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On October 6, 2024, at 9:10 pm (KST), the final episode of the romantic comedy series DNA Lover premiered on TV Chosun, featuring Jung In-sun, Choi Si-won, Lee Tae-hwan, and Jung Yoo-jin.
The show follows Han So-jin, a genetic researcher at the Beneficial Gene Center. She is on a quest to find her ideal "DNA Lover" after facing repeated relationship failures due to infidelity. Jung In-sun plays So-jin, while Choi Si-won portrays Shim Yeon-woo, a skilled obstetrician and son of the hospital's president.
Lee Tae-hwan plays So-jin's friend Seo Kang-hoon, a firefighter. Jung Yoo-jin appears as Jang Mi-eun, a polyamorous romance columnist and one of Yeon-woo's ex-partners.
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In the previous episode, Yeon-woo and So-jin fight for survival as Yi-myung seeks deadly revenge rooted in a dark past, ultimately meeting his end. In the final episode of DNA Lover, So-jin and Yeon-woo confess their feelings and choose to embrace love over a DNA match, culminating in a heartfelt reunion and a new beginning.
DNA Lover final episode recap: So-jin chooses love over DNA, while Kang-hoon and Mi-eun find new beginnings
The final episode of DNA Lover begins with Han So-jin in tears, overwhelmed with regret for not saying a final goodbye to Yeon-woo. While Yeon-woo, now a firm believer in destiny, feels that creating destiny through DNA could lead to unintended tragedies like death. With this belief, he’s content to leave the country.
In the next scene, Kang-hoon visits So-jin’s home, where a frail So-jin opens the door only to faint. Kang-hoon, initially shocked, cares for her until she regains consciousness. Before leaving, he tells her not to be too hurt and ponders what he can do to bring her happiness.
Later, Kang-hoon runs into Mi-eun at a roadside food stall. Over a shared meal, Kang-hoon reveals that he hoped after Yeon-woo’s departure, So-jin would move on, perhaps with him by her side. However, he’s no longer confident.
Mi-eun, sharing similar feelings, admits her guilt over her past actions. Kang-hoon reassures her, even surprising them both by eating liver, which he used to dislike.
Meanwhile in this episode of DNA Lover, A-ri visits Andrea, who regrets his inability to help Yi-myung and feels unworthy of his role as a priest. He decides to leave the church, believing he cannot love people the way God intends. A-ri, while saddened, supports his decision, glad that Andrea feels free from his internal conflict.
So-ri discovers their mother, Yoo Myung-hee, has cancer through a news article. She informs So-jin, and the two rush to see her. Mi-eun, who also learns the news is there but, leaves upon seeing the sisters arrive in an emotional state.
So-jin and So-ri beg their mother to undergo surgery. But Myung-hee, who feels she has never been there for her daughters, refuses to be a burden now. She plans to hold an art exhibition inspired by her impending death. So-jin, seeing a family painting in the collection, insists she fights to live. She embraces her mother, followed by So-ri.
Later in episode 16 of DNA Lover, Jung Tam appears on a dating show, which deeply upsets So-min. Seeing him getting mocked, crying, and reflecting on his past relationships on TV, triggers her anger. She confronts him. However, when Jung Tam tearfully confesses he still loves her, So-min breaks down, and they reconcile with a heartfelt hug.
Later, So-jin and Kang-hoon spend time together at a park. She admits to once cursing those who hurt her but now resents herself, for ignoring her and Yeon-woo’s feelings in pursuit of DNA compatibility.
She vows to follow her heart instead of destiny. When Kang-hoon asks what she’ll do if Yeon-woo never returns, she says she’ll cry and suffer to move on. Kang-hoon then requests one last hug, declaring he’s finally free of her.
Afterward, he sits alone in the park with the red scarf he had knitted for her. Unexpectedly, Mi-eun arrives. Quoting The Notebook, she praises Kang-hoon’s devotion to So-jin and criticizes So-jin for letting him go. Kang-hoon, while admitting he’s hurt, says he’s relieved and just wants So-jin to be happy.
They share a drink, and Kang-hoon offers her a handkerchief—a habit he picked up because of So-jin. Mi-eun hints that maybe, in the future, he’ll carry it for someone else, flustering them both. The two then head off to watch a late-night movie together.
At home, So-jin removes Kang-hoon’s name from her DNA lover board and covers it with a curtain.
In the next scene of DNA Lover, the episode fast-forwards to a year later. Yeon-woo returns to South Korea and works at a rural clinic. Andrea, now at an orphanage, is much happier after leaving the church. A-ri and So-jin visit the orphanage for health check-ups of the children. So-jin notices positive changes in both Andrea and A-ri.
Later, while conducting research on Parkinson’s disease, So-jin travels across rural Korea with her colleagues. They visit the village where Yeon-woo works, though they do not meet.
One evening in the final episode of DNA Lover, Yeon-woo speaks with a widower who is celebrating his late wife’s birthday. When Yeon-woo asks if he ever thought about breaking up to find happiness. The man replies that happiness is spending every moment with his wife, regardless of circumstances. Yeon-woo ponders upon it.
Jung Tam and So-min get married, with all their friends—including So-jin, A-ri, Andrea, and Mi-eun attending. Kang-hoon hosts the ceremony. However, everyone notices Yeon-woo’s absence and wonders.
After the wedding, So-jin visits the countryside again to deliver a report on a Parkinson’s patient. At the hospital, she meets the same elderly man who had spoken with Yeon-woo the previous night. However, he refuses treatment, preferring to reunite with his wife in death. Just as So-jin listens to him, Yeon-woo calls her name.
Shocked, she learns about his decision to leave the city and gynecology and be a doctor in the rural village. She blames herself for his hand injury. Yeon-woo reassures her that he’s healed and rediscovered his passion for being a doctor. So-jin before leaving, shares that she has gone to the airport to see him off that day but he has left before her saying goodbye.
Kang-hoon, meanwhile, surprises Mi-eun on the set of her dating advice show with flowers. Seeing him, during the broadcast, Mi-eun declares she’s no longer polyamorous. She now believes it’s impossible to love multiple people when the person struggles to love even one properly.
So-jin later in episode 16 of DNA Lover, returns to Yeon-woo’s hospital, only to find him absent. She writes him a slow post letter asking to restart their relationship.
In the final scene of DNA Lover, Yeon-woo writes So-jin a letter about the sea seeming warmer than usual but doesn’t send it. As he turns from the mailbox, he sees So-jin standing infront of him.
She tells him she’s letting go of her DNA lover because of him, and wants to risk starting over their relationship. Following this they confess their love for each other and embrace.
The final episode of DNA Lover ends with So-jin proposing they visit a lighthouse after she posts her letter. So-jin reflects that while Yeon-woo may not be her DNA match, she doesn’t care anymore. She chooses love over science and abandons her DNA lover theory and they walk towards the camera together, hand in hand.
A conclusive ending of DNA Lover with no hints for Season 2
The final episode of DNA Lover does not suggest a Season 2. It wraps up the main storyline with So-jin and Yeon-woo reuniting and committing to each other. Their character arcs are resolved, and the primary conflict of love versus DNA is addressed, providing a sense of closure. So-jin's family also reunites.
Meanwhile, Kang-hoon and Mi-eun embark on their own journeys. The series further addresses the threat to Yeon-woo's family with Yi-myung's death, solidifying the narrative's conclusion.
Notably, there has been no official statement from the production company, director, or cast members about a second season.
Episodes of DNA Lover are available for streaming on Viki.
