[Spoiler Alert: Episode Summary]
This article contains plot points and episode summaries from ‘The Dream Life of Mr. Kim’ Episode 10.
JTBC’s weekend drama 'The Dream Life of Mr. Kim' set a new personal best with Episode 10, which aired on November 23, recording 5.4% nationwide and 6% in the Seoul metropolitan area based on Nielsen Korea’s paid household ratings.
The series marks Ryu Seung Ryong’s first appearance in a TV drama in 15 years, following MBC’s 'Personal Taste' in 2010. Although he starred in Disney+’s 'Moving' last year, that project was an OTT production.
Episode 10 focused on Kim Nak Soo (played by Ryu Seung Ryong), who received a panic disorder diagnosis after being involved in an accident while working as a designated driver. His wife Park Ha Jin (played by Myung Se Bin), and son Kim Soo Gyeom (portrayed by Cha Kang Yun) rushed him to the hospital.
Sensing that something was deeply wrong, Park Ha Jin suggested he see a psychiatrist. Kim Nak Soo, however, refused out of fear of judgment and social stigma. His symptoms continued to worsen as he faced mounting stress—from falling victim to a property scam to shouldering massive debt. When he struggled to breathe, Park Ha Jin shouted, “Get a hold of yourself, Kim Nak Soo,” raising her voice at him for the first time. Ultimately, he agreed to go to the hospital.
Seeking a quiet place, Kim Nak Soo visited the psychiatry clinic located above the commercial property he had purchased. Psychiatrist Na Dae Ryong (Heo Nam Joon), who had also been swindled in the same property deal, diagnosed him with panic disorder and calmly walked him through the steps he would need to take moving forward.
But breaking deeply ingrained habits was no easy task. Matters became worse when Park Ha Jin discovered both the secret purchase of the building and their son’s debt problems. Disappointed by the reckless decisions made by both her husband and son, she walked away, leaving Kim Nak Soo even more distraught.
Unable to return home, Kim Nak Soo stayed at the commercial building and happened to run into Na Dae Ryong again. Encouraged by his advice, he slowly began to open up about long-suppressed feelings. Childhood wounds resurfaced—years spent being unfavorably compared to his older brother, Kim Chang Soo (Go Chang Seok). Nak Soo confronted his brother, who listened to him sincerely for the first time and offered a heartfelt apology. The release of long-held pain left Nak Soo overwhelmed by unexpected emotions.
Continuing his conversations with Na Dae Ryong, Kim Nak Soo realized he had been pressuring his own son in the same way he once suffered. He approached Kim Soo Gyeom for an honest conversation. With the help of Lee Han Na (Lee Jin Yi), Soo Gyeom came to understand that his father’s pressure had been a misguided expression of affection. He reached out and took his father’s hand, and the two began working designated driving shifts together as they faced their challenges head-on.
Meanwhile, Park Ha Jin, struggling to find a way to support the family, decided to put their home up for sale. Though it was the Seoul apartment Kim Nak Soo had dedicated his life to securing, she felt she had no choice given their financial situation. How her decision will reshape the family’s future remains to be seen.
'The Dream Life of Mr. Kim' portrays the life of a man torn between societal success and personal happiness, offering a story relatable to middle-aged workers across Korea.
The next episode airs on November 29 at 10:40 PM.
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