‘Frankly Speaking’ is a Korean drama premiered on JTBC on May 1, 2024. The series comprises 12 episodes and is available for streaming on Netflix and HiTv. It falls under the genres of comedy and melodrama. The drama was written by Choi Kyung-sun and directed by Kang Ji-yeon.
Cast And Characters
- Ko Kyung-Pyo as Song Ki-baek – He is the main character who struggles with blurting out the truth uncontrollably.
- Kang Han-na as On Woo-joo – The main female character has endured a difficult past but managed to navigate through life, striving for happiness despite numerous challenges.
- Joo Jong-hyuk as Kim Jung-heon is a celebrity with a history with On Woo-Joo.
- Shin Jung-Geun as Song In-soo – Ki-Baek’s father.
- Kang Ae-sim as Na Yoo-jung – Ki-baek’s mother.
- Baek Joo-hee as On Bok-ja – Woo-ju’s stepmom has taken care of her since she was very young and also owns a beauty salon.
Plot Summary
In “Frankly Speaking,” we follow the story of Song Ki-Baek, a 33-year-old announcer at Ultra FM who develops a disorder that causes him to speak impulsively. On the other hand, there’s On Woo-Ju, a dedicated variety show writer who is determined to create compelling television. Their lives become intertwined when Woo-Ju notices Ki-Baek’s condition and decides to feature him on a reality dating show she is developing. As they collaborate on the project, both face personal and professional challenges. The series explores their journey of finding solace and understanding in each other amidst the pressures of their work and personal lives. As Ki-Baek’s truth-telling condition becomes a focal point of the show, it delves into themes of authenticity and human connection in a world often driven by superficial appearances.
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Does Ki Baek’s Uncontrollable Outburst Of Truth At The Award Ceremony Change Everything?
At the award ceremony, everything seemed to be going smoothly for Ki-Baek until a member of the videographer team called him over, advising him to apply some powder because his face appeared too oily. He complied, and as the powder was applied with a puff, that’s when the switch was triggered.
When it was his turn to host, Ki-Baek started speaking about the award winner normally until he unexpectedly blurted out, “Who will win this award? It’s pretty obvious.” The crowd laughed, thinking it was a joke, but Ki-Baek was confused and shocked, realizing his truth-telling “switch” had been activated. Trying to regain control, he nervously glanced at his notes and attempted to stick to the script, but he slipped up again, saying, “Only one of the nominees is here tonight,” and then adding, “For a small award show like this, only the winners show up.” Quickly, he announced the winner as Park Se-mi, though it wasn’t his role to do so—he looked to his co-host for guidance, who smiled and went along with it as the audience applauded.
Afterward, he hurried backstage, drinking water and expressing doubt about his ability to continue. Despite this, he was compelled to return to the stage to host the next segment. As the winner gave their speech, Ki-Baek nervously drank water and shook on stage. Moving on to present the award for “Best Sports Entertainer of the Year,” Ki-Baek blurted out, “Boy, this is already the 19th award,” and awkwardly mentioned it wasn’t a major award, presenting it himself and congratulating the winner hastily before rushing away.
Later, during the winner’s thank-you speech, Ki-Baek couldn’t contain himself and loudly questioned why everyone thanked such a long list of people, uncontrollably speaking through the mic. He hurried through the next award introduction, making another significant mistake when introducing the winner, Lee Jeong-un, blurting out facts about his alleged drug use and getting slapped by Lee Jeong-un in response, causing Ki-Baek to fall flat to the ground in embarrassment.
Will Ki-Baek’s Truth Bombs Prompt His Willing Live TV Resignation From JBC News Studio?
Ki-Baek’s inability to lie is both a curse and a blessing. As a news announcer, his honesty often leads to awkward situations. He unintentionally exposes truths others avoid, disrupting the polished image of the broadcasting world. Ki-Baek reveals flaws, hypocrisy, and hidden agendas without filtering, whether during live broadcasts, award shows, or casual conversations.
Under societal pressure and with his work life already in turmoil, Ki-Baek decides to resign live on air. He recalls being a top achiever in high school, earning good grades, and working hard to become an announcer at JBC, his dream workplace. In his resignation speech, he declares that he cannot lie and believes news programs devoid of truth, fairness, and justice are worthless. He states that this is why he must be honest and why he is leaving the corrupt news studio, which he can no longer stand. His colleagues are shocked as he stands, bows, and leaves.
As Ki-Baek exits, he encounters his boss, Kim Sang-Jin, who angrily confronts him. When Ki-Baek sneezes, his truth-telling switch is triggered again. He points at his boss, declaring that he stinks. As his boss almost raises his hand to strike, Ki-Baek hugs him, shocking everyone further, and then bites his boss’s ear. Leaving the news studio, he ignores his boss’s threats of being fired while his boss kneels on the floor in pain.
Does Woo Ju Control Ki Baek’s Truth-Telling Switch?
During their multiple unplanned meet-ups, especially one late evening where they share their latest life struggles, Ki Baek starts to notice something unusual. After that meeting, he realizes the next day that he can lie to his mom about the air conditioner, something he couldn’t do before. This incident makes Ki Baek think deeply about Woo Ju and her possible effect on him. While lying on his floor, he wonders what makes her different and how she might be connected to his condition.
Ki Baek reflects on his inability to lie, a condition that has troubled him for a long time. He starts to piece together that his “switch” seems to turn off when he is with Woo Ju. The connection seems more than coincidental, especially since it was only after their meeting that his compulsive truth-telling stopped.
