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Family by Choice, which premiered on October 9, 2024, is a coming of age K-drama directed by Kim Seung-ho. Starring Hwang In-youp, Jung Chae-yeon, Bae Hyun-sung, Choi Won-young, and others, the 16-episode series is available for streaming on Rakuten Viki.
Adapted from the 2020 Chinese drama Go Ahead, Family by Choice tells the story of 3 childhood friends, San-ha (played by Hwang In-youp), Ju-won (played by Jung Chae-yeon), and Hae-jun (portrayed by Bae Hyun-sung).
They form a close, chosen family despite not being biologically related. Family by Choice follows their lives from high school to adulthood, focusing on their strong bond, which becomes complicated when San-ha and Hae-jun both fall for Ju-won. In the latest episodes 3 and 4, Hae-jun's father tries to convince him to move to the US, while San-ha's mother tries to mend ways with him.
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Family by Choice episodes 3-4 recap: Ju-won finds a secret admirer
In the third episode of Family by Choice, Hae-jun is shocked when he meets his birth father, who claims he didn’t know of his existence until now. His father gives him the address of his hotel and tells him to contact him if he needs anything. While initially happy to have found his biological father, Hae-jun is reminded of Jeong-jae, leaving him torn.
Ju-won, meanwhile, is excited after receiving a secret admirer’s letter. San-ha checks Ju-won's report card and asks her to read her textbooks rather than delivering love letters to him.
At home, San-ha notices Hae-jun is troubled and convinces him to reveal the truth. San-ha is suspicious of Hae-jun's birth father and suggests they visit Hae-jun’s aunt the next day. Ju-won gets busy trying to figure out who the admirer is. Meanwhile, Hae-jun and San-ha meet his aunt, who reveals that the man has lied.
He knew of Hae-jun all along but abandoned his mother to marry into a wealthy family. This revelation devastates Hae-jun, but San-ha insists they confront the man to learn why he has come back now. Ju-won feeling left out, tries to find out where they are planning to go the next day, much to her failure.
The next day, they confront the man, Hae-jun asks him if he came back for his organs. As they get up to leave, he admits he wants Hae-jun to go to America with him to inherit his wealth, as he has no children of his own. Fearing that his wife’s relatives will take his money, he needs an heir.
In Family by Choice episode 3, the father goes to meet Jeong-jae and promises money in return for helping convince Hae-jun to go emigrate with him. Jeong-jae is outraged, feeling insulted that the man thinks he can buy off the years he spent raising Hae-jun.
Ju-won and Park Dal walk in on the tense conversation, but they are quickly sent away. Park Dal, aware of the situation, subtly hints to Hae-jun about the man's presence.
Jeong-jae tells Hae-jun that he can do what he feels right but he would like to be his father for a little bit longer. Hae-jun confesses that he did not tell him about the situation since he was scared that he would ask him to go. He feels relieved when he overhears San-ha and Ju-won’s conversation, expressing their confidence that he would never leave them for a wealthy father.
San-ha's mother is shown with another child as she bumps into Hae-jun's father at a hotel entrance. Ju-won tells San-ha and Hae-jun that she will start dating soon.
In the fourth episode of Family by Choice, Ju-won discovers that her secret admirer is a boy from her school. As she goes on a date with him, his insensitive comment about her cheerful nature despite her family situation leaves her upset, feeling judged for being happy without a mother.
Though Ju-won is excited, her early return home sparks concern, especially from San-ha, who feels something is off. The boy later apologizes to Ju-won and asks if they can be friends, which she accepts.
In Family by Choice episode 4, San-ha’s situation becomes complicated when his estranged mother, Kwon Jeong-hui, reappears. She wants San-ha to reunite with her and meet his new half-sister. However, San-ha, still bitter over her abandonment, refuses to talk to her, and their meeting ends with San-ha asking her to live a happy life.
Ju-won comforts him and saves him while he almost walks infront of a truck. Later, Jeong-hui meets San-ha’s father, who is polite until she mentions taking San-ha away, which angers him. Jeong-jae seeks legal advice regarding Hae-jun.
Meanwhile, Jeong-jae encourages San-ha to address his unresolved feelings toward his mother. But San-ha remains adamant that it’s better to keep his distance to avoid painful memories, especially those involving his sister’s death.
In Family by Choice, San-ha and Hae-jun’s differing views on their mothers create a rift between them. Hae-jun encourages reconciliation, but San-ha believes it will only reopen old wounds.
Their conflict deepens until Ju-won takes them out to cool off, where she reveals that she doesn’t let people’s judgment about her lack of a mother bothers her. Her words stick with San-ha, who later reflects on them.
The next day, San-ha overhears Ju-won’s admirer making a similar comment about her family situation and informs Hae-jun. They confront the boy, but he remains silent as Ju-won has warned him not to say anything.
Ju-won enters, assuming that Hae-jun is beating the student up, but when she realizes the boy’s comment was hurtful, she apologizes to her brothers for not telling them earlier.
Their family dynamics are further strained when Jeong-hui tries to take San-ha to Seoul, using her young daughter to manipulate the situation. San-ha refuses, making it clear that he has no intention of going back with her. Hae-jun, trying to mediate, pushes for reconciliation.
In anger, San-ha calls Hae-jun stupid for believing that her mother will come back for him, leading Hae-jun to punch San-ha in return. San-ha retaliates, shouting that they were both abandoned by their mothers. With this, episode 4 of The Chosen Family comes to an end.
The next episode of Family by Choice is scheduled to air on October 23 at 08:50 pm KST on JTBC.
