"THE SUNSET GOIN FULL CIRCLE" — Fans go into a frenzy as speculation of Sa-eon proposing to Hee-joo under the sunset goes viral

A recently leaked photo of the lead actors with a backdrop of sunset, believed to be from unaired episodes of When the Phone Rings, ignited excitement among fans. The image, now viral, captured Yoo Yeon-seok (Baek Sa-eon) and Chae Soo-bin (Hong Hee-joo) sharing an intimate, romantic moment against a stunning sunset backdrop.

Eagle-eyed fans quickly noticed that the outfits in the leaked photo match those in a previous set of spoiler images. The earlier leaked photos featured Sa-eon wearing black tuxedos holding a bouquet of flowers while Hee-joo, wearing white coordinate set, gazes at him with a radiant smile.

This fueled speculation that the series finale will showcase Sa-eon fulfilling his promise from episode 10—to propose to Hee-joo after overcoming their challenges. The addition of the backdrop of the sunset in the now-leaked photo made the fans even more excited.

The sunset was a recurring motif throughout the series, symbolizing pivotal moments in the characters' journey. Its significance only heightened the emotional stakes for fans eagerly awaiting the culmination of Sa-eon and Hee-joo’s love story.

One viewer of When the Phone Rings commented,

"THE SUNSET GOIN FULL CIRCLE."

"SAEON X HEEJOO PROPOSAL UNDER THE SUNSET????" posted one netizen.

"it looks like the same fit from the earlier engagement/pre wedding spoilers from the calendar, his suit and her dress," commented an X user.

"how it started >> how it was going >> how its finally ending sunsets are indeed only about their love, their journey and life. IM SCREAMING, CRYING, THROWING UP," read one post on X.

Social media platforms are abuzz with fans expressing their anticipation for the series finale. Fans have taken to the platform to express their excitement, with many declaring the sunset scene as a poetic end to the couple’s arc.

"Sajoo proposal under the sunset🥹 just like how their relationship started,at that reddish sunset moment back to the sky they also rewrite their story again that looks like the same suits & dress🥹our parents will bring us back to 'home'," posted one individual on X.

"truly love the choice of place of confessions by him. the first time at amusement park, he replaced her dark memories with their good ones wid his confession & now with sunset which was close to his heart, he made sure it becomes eternal fr both," remarked one more viewer of When the Phone Rings.

"He chose an amusement park to replace his dark memories with their good ones, ended it with his confession & now with the red sunset which always has a deep meaning for both of them, he made sure to fulfill his promise, make their love eternal with a proposal," speculated this X user.

However, some fans have taken the speculation a step further, suggesting that the finale might not just feature a proposal but an actual wedding.

"Okay, so they are kissing, and she is wearing white, the earlier released pictures had flower bouquets, how are we sure they are getting remarried in the last episode in a public ceremony," speculated this viewer.

Others, however, are cautiously optimistic, expressing hopes that the scene isn’t a figment of Sa-eon or Hee-joo’s imagination. Given the show’s penchant for emotional twists, viewers remain on edge about what the finale will truly deliver.

"I pray this has to be a Real scene and a long one not any imagination fgs," added this individual.

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The sunset that binds: A symbol of Sa-eon and Hee-joo’s journey in When the Phone Rings

The sunset plays a significant role in When the Phone Rings. It follows Sa-eon and Hee-joo throughout their journey.

In the very first episode of When the Phone Rings, Hee-joo is working as a sign language interpreter for a news channel. While interpreting a news report, a screen near her in the newsroom shows a picturesque sunset over the city.

In episode 3, Hee-joo rushes to the hospital after receiving a call from the kidnapper. She learns that the kidnapper visited her father and took him outside the hospital for long enough to alarm the staff. Overwhelmed, Hee-joo becomes emotional.

On her way home in a police car, she breaks down. She asks the police to stop and collapses by the roadside, crying about her loneliness. Suddenly, sirens fill the area. To her surprise, she sees Sa-eon driving toward her, followed by a convoy. The sky turns pink and peach with the sun going down as Sa-eon approaches her.

This scene continues in episode 4. Sa-eon helps Hee-joo to her feet and surprises her by telling the police she is his wife. This breaks their marriage contract rule of not acknowledging their relationship in public.

Later in the car, Sa-eon explains that the hospital staff has called him, as his number is listed as an emergency contact. He assures Hee-joo that he will transfer her father to another hospital and ensure his safety.

Touched by his kindness, Hee-joo breaks down again. Sa-eon, seeing her cry out loud, realizes for the first time that Hee-joo, whom he thought to be mute, can make sounds. He looks at her in awe and disbelief as the sunset's light reflects on his face.

At the end of the When the Phone Rings episode, Hee-joo sends Sa-eon a message thanking him for taking care of her father. Her messenger profile picture is of a sunset.

The connection between the sunset and the characters deepens in episode 5. The scene in this episode shows Hee-joo’s childhood through her memory. As a child, one day Hee-joo ran out of her house after being scolded by her mother for practicing to be an announcer. On the street, she encountered a dog that attacked her.

While running away from the dog, Hee-joo fell and hurt her knee. Unable to move, she closed her eyes, bracing herself for the attack. At that moment, young Sa-eon, her neighbor, appeared. Returning home from school, he threw his bag at the dog, scaring it away.

Sa-eon then asked Hee-joo if she was hurt. Seeing her injury, he gave her a piggyback ride home. On the way, he looked at the sundown and compared the sky’s pinkish color to Hee-joo’s cheeks, surprising her.

Later in the episode of When the Phone Rings, it is revealed that adult Sa-eon has a sunset picture as the wallpaper on his phone. It resembles the sunset he had compared to Hee-joo’s cheeks.

In episode 6, the twilight marks another pivotal moment. Sa-eon, now a presidential spokesperson, goes on a retreat with his office team, which includes Hee-joo as the new sign language interpreter. During a hiking trip, a commotion breaks out, and amidst that, Hee-joo is pushed down a cliff by the kidnapper’s accomplice.

When Hee-joo is nowhere to be found, the team panics. Sa-eon is the most distressed. He keeps calling her phone but gets no response. He overhears the rescue team discussing the search becoming more difficult when the sun begins to set. Sa-eon, still calling Hee-joo’s phone desperately, looks at the sky turning dark as the sun is going down over the mountains.

The recurring presence of the sundown ties together Sa-eon and Hee-joo’s story, highlighting critical moments in their relationship.

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For the unversed When the Phone Rings tells the story of Baek Sa-eon (Yoo Yeon-seok) and Hong Hee-joo (Chae Soo-bin), a couple trapped in a loveless arranged marriage. Their lives are turned upside down when Hee-joo is kidnapped, forcing them to confront the hidden truths and unresolved tensions between them. The series also casts Heo Nam-joon and Jang Gyu-ri.

The series debuted on November 22, 2024, airing on MBC every Friday and Saturday at 9:50 pm KST, with international viewers able to stream it on Netflix an hour later. The season finale is set to air on January 4, 2025, at its regular timeslot.