn't know any of the other wedding traditions except for Thailand. I recognized that right away. They should have given them the flower decoration that comes with it too. 😅

 

I like the progression in their relationship. I also really like both leads together on and off screen. They are really cute! 

 

[mademoiselle]

New stills

 

Spoiler

 

 

@Tofu I know none of them, except the Chinese, but even that I recognised because of the character. I don't know if that is indeed part of the culture.

Edited December 16, 2023 by mademoiselle

[gilaswan]

I like the story. My same grouse is the storytelling. It’s bad, which is unfortunate for a good story. 

 

1. I fail to see how the fashion show leak makes grandpa as angry as he is. There’s no clear build up as to why it would make him as angry as he became and he just comes across as a temperamental old man. 

 

2. They went from picking Yeon Woo as designer to the fashion show itself within 1 episode? 2 episodes? But there is no clear show of how much time had progressed. These things take weeks if not months to develop. How is time flowing in this drama?

 

3. Jealous office girl is very extra. How did that little flashback office spat place her in his apparent good books? Nothing significant happened except for the colleague telling her not to be a bootlicker by working over lunch. And then suddenly she is favoured because she’s good with sandwich working lunches?

 

Aiyoh, there are a few more gripes I could pick out, but am I the only one who thinks that either the script is lacking or the editing is presenting many gaps? Interactions with secretary and his sister also seem very pointless and do not add to the story. Does it even matter that he has a sister?

[gilaswan]

Did anyone wonder how Yeonwoo and Sa Wol  managed to get ID to board the plane to Jeju?? 😅

 

Now I’m really wondering who Grandpa is and if he’s good or bad… 

[mademoiselle]

This is for those with a mild shipping heart for these two. Look! Why are they sticking so close to one another. It's cold, are they staying close for warmth?

 

[mademoiselle]

BTS

 

 

New Stills

 

Edited December 20, 2023 by mademoiselle

[mademoiselle]

Pre-release

 

New stills

 

Spoiler

 

 

[abs-oluteM]

No wonder I had a hard time figuring out grandfather...I had initially thought he really loved Tae Ha and would end up being YeonWoo's ally. But the big bad wolf is really him. It was he who had his mother locked up in that annexxe. He wanted her to die because he needed Min Hye Sook's father's company to save SH. With the mother out of the way , he could get MHS to marry his son.

 

I love that in eps 9 , Tae Ha realised that he has been living his grandfather's dream - pretty much the old man moulded him to be that obedient child. But now with YW in the picture , she has become his priority and he will not let her go. In return she said she wants to live for now and that she will not run away from fate. She will put everything back in place and he says they should do it together. 

 

Preview Ep 10

 

 

[mademoiselle]

As we learnt the truth about Haraboji re: using Min Hye Suk's father's company to save SH Group, does it coincide with Joseon period where killing off Yeon Woo's family saves the Kang family?

 

Building a tombstone praising Yeon Woo as "열녀" (a woman who dies defending the honour of her chastity or virginity) in Joseon would probably earn some recognition from the Royal for the Kang family. And, does killing off her parents would transfer their wealth to the Kang, just like how in the present time, Haraboji "stole" Min's family wealth?

 

What is the significance of Yeon Woo's watch and painting to Haraboji?

 

Why can't Tae Ha just go treat his heart now. We're in the present, this can be fixed!

[gilaswan]

Story telling is still so messy. Like @mademoiselle, I have questions too.

 

Why does grandad suddenly despise Yeon Woo so much? He liked her well enough when she snagged the deal with Midam. What’s with the sudden animosity?

 

What’s with the present changing the past either? How is this time loop affecting the past? Why does mother’s diary suddenly continue to be filled up? I don’t see how Yeon Woo has done anything materially different in present day that has a backward effect on time.

 

Why does jealous co-worker suddenly want to go all good to resign from her job? Even coming clean with Yeon Woo that she messed up the fashion show. That came out of nowhere.

