During 16 episodes, we witnessed the touching and special journey of Yoon Ju Won (Jung Chaeyeon), Kim San Ha (Hwang In Youp), and Kang Hae Jun (Bae Hyeon Seong), who went through ups and downs together, looking for the true meaning of family. They showed us that despite blood ties or legal bounds, what really matters when it comes to a family is the love and care for each member. Though it is sad to see them go, they left us with beautiful goodbye episodes for us to remember for a long time. Here are the best moments from the ending of this show!
Warning: spoilers from episodes 15-16 ahead!
1. Ju Won’s dad accepting her relationship with San Ha
Contrary to what everyone believed, once Ju Won and San Ha revealed their relationship to their parents, the only one to oppose them was Ju Won’s dad. Though his rejection isn’t exactly out of dislike towards San Ha, his absolute love for Ju Won makes him see things a little differently. Because he practically raised San Ha, he knows he is a trustworthy man. However, that doesn’t stop him from worrying about their future. Life can be unpredictable, and just as they were separated 10 years before, he is concerned things could also end up badly for them.
Nonetheless, Yoon Jeong Jae (Choi Won Young) can’t win against the children. Their genuine love and confidence for each other finally break his rejection wall, and he ultimately accepts their relationship, although he admits that he will always look after Ju Won first and foremost. After all, there is no better father in this show than Yoon Jeong Jae, and Ju Won is a living testament to that. She might have grown up without a mother, but the love and care she received from her father was more than enough for her.
2. Hae Jun realizing his feelings for Park Dal
One of the most awaited moments was watching Kang Hae Jun finally realizing his feelings for Park Dal. Even though he constantly says he only thought of her as a little sister, when she confesses her long-time crush on him, he can’t help but feel shaken by her words. Sadly, he doesn’t immediately accept her due to his great reservations about himself. However, as he sees her trying to move on and going on a blind date (cameo appearance by Song Geon Hee), he jumps at the thought of losing her, finally admitting that he does have feelings for her. And albeit short, every moment they share in their dating era is precious and endearing.
Most importantly, it doesn’t feel forced or unnatural. On the contrary, even Hae Jun’s confession perfectly portrays his character and the stage he is in. He isn’t deeply in love with Dal, but he sincerely cares for her and finds himself ready to fall for her kind and pure heart. As for Dal, she not only successfully wins the heart of the only person she’s ever liked since her teenage years, but she also confronts her mother and expresses her thoughts about her constant belittlement, which speaks a lot about her character development. All of this only makes it more enjoyable to watch them find comfort and love in each other.
3. San Ha forgiving his mother’s past actions
Among these precious moments, a crucial one, although quite hard to take, is San Ha forgiving his mother. Though she doesn’t really do something to redeem herself, he must face his demons and finally let go of their past tragedy. It is heartbreaking to see San Ha talk about his struggles, blaming himself for bottling it all up and never talking about it, but no one can blame him. His biggest fear was losing his mother, and as a child who already lost his little sister, that was worse than hurting himself.
It is a little bit frustrating that they resolved the problem only by separating them forever, never giving her proper character development. But just as San Ha’s mother never wanted to be there for her son, we can see that his father always tried to support him, unchanging and waiting until his son could open up to him. Kim Dae Wook (Choi Moo Sung) might not have remarried or found anything more apart from his ordinary life, but it is exactly that consistency that gave San Ha a sense of belonging and confidence to return to his true home.
4. Ju Won, Hae Jun, and San Ha becoming a true family
Finally, the ending arrived with the most fairytale-like moment: a beautiful wedding. Ju Won and Hae Jun’s dreams come true when their parents tie the knot after admitting that they have feelings for each other since the moment they met. Even if life got in the way and made them wait almost 20 years to become a true family, it was worth the wait. The happiness they irradiate trespasses the screen, making you shed tears of pure joy for both the adults and their children.
As happy as this ending is, it is still bittersweet to say goodbye to this beloved family. I can’t help but wish there were more episodes to enjoy the funny sibling dynamic of Ju Won and Hae Jun, their romantic relationships with San Ha and Dal respectively, the domestic life of their parents after the wedding, and so much more. However, even though this story is a remake of a C-drama, “Family by Choice” wrapped up successfully, finding its own place in our hearts.
Watch all the episodes of “Family by Choice” here:
Hey ers! Have you watched the last episodes of “Family by Choice”? Let us know what you think about it in the comments below!
Andy zar is an avid drama watcher, from K-dramas to C-dramas, she believes any weekend is a good weekend to enjoy 12 hours of binge-watching dramas. She loves romance, web comics, and K-pop. She is a declared “Subeom” and “Hyeppyending.” Her favorite groups are EXO, TWICE, and BOL4.
Currently watching: “Family by Choice”
Plans to watch: “Love Your Enemy“