Following the success of The Atypical Family and Hierarchy, Netflix is back to entertaining K-drama fans with its latest political thriller The Whirlwind. Know all about the plot, ending and other details of The Whirlwind here.
Directed by If You Wish Upon Me fame Kim Yong-wan, The Whirlwind makes for one of the best political K-dramas of 2024. The Netflix original focuses on a fierce political rivalry between the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister for the Economic Affairs of South Korea.
Starring Kill Boksoon actor Sol Kyung-gu and The World of the Married fame Kim Hee-ae, The Whirlwind is penned by acclaimed scriptwriter Park Kyung-soo, known for the hit political K-drama trilogy — The Chaser, Empire of Gold and Punch.
Spoilers ahead!
The Whirlwind K-drama ending explained: Does Park Dong-ho survive in the end?
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Throughout the first 11 episodes of the Netflix K-drama The Whirlwind, viewers see South Korean Prime Minister and Acting President Park Dong-ho (Sol) trying to expose the corruption seeping through the Blue House due to former President Jang’s (Kim Hong-pa) ties with the fraudulent Gaejin Group. Park is also determined to avenge the death of his close friend and assemblyman, Seo Gi-tae, who was initially investigating the Blue House case. However, with Deputy Prime Minister of Economy Jung Soo-jin (Kim) reprimanding him for his actions, a fierce political battle ensues.
Soo-jin, her husband Han Min-ho (Lee Hae-young) and Jang had accepted donations from the Vice Chairman of Daejin Group, Kang Sang-woon (Kim Young-min). So, Dong-ho exposing the Daejin Group would also expose them. Therefore, Soo-jin risks everything to ensure their secret is not revealed to the public.
In the finale episode, Dong-ho confronts Soo-jin on a hilltop. The latter assumes Dong-ho has evidence that she had killed former President Jung and gets ready to surrender. However, Man-gil (Kang Sang-won) informs her that Dong-ho has an empty phone in the form of evidence and is lying to her.
This forces Dong-ho to act quickly, and he tears off buttons from Soo-jin’s coat, takes her red handkerchief, and jumps off the cliff. He frames Soo-jin and takes this step, thinking his sacrifice would be worth it. Soon, Soo-jin is arrested on the charge of his murder.
Later, when Soo-jin is interrogated at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, she learns that Dong-ho left her a choice. He has written a will that proves her innocence but only if she admits to all the corruption charges and exposes the other culprits.
Soo-jin agrees. However, even though she names all the corrupt politicians and officials involved in the PE fund scam, she denies direct involvement and is released.
The Whirlwind ending: What happens to Soo-jin in the end?
No, Soo-jin’s dream of becoming the Acting President of South Korea after Park’s sacrifice remains unfulfilled.
During her investigation, Soo-jin exposes most of the truth but cleverly conceals her role in the PE fund scam. But as she gets ready to become the Acting President of South Korea, she’s undone once again by Dong-ho, who had Jeong-yeong bug her office with a hidden camera before his death. Soon, Man-gil, who is now being publicly blamed for murdering Jang, meets Soo-jin in her office and begs her to reveal the truth, as the whole conversation gets live-streamed. Soo-jin then rightfully gets arrested for her crimes.
In the final moments of the K-drama The Whirlwind, Soo-jin finds herself in the same prison cell from 30 years ago. She realises then that she was arrested for being an honest citizen and standing up for her country; but now, for getting involved in corruption. As she looks at the wall where she had once inscribed ‘democracy live long,’ she concedes that she had let herself down, having done all the wrong things that she once stood against.
She also reflects on Dong-ho’s actions, which were throughout right and regrets for turning her back on him and her country.
Watch all episodes of the Netflix series The Whirlwind here.
(Hero and Featured image: Courtesy Netflix)
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Sushmita is a writer with a passion for crafting engaging and informative stories. An avid fan of K-pop and K-dramas, Sushmita mostly writes about Korean culture and entertainment. When not writing, you can find Sushmita dancing, reading, collecting books, learning about fashion, art, motion pictures, and appreciating BTS.
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