When the Phone Rings records its lowest rating following controversial finale episode 

MBC's When the Phone Rings concluded its run with the lowest rating on IMDb. On January 4, the romance thriller aired its finale which received a rating of 2.9. However, according to Nielsen Korea, the final episode also achieved an average nationwide viewership rating of 8.6 per cent, setting a new personal best for the drama.

When the Phone Rings premiered on November 22, 2024, delivering an engaging blend of romance and suspense. Starring Yoo Yeon-seok, Chae Soo-bin, Heo Nam-joon, and Jang Gyu-ri, the drama follows a couple navigating their third year of a politically driven marriage, only to have their lives disrupted by a mysterious phone call.

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When the Phone Rings episode 12 plot

The final episode of When the Phone Rings opens with a shocking scene where Sa-eon is shot, only to reveal it as Hee-joo’s dream. In reality, Sa-eon disappears after donating his assets and stepping down from the presidential office. Meanwhile, Kyu-jin is arrested and sentenced to life in prison, and the police kill the real Sa-eon. Ui-yong also resigns, opting for a peaceful, private life.

Six months later, Hee-joo begins searching for traces of Sa-eon’s whereabouts. Her visit to Do-jae in prison reveals that Sa-eon initially planned to vanish after exacting revenge on the Baek family but changed his decision after meeting her. Further clues from Mr. Park and a cryptic phone call lead Hee-joo to Argan, a war-torn region Sa-eon once visited as a journalist.

Defying warnings, she travels there and is captured by rebels. While in captivity, she is saved by Sa-eon who has disguised himself as a rebel. He explains that guilt over her brother’s death, orchestrated by Chairman Baek, drove him to leave. In the epilogue, Sa-eon adopts the name Baek Yu-yeon and starts a new life with Hee-joo, leaving his political career behind.

The couple celebrates their remarriage at a gathering with friends, where Sang-woo and Yu-ri also announce their engagement. Hee-joo resumes her role as a news interpreter, while Yu-yeon begins a new career as a government negotiator. The series concludes with the couple walking hand in hand through a sunlit forest, symbolizing their hopeful new beginning.

Fans were quite disappointed with how the last episode of When the Phone Rings unfolded. After an exciting run, the finale even caused a few controversies.

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Finale episode of When the Phone Rings stirs controversy

Although fans had high hopes for the drama leading up to its finale, many viewers have taken to social media to express outrage over certain subplots in the final episode, which have sparked political controversy. Social media users are now calling for a boycott of the drama, primarily due to a contentious scene widely interpreted as a reference to the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict.

Yoo Yeon-seok and Hong Hee-joo on the sets of When the Phone Rings episode 12(Image via @mbcdrama_now)

The scene, involving fictional nations Paltima and Izmael, drew criticism for its perceived parallels to Palestine and Israel. Viewers have labeled the depiction as "unnecessary" and "insensitive," accusing the writers of using it as a "disturbing plot device." Fans have also questioned the production team’s decision to include such a scene in the final cut.

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When the Phone Rings is available to stream on Netflix.