 

Is this just bad editing? There seems to be a lot of logic leaps for the viewer. It’s very frustrating but I do want to know if her solution is to return to Joseon (can she even do that?) or remain in present day to fix modern Tae Ha’s future?

[mademoiselle]

New stills

 

 

[abs-oluteM]

6 hours ago, gilaswan said:

Is this just bad editing?

They are trying to tell and do a lot in 12 episodes. I think that is possibly why a lot of things are not properly explained. I am very surprised that jealous co-worker would suddenly confess her wrongdoings to Yeon Woo. Like why? LOL...

 

8 hours ago, mademoiselle said:

Why can't Tae Ha just go treat his heart now. We're in the present, this can be fixed!

I think in episode 8 the professor mentioned that there's not much they can do with his heart - he said it was too messed up and that they were buying time. 

 

The story telling here is not the best and I don't see how the present changed the past either. Fortunately I like the pairing and I hope that she will stay here in the present where they get their happy ending.  Bonus is that  Bae In Hyuk has the sweetest dimpled smile.. I enjoy watching Tae Ha being in love with Yeon Woo. 

[abs-oluteM]

Recaps for episode 11 in spoiler

Spoiler

On this day, Min Hye-sook (Jin Kyung) told Park Yeon-woo and Kang Tae-ha (Bae In-hyuk) the truth that it was Kang Sang-mo (Cheon Ho-jin) who killed Kang Tae-ha's mother, Seo Yoon-hee (Nam Gyu-ri), saying, "It was your grandfather who killed Seo Yoon-hee." Kang Tae-ha shed tears over the unbelievable and shocking truth, and Min Hye-sook warned Park Yeon-woo, "You too, be careful."

 

Kang Tae-ha confessed to Park Yeon-woo, "Honestly, I'm scared. I don't want to check the facts with grandfather or I can't pretend not to know." Park Yeon-woo said, "You may be scared, but I trust Tae-ha's decision. Instead, Tae-ha, don't ignore your heart. Don't run away, because I'm by your side."

 

The next day, Yoo Ha-na (played by Kwon Ah-reum) confessed to Kang Tae-ha and Park Yeon-woo that she had been spying on Kang Tae-ha under the orders of Kang Sang-mo.

Yoo Ha-na presented the cell phone containing the conversation with Kang Sang-mo as evidence and said, "There is also a photo of Park Yeon-woo that I sent. He knew that the two of you had a contract marriage. The fact that the bride did not come on the wedding day was also the result of the chairman's hand. It’s all a lie,” she said. She added, "I'm sorry. I'm ashamed that I deceived the people who trusted me. I will take responsibility for what I did in some way."

 

Kang Tae-ha went to see Kang Sang-mo. She asked Kang Tae-ha, "Did you know from the beginning that Yeon-woo and I were going to get married by contract? Was it you,  grandfather who made her stay in the separate building that day?" TH was furious and said, "Someone obviously locked the door from the outside that day. You left mother alone in her annex and lied and said that CEO Min did it all, right?"

 

In response, Kang Sang-mo said, "It's for my child. If it weren't for Yoon-hee, my son wouldn't have ended up like that. How dare you. You are my child too," and "I was the one who raised you until now when you were alone. I saved your life." However, Kang Tae-ha shouted, "No, you pushed me into hell. I shook off my mother who was holding my hand and suffered from her guilt for the rest of my life. My heart was all messed up because I hated CEO Min."

 

Kang Sang-mo said, "You're giving up everything because of a woman who doesn't even know the basics? You're a failure too. Do you think I'll forgive the woman who made you like this?" Then Kang Tae-ha said, "Don't touch that person. Don't do anything. I am no longer that grandfather's grandson. I'll never forgive you for letting mother die like that." In response, Kang Sang-mo slapped Kang Tae-ha.

 

In the end, Kang Tae-ha collapses as he leaves Kang Sang-mo's house. At that time, Park Yeon-woo was taken aback by the doctor's words, "Tae-ha's heart won't last long if left like this. He will need to be hospitalized."