As he recalls more interactions with Woo Ju, Ki Baek thinks about the times he felt normal around her and how his condition seemed to be under control. This leads him to conclude that Woo Ju might be the one controlling his truth-telling. However, this realization comes with a mix of emotions—relief, confusion, and fear. He is unsure whether to tell her about his suspicion because he worries about how she might react. The fear of losing her support or changing their relationship weighs heavily on him.
Finally, Ki Baek decides to have an honest conversation with Woo Ju. In a heart-to-heart talk, he tells her about her special power over him. He explains how her presence allows him to feel normal again, to think and speak without the compulsion to tell the truth. Woo Ju listens and promises to support him, understanding the gravity of his condition. This moment brings them closer together, solidifying their bond and trust.
As they work together, their relationship evolves, and they develop a stronger partnership. They learn to rely on each other, not just for professional support but also for personal strength. Ki Baek’s honesty about his struggles and Woo Ju’s willingness to help him underscores the themes of truth, trust, and mutual support in their relationship. This partnership highlights the importance of understanding and accepting each other’s vulnerabilities, ultimately making their bond unbreakable.
What Will Song Ki-Baek And On Woo-Joo Create Together?
Woo-Joo convinces Song Ki-Baek to collaborate on a new dating show project. They first meet with a man named Dr. Kim and sign an agreement with him. Song Ki-Baek takes the agreement very seriously and shares its importance with Woo-Joo to ensure everything goes smoothly and to address any potential issues.
Woo-Joo then discusses with her colleagues the possibility of changing the show’s concept after coming up with a new idea with Ki-Baek. With his approval, they began working on creating a reality dating show that allows anyone to participate, not just celebrities.
Did On Woo-Joo And Kim Jeong-Heon Have A Shared Past?
Yes, they have a history. As Kim Jeong-Heon lay on his couch, looking at pictures of their recent past, On Woo-Joo admits she was deeply angry with him. She explains that being angry felt like losing, but she couldn’t help it. She was devastated and angry, but now she tells Kim Jeong-Heon that she’s no longer angry at him. She acknowledges that he wanted her to move on, and she believes she has, thanking him for closure.
Later, Kim Jeong-Heon visits On Woo-Joo’s stepmom’s beauty salon for a haircut. Her stepmom reveals that Woo-Joo liked him a lot and would talk about him endlessly, affectionately calling him ‘Heony’. She would spend nights with him, unbeknownst to her stepmom. The stepmom would cook kimchi and other dishes for him. She shares that Woo-Joo wears a naive smile at work to hide her true feelings, but her stepmom can tell when she’s hurt just by looking at her face. Despite this, the stepmom admits she doesn’t know what happened between them because Woo-Joo never told her. She tells Kim Jeong-Heon that it doesn’t matter if ‘Heony’ is a beggar or a celebrity; if he’s the kind of person who hurts her daughter, she’ll confront him.
Kim Jeong-Heon, tears in his eyes, apologizes profusely for coming so late and not realizing things sooner. He explains he came to apologize and admits he didn’t understand until it was too late. In a flashback, Kim Jeong-Heon’s mother had discussed marriage with Woo-Joo, mistakenly assuming her parents were both teachers working in the same region. Woo-Joo clarified that wasn’t true and revealed she works at a broadcasting station. Despite this misunderstanding, Kim Jeong-Heon’s mother expressed support for their marriage, needing time to convince her husband.
Returning to the present, Kim Jeong-Heon explains he thought he was protecting Woo-Joo by hiding her pain and shielding her from further hurt. However, Woo-Joo just wanted him to accept things as they were. He apologizes again to Woo-Joo’s stepmom, acknowledging he hurt her too. Unbeknownst to him, Woo-Joo overhears this conversation.
Later, Woo-Joo and Kim Jeong-Heon meet, and she tells him she’s come to understand and rationalize his actions. She reflects that perhaps he was trying to protect her and love someone with a challenging story. She loved him deeply, which made her rationalize and understand his perspective. She assures him not to apologize anymore.
How Did Ms. On Bok-Ja And On Woo-Joo Form A Bond And Begin Living Together?
Coming home from work, On Woo-Joo finds her stepmother eating alone and joins her. As they eat and drink together, Ms. On Bok-Ja shares her side of the story about how they first met. It all began when Woo-Joo was very young. Ms. On Bok-Ja was still quite young herself and had faced many challenges in life. She had lost her parents at a young age, and her first love had not worked out. To make matters worse, she suffered from a severe illness that seemed to be eating away at her body every day. Despite her struggles, she couldn’t afford medical treatment that might help her condition.
One day, she met a shaman who told her that she wasn’t destined to become a shaman herself but rather fated to die young due to her illness. Feeling hopeless and determined to end her life, she planned to eat one last meal before doing so. However, as she sat thinking about her fate, little Woo-Joo approached her on the street, saying she was hungry. Ms. On Bok-Ja fed her, initially planning to finish her meal and then carry out her plan. However, no one came looking for the child, and she realized Woo-Joo had no one else to turn to.
Moved by compassion, Ms. On Bok-Ja continued to feed Woo-Joo meal after meal, day after day. Their bond grew stronger with each passing day as they shared these moments. This act of kindness not only sustained Woo-Joo but also brought a new purpose and hope to Ms. On Bok-Ja’s life, ultimately saving her from the depths of despair.
Is ‘Frankly Speaking’ Suitable For Kids?
“Frankly Speaking” is a K-drama that tackles mature themes, complex issues, and intense situations, making it unsuitable for children. The show delves into topics like corruption, power struggles, political intrigue, conspiracies, office politics, workplace conflicts, personal secrets, relationships, social injustices, and inequality. Due to its serious themes and dramatic scenes, the show is rated 15+ by the Korean Media Rating Board, meaning it’s recommended for viewers aged 15 and older.
