When the Phone Rings Episode 9 recap: Who saved Baek Sa-eon from the fire explosion?

MBC's new drama When the Phone Rings premiered on November 22, 2024, blending romance and suspense in a gripping narrative. Starring Yoo Yeon-seok, Chae Soo-bin, Heo Nam-joon, and Jang Gyu-ri, the series delves into the challenges faced by a couple in their third year of a politically driven marriage, disrupted by a mysterious phone call.

Directed by Park Sang-woo and Wi Deuk-gyu, the drama is written by Kim Ji-woon, known for Melancholia and Doctor John. Adapted from a popular Kakao Page novel, the series is a collaboration between Bon Factory and Baram Pictures.

In episode 9 of When the Phone Rings, more secrets about Sa-eon's family and his relationship with the kidnapper are revealed. A major twist also awaits the viewers.

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When the Phone Rings episode 9 recap: Hee-joo finds Sa-eon's secret

In episode 9 of When the Phone Rings, In-a reveals to Hee-joo the files that contain the failed DNA match of Baek Sa-eon and Baek Ui-yong. Hee-joo seems unbothered by it. As In-a gets up, determined to uncover more, Hee-joo speaks and tells her that she chose to stay with Sa-eon.

In-a, hearing her voice for the first time in years, tells her that she has always liked being called "unni" by Hee-joo. Hee-joo, though confused, asks her who sent her those documents.

Hee-joo calls the police for help since Sa-eon is late but as they ask their names, she hangs up and recalls her conversation with In-a. She was suspicious that Baek Ui-yong had a biological son before the present Sa-eon took his place.

In this episode of When the Phone Rings, Hee-joo visits Ui-yong and Kyu-jin. She speaks to them and tells them that Sa-eon has been missing. She also reveals that she is aware of Sa-eon not being their biological son. However, while leaving, she is informed by one of their employees that Sa-eon once had an eye surgery for heterochromia, and when he came back, the color of his eyes was uniform, and he seemed quite scared.

Hee-joo gets a call from Sang-woo and rushes to the hospital to find out that Sa-eon is undergoing surgery in When the Phone Rings. Sang-woo tells her that he had visited the fish shop to interview the owner, Jeong Jin-seok, but had been pushed away. While returning, he saw Sa-eon and followed him to find the shop ablaze and helped Sa-eon get out of there.

Sa-eon dreams of the day when Chairman Baek had come to take him away since his grandson had turned out to be a monster who had started killing animals and then children younger than him. He wakes up to find Hee-joo by his side. As Hee-joo goes to fetch the doctor, Sang-woo visits Sa-eon.

While looking over at a hospitalized and unconscious Jin-seok, Sa-eon reveals his relationship with Hee-joo to Sang-woo. He also asks him to make sure Jin-seok wakes up since he is a key witness to the Sinil Childcare missing children case. Sa-eon tells him that the culprit of the missing children case and the one who had been threatening him is the same person.

Ui-yong goes in front of the camera to prepare a crab dish, and as he is doing so, In-a appears. He introduces her as his daughter-in-law, much to Kyu-jin's surprise. Meanwhile, after trying to contact her, Sa-eon finds Hee-joo outside their apartment with the 406 phone. Hee-joo feels regretful for partnering with the person trying to kill Sa-eon and wants to protect him.

In-a asks Ui-yong to show a few pictures of himself as a child to see the resemblance between him and Sa-eon. As she is about to spill more, the bell rings, and a package is delivered. Inside the box are dead and cut fish. Kyu-jin, realizing something, rushes out and follows the delivery man with her car.

Yu-ri gets worried after seeing Sang-woo with bandages. She tells him that the higher-ups are pressuring them to drop the case.

Hee-joo helps Sa-eon fall asleep and asks him what the real Sa-eon wants. Sa-eon tells her that he is unaware of it. However, what he wants is to leave behind the name Baek Sa-eon and start afresh with her.

Sang-woo calls Sa-eon and tells him that Jin-seok, whose real name was Sang-hun, is conscious. Sang-hun tells him that Chairman Baek had asked him to get rid of a black bag, but upon seeing it moving, he opened it to find a child inside. Unable to kill him, he started raising him, but he soon reverted to his natural instincts.

In this episode of When the Phone Rings, Kyu-jin comes to a house by following the delivery man, and here, she finds the real Baek Sa-eon.

Sa-eon attends an event with Hee-joo as the interpreter. After getting Do-jae to drive Hee-joo, he gets information about the Sinil Childcare case from Hyuk-jin. As he goes to the location Hyuk-jin mentioned, he receives another call.

Hyuk-jin sends him some files about one of the twins from the Sinil Childcare case. The name on the file is that of Park Do-jae. Episode 9 of When the Phone Rings ends with Do-jae ignoring Sa-eon's calls.

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The next episode of When the Phone Rings is scheduled to be released on December 28.