The highly anticipated episodes 5 and 6 of Netflix's Korean drama When The Phone Rings have been postponed to December 13, 2024, due to unexpected political developments surrounding President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment vote on December 7.
Originally scheduled to air on December 6, the episodes were pulled last minute as South Korean broadcasters shifted focus to cover the unfolding political crisis.
The postponement came after President Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law on December 3, citing the need to combat “anti-state forces” blocking his government’s operations.
The martial law was lifted within hours (December 4 at 4.27 AM) after parliament unanimously voted against it. However, the fallout has been severe, with opposition parties pursuing impeachment proceedings against the President.
Starring Chae Soo-bin and Yoo Yeon-seok, When The Phone Rings explores a gripping mystery intertwined with human connections. The series follows Baek Sa-eon (Yoo Yeon-seok), the eldest son of a political family, and his wife Hong Hee-joo / Na Hee-joo (Chae Soo-bin), a sign language TV interpreter and Baek Sa-eon's wife.
Meanwhile, fans shared memes online over the episode cancellation of When The Phone Rings. One fan wrote:
"The wrong "reel to real" moment you were hoping for"
Fans expressed their irritability of the delayed airing of episodes 5 and 6 of When The Phone Rings with hilarious memes online.
"How long is this going to takeeeeeeee ?" one fan wrote.
"when the phone rings ep 5 d-day. Episode airing cancelled bc of political issue/s" another fan stated.
"Me reading this after waiting for the whole week." another fan added.
Some claimed that they have been rewatching the old When The Phone Rings episodes to fill in for the gap.
"Me, rewatching all the when the phone rings eps bc there are no new episodes yet!!" one account wrote.
"Cry in 1527291010 different languages," another fan added.
"This is not funny, and this hurts," one other fan stated.
President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment vote delays When The Phone Rings episodes airing
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol narrowly avoided impeachment on December 7, 2024, after his controversial declaration of martial law earlier in the week.
While opposition lawmakers (Democratic Party of Korea) pushed for his removal, the motion failed to secure the necessary two-thirds majority due to a boycott by members of the ruling People Power Party.
Al Jazeera reported that all 108 members of the People Power Party (PPP) walked out of the Parliament during the vote to block the President's impeachment. The motion required eight more votes above the opposition party's 191 counts but failed to acquire it.
President Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law late on December 3, citing a need to address "anti-state forces" allegedly obstructing his administration’s budget proposals and personnel appointments.
Military forces surrounded the National Assembly with guns and tanks and restricted access, leading to widespread condemnation.
This marked the first declaration of martial law in South Korea in over 40 years and fueled accusations of a power grab against the President and his administration.
The declaration prompted immediate investigations into President Yoon Suk-yeol's actions and those of his defense minister, Kim Yong-hyun, who reportedly advised the president to enact martial law.
Prosecutors launched a special task force to investigate potential charges of rebellion or treason, crimes that are not covered by presidential immunity.
Reuters reported that the public response has been swift and intense, with mass protests demanding President Yoon Suk-yeol's resignation.
Demonstrators have criticized the president for undermining democratic principles, and polls indicate that a majority of South Koreans support impeachment proceedings.
Facing mounting pressure, President Yoon Suk-yeol issued a public apology on December 7, hours ahead of the impeachment vote. He acknowledged the gravity of the situation and expressed regret for the turmoil caused by his actions.
Reuters reported that the opposition has vowed to introduce a new impeachment motion, while public trust in the government remains low.
When The Phone Rings is available on Netflix for global streaming. Episodes 5 and 6 will air on December 13, 2024.