 

Kang Sang-mo visited Min Hye-sook. Kang Sang-mo said, "What you did was when you had nothing to lose. It was arrogant," and Min Hye-sook said, "As long as Yeon-woo is there, Tae-ha will never come back. Yeon-woo is not sick like Seo Yoon-hee."

 

At that time, Park Yeon-woo visited Cheon-myeong (played by Lee Young-jin). Cheonmyeong said, "After 100 days of coming here, the last flower will fall. On that day, the door to return to Joseon will open. It's okay if Aegi doesn't go back, but if you stay here, Taeha Kang's heart  will stop. "

 

Park Yeon-woo said, “If I stay here, that person will die. Does that mean that it is my fate?” Cheonmyeong said, “If the past cannot be changed, the present cannot be changed either.”

Park Yeon-woo shed tears, saying to Kang Tae-ha, "Now I know why my mother's books are the way they are and why I came here. Don't worry. Everything will be fine."

 

When Kang Sang-mo received a call from Park Yeon-woo saying, "I will visit you tomorrow," he called someone and said, "Go ahead with the matter," and seemed to be planning things, creating anxiety.

 

Park Yeon-woo said, "Apologise. If one has committed a sin, as a human being you should ask for forgiveness. Grandfather was everything to that person who lost his life. You took advantage of his trusting and loving heart. Your vain greed hurt Tae-ha more. Do not hurt Tae-ha any more."  At the same time, she got down on her knees and said, "If you have any idea of how I feel about my grandfather, please give Taeha a chance to forgive you grandfather. Please just this once so you don't have to hurt him anymore," but Kang Sang-mo left the room.

 

The moment Park Yeon-woo was about to leave the house, someone kidnapped her. Kang Tae-ha saw the address along with the photo of Park Yeon-woo's kidnapping and immediately went to save her.

 

At that time, Park Yeon-woo told the kidnapper she had a stomachache and tried to run away, but failed. At that moment, Kang Tae-ha appeared with the police and hugged Park Yeon-woo, saying, "I'm really sorry."

 

Hwang Myung-soo (played by Lee Jun-hyuk) visited Kang Sang-mo. Hwang Myung-soo said, "How does it feel to be abandoned by your beloved grandson? It took a long time to get here. Do you understand now? How does it feel to lose a precious person? This is what you did to me 23 years ago." "Your son killed my wife, ' he said.

 

At that time, Park Yeon-woo heard that Kang Tae-ha had received a text message from an unknown number and said, "It's strange that everything is going on as if I was waiting for it."

 

Hwang Myung-soo said, "My family died in an accident caused by your son. Kang Sang-mo, you killed them. I even changed the surgery to save my child, but they all died. You killed them all. I tried to save my son. I was unlucky, " he said. In the end, Hwang Myung-soo grabbed Kang Sang-mo by the collar and strangled him.

 

At that time, Kang Tae-ha appeared and pushed Hwang Myung-soo. Hwang Myung-soo said, "Kang Sang-mo is a shameless and ugly old man who only blames others," and Kang Tae-ha said, "Are you the one who sent me Yeon-woo's photo? Did you do it all by hiding behind CEO Min until now?"

 

Kang Tae-ha knelt in front of Hwang Myeong-soo, and at that time, Hwang Myeong-soo threw a jar, saying, "You are going to die.” At that time, the image of Park Yeon-woo running toward Kang Tae-ha and Kang Tae-ha falling down was depicted.

 

 

In particular, in the trailer that followed, Park Yeon-woo said, "There are only a few days left. This is the only way to save that person. Now I'm going back. To my Joseon." " I hope you remember it for a long time. Even if it's just a trace of staying here for a while."

In response, Kang Tae-ha said, “I don’t like it,” and shed tears while hugging Park Yeon-woo. Park Yeon-woo then concluded, "I am grateful. I love you," raising expectations for the next development.