Episode 5 of Family By Choice unfolds with tension and unresolved conflicts. The episode begins with a chilly atmosphere during a family dinner where Dae-wook is taken aback by Jung-hee’s unexpected arrival. Her presence reignites the rift between San-ha and Hae-joon, leading to a competitive standoff between the two. Dae-wook reprimands them for their poor table manners, causing both boys to leave the meal unfinished. Jung-jae, however, isn’t pleased with Dae-wook’s handling of the situation.
A week later, Joo-won discusses the ongoing strain between San-ha and Hae-joon with Dal, noting the tense family dinners. Determined to bring the boys together, she sets a goal of reconciling them by Hae-joon’s birthday. To ease the tension, she organizes a surprise bike outing, inviting both boys. Though initially reluctant, they agree to join Joo-won and Dal, hoping to mend their relationship.
On the weekend, Dal sneaks away from home, claiming she’s heading to her academy, only to meet Joo-won, San-ha, and Hae-joon for the bike event. However, the situation becomes more complex as classmates join, creating an unexpected social scene. When Joon-ho also arrives, Hae-joon and San-ha are visibly rattled by his closeness to Joo-won, and rivalry flares up again.
Amid the ride, Joo-won becomes exhausted and briefly collapses, alarming Hae-joon and San-ha. They assume a group of boys has wronged her, leading to a confrontation that results in all of them ending up at the police station. Dae-wook gets notified and, in a tense twist, demands a punishment for San-ha and Hae-joon. Ultimately, the misunderstanding is resolved with leniency, and Joo-won explains the boys’ intentions to protect her.
Back home, the group seems to reconcile, with Hae-joon and San-ha pretending to get along for Joo-won’s sake, though tensions simmer beneath the surface. At school, rumors start circulating about Dal’s possible feelings for Hae-joon, leading to confrontations that only deepen misunderstandings. However, Joo-won stands by Dal, helping to dispel the rumor and ease her feelings.
As Hae-joon’s birthday approaches, San-ha and Joo-won shop for a gift, with a comedic moment at checkout where they mistaken to be a couple and get a discount. During this, they encounter Jung-hee and So-hee who got injured while trying to meet San ha but Jung hee blames the incident on him. Joo won stands up for him adding that only good things happen where San ha is involved.
Finally, during Hae-joon’s birthday dinner, Aunt Yi-hyun’s suggestion that Hae-joon should consider moving to the USA with his biological father strikes a nerve with Jung-jae. This moment marks a climax in the episode, as family tensions rise again. However, Hae-joon makes a touching gesture by thanking San-ha for standing up for him. The episode concludes with the group starting to mend their relationships, setting the stage for the next chapter.
Episode 6 of Family By Choice brings a whirlwind of emotional confrontations, secrets, and subtle reconciliations, taking family drama to new heights. In this episode, Seo-hyun returns to meet Jung-jae, sparking the tension early on. Instead of reconnecting with her son, she gives Jung-jae an envelope of money as repayment for raising Hae-joon, choosing to keep their meeting a secret. Jung-jae, shocked and disappointed, insists she should meet her son. However, Seo-hyun refuses, worried about giving Hae-joon false hope since she cannot take him with her. Jung-jae returns most of the money, keeping only what he had lent her years ago.
Later, Hae-joon catches a glimpse of someone who looks like his mother but brushes it off. He, along with San-ha and Joo-won, goes to the rooftop, where they find San-ha asleep while drying his clothes. Suddenly, they receive news that So-hee, Jung-hee’s daughter, has gone missing. The three friends set out to find her, only to discover she has taken her mother’s purse to meet San-ha, ending up at a nearby restaurant. After a call from the restaurant owner, Dae-wook picks her up. San-ha, shocked to realize So-hee is Jung-hee’s daughter, scolds her for sneaking out.
At the noodle shop, Jung-hee confronts San-ha, blaming him for So-hee’s actions. Dae-wook stands up for San-ha, but Jung-hee insists she is the bigger person for “keeping the family together.” Tensions rise as Jung-hee demands an apology from San-ha, who responds with frustration, urging her to stop pretending to mend their fractured relationship.
This conflict reaches a boiling point when Dae wook takes Jung-hee away to talk and they start arguing with Dae wook trying to make Jung hee see how much San ha was affected by his sister’s death. Overwhelmed, San-ha suffers a panic attack, recalling the traumatic night of his sister’s death. He retreats home in silence, skipping dinner, leaving Hae-joon and Joo-won deeply concerned. Hae-joon later confides in Joo-won, expressing his realization of the “toxic family” dynamics San-ha had mentioned.
Over the week, Hae-joon and Joo-won take turns leaving breakfast for San-ha, hoping to encourage him to take care of himself despite the family troubles. Hae-joon eventually convinces San-ha that dealing with family issues doesn’t mean neglecting one’s well-being. He shares his own experiences, emphasizing that he, unlike San-ha, doesn’t have anyone to talk to about his struggles with family.
The story takes a heartfelt turn when Joo-won, along with her friend Dal, continues leaving encouraging notes for San-ha. Later, she goes out looking for him in the rain, showing her unwavering support despite his wish to be left alone. Her determination touches San-ha, and he finally breaks down at dinner, surrounded by his friends who have become his chosen family. In a tender rooftop scene, the friends bond over shared losses, with San-ha reminiscing about his late sister.
The following morning, a rejuvenated San-ha visits his sister’s tombstone with Dae-wook, finding solace in his father’s reassurance that his sister’s death was not his fault. Back to their routine, the kids prepare for school, and Hae-joon receives a photo of his newborn niece from Yi-hyun, reminding him of the bonds that still exist within his family.
On the way to school, Joo-won shares that Dal’s mother has invited them for a fancy lunch, raising San-ha’s suspicion that this gesture might come with strings attached. True to his hunch, Mrs. Park uses the occasion to criticize Dal in front of her friends, revealing an emotionally strained relationship. After the uncomfortable meal, the friends spend time at the beach, where San-ha encourages Dal to see her mother as flawed but human, comforting her.
The episode culminates in an unexpected revelation when Hae-joon learns his mother is back in town, a discovery that shakes him deeply. This is followed by a touching conversation on a rooftop ledge, where San-ha subtly hints at feelings between Dal and Hae-joon. As Joo-won loses her balance, San-ha catches her, creating a moment of tension and unspoken affection.
Thanks for reading. These episodes were really intriguing. Tell us what you think in the comments section