It’s time to close the chapter on this tale of grief and healing, as our protagonists put their regrets to rest. At long last, they embark hand-in-hand on a call for justice, and along the way, they’ll come to find that love — in all its forms — is far more powerful than hate can ever be.
EPISODES 13-14
The truth behind Geon-woo’s unjust death has been brought to light, and Seon-yul finally realizes the full events of that day. His heart condition had abruptly deteriorated, and that had been the catalyst that pushed his father to take the fall in exchange for an immediate heart transplant. His father had killed someone’s son to save his own; Seon-yul lives, now, because Geon-woo is dead.
Anguished by his own role in the murder, Seon-yul finally utters his first apology to Soo-hyun, tears spilling down his cheeks. He owes his life to her son, yet he’s squandered so much of it in futile vengeance against her, a fellow victim. In response, Soo-hyun reassures him that it’s not his fault, then apologizes in turn for the hurt she’s dealt to his family.
Resolving to expose Joon’s crimes and serve justice, Soo-hyun takes the evidence to an attorney. Unfortunately, Joon’s widespread influence stops them in their tracks, thwarting their press conference and news articles.
At home, there’s more trouble brewing. Cowed by Joon’s threats to Soo-hyun’s safety, Soo-ho ransacks her room and steals Geon-woo’s tablet. Vindictively, Joon smashes it with a golf club, crowing that Soo-hyun will have her hands tied without the original evidence.
Still, Joon hasn’t accounted for Soo-hyun’s resilience and ingenuity. Circumventing Joon’s media embargo by holding a press conference for her book, Soo-hyun announces that her next book will be based on true events — the actual culprit behind the murder of her son, whom she boldly names as Joon.
The ensuing media frenzy leads to the opening of a criminal case, though Joon weasels his way through with honeyed words and manipulative PR. Desperate to topple Joon, Seon-yul attempts to provoke him, and they end up tussling on the ledge of a rooftop — but he’s quickly bested by Joon’s lackeys, and his voice recorder gets confiscated.
Amidst the scrutiny, Soo-hyun holds a public protest. At first, she’s alone, but she’s soon met with an outpouring of support from all the people she’s helped and uplifted over the years. Eventually, people arrive to join her in her protest, standing in solidarity even when Joon’s aides try to disrupt it. Seon-yul shields Soo-hyun from their rotten eggs, and amidst the crowd, we see familiar faces — Min-hyuk, Soo-jin, Soo-ho’s brother, and Yoo-ri.
Just then, a nearby billboard lights up with a news broadcast. It’s Soo-ho, delivering breaking news to screens all across the nation — and exposing Joon as a criminal. Soo-ho has been playing the long con; after Seon-yul had approached him to join hands, he’d ingratiated himself with Joon, waiting for the right time to strike.
That time has come. Courtesy of Joon’s mistreated secretary, whom Seon-yul had maneuvered into their plan, Soo-ho airs videos of Joon smashing the tablet and smugly admitting to his crimes on the rooftop. Then, Soo-ho takes out Geon-woo’s tablet — the real one — and plays the damning evidence on live television.
With the nation’s fervent support turned against him in an instant, Joon goes to trial. After a series of witness testimonies, from Hye-geum to Seon-yul, Joon is dealt his verdict — guilty, with life imprisonment. After the courtroom clears out, Soo-hyun envisions Geon-woo sitting next to her, comforting her like he always used to.
Now that everything is over, Soo-hyun and Soo-ho finally have a heart-to-heart. She has a confession to make — through Geon-woo’s video, she’s realized that she hadn’t shut the gate properly that day. Joon had sealed Soo-ho’s lips with the CCTV footage, knowing the guilt would utterly destroy Soo-hyun. It still weighs heavy on her, but she now knows that she cannot allow it to consume her.
Under a wishing tree, Soo-hyun bids goodbye to Seon-yul, urging him to dream, heal, and truly live. They’ve been mired in their grief and agony for too long, and it’s time to step into a brighter future. “Let’s not live like barren trees. Let’s nurture new sprouts and live,” Soo-hyun says, a light, genuine smile gracing her lips.
Six years later, we catch up with our main cast once again. Thankfully, Mom is living well, with Soo-ho earnestly taking care of her. Yoo-ri has launched her own fashion brand, while Soo-jin and Soo-ho’s brother are happily dating, hee. Now that they’re finally able to leave their tragedies in the past, Soo-ho continues to forge a trailblazing path as a righteous news director, while Soo-hyun and Yoo-ri have reconciled.
Having finally chosen the path towards healing, Soo-hyun now spends her time volunteering at an orphanage, taking care of the lovely children there. As for Seon-yul, he’s gotten back on his feet, having returned to medical school and started work at a hospital. He attends the book signing event for Soo-hyun’s latest publication, aptly titled Wonderful World, and their gazes meet. As they smile at each other, Seon-yul texts her: I’m okay, now.
What a poignantly heartfelt end to a drama that first put our hearts through a wringer, then gently patched us back up with a raw and humble sincerity. It did have its makjang elements, and there were a few narrative choices played up for drama’s sake, but ultimately it knew what story it wanted to tell. By forcing our protagonists to spiral to their lowest points, the show demonstrated that it is possible to climb up from the depths of despair, no matter how bleak and hopeless one’s life might seem.
At its core, Wonderful World is a tale of healing and human connection. It’s why the betrayals cut so deep, because of the unconditional trust and vulnerable love underlying them — and why the finale episode was so compelling, because of the intangible yet invaluable strength of sincere bonds. Soo-hyun didn’t have to go the extra mile to rally support behind her; through her unwavering kindness and resilience, she inspired others to take action.
For a drama about picking ourselves up after a fall and walking forward, its conclusion feels satisfyingly in line with its core message. Trauma doesn’t simply disappear, and tragedies can’t be erased — but if we allow the sands of time to slip through our fingers, rather than clutch them in our fists, so too will our pain ease and fade.
It’s a lesson that our protagonists have learnt from each other over the course of their journey, spurring each other to grow and accept a different perspective. This is particularly apparent in the scene where Seon-yul gathered signatures from fellow victims of Joon’s foundation, appealing to them with the empathy he’s learnt from Soo-hyun. He’s allowing himself to leave his manipulative scheming in the past, and present his unfettered self with an honest vulnerability.
Our drama may have ended, but our characters live on, stepping into a new chapter. They’re no longer going through the motions with their minds trapped in their memories, but living in the present and cherishing all that the world has to offer. For all that the human heart can harbor hate and vengeance, it is also capable of hope and love — and sometimes, reaching out to those around you might just be the first step to healing.