'Itaewon Class' Episode 12: Yi-seo stays despite Sae-ro-yi breaking her heart, Hyun-hi finds strength to fight
'Itaewon Class' Episode 12 saw Park Sae-ro-yi (Park Seo-joon) face a big obstacle that could very well ruin DanBam and his goal to exact revenge from Jang Dae-hee. The investor who was interested in putting in $5 billion and became their lead investor who helped them gain other investors, backed out at the last minute. Turns out, he was always on Chairman Dae-hee's side and only faked interest in Sae-ro-yi's company, IC (Short for Itaewon Class).
In the meanwhile, Jo Yi-seo (Park Da-mi) who had confessed her love to Sae-ro-yi and was rejected decides to take a break from DanBam initially. When she speaks about this to Sae-ro-yi she tells him clearly that this doesn't mean she is mad at him, or that she is going to quit working in DanBam. She also tells him she will continue to like him irrespective of what he feels about her as they are her feelings to deal with.
It is when she is about to take her break to travel that she hears of the investment being pulled from DanBam. Despite Sae-ro-yi breaking her heart, she arrives on time to find a solution to the problem. In the meanwhile, people who had approached Sae-ro-yi's company, IC, for a franchise are blaming him for losing the investment. They even go to the extent of blaming Sae-ro-yi's employees Toni and Choi Seung-kwon (Ryoo Kyung-soo). This is when Sae-ro-yi loses his temper and asks everyone why they are blaming him and his company solely for the investment fallout.
He also questions their intentions when it comes to signing up with DanBam. He tells them that trust is very important when it comes to business deals and promises them that they will take the franchise opening forward as planned. He also tells them that they had signed up with DanBam after tasting the food that they had made, and understanding the brand value so they shouldn't be abusing DanBam's employees.
Once he convinces them of the same, he turns around and looks at Soo-ah (Kwon Na-ra) who has brought a message from Dae-hee. When Soo-ah sees Sae-ro-yi hit such lows, she tries to convince him to leave all plans of revenge behind, and live a happy life with her. At the same time, we also see Sae-ro-yi get a call from Yi-seo, who apologizes for pushing him into opening multiple franchises instead of going slow. And while speaking to her, Sae-ro-yi, indirectly answers Soo-ah's request. He says that despite the circumstances, he cannot give up on revenge. He says his happiness is something that he can only think about after he succeeds in unseating Dae-hee's Jang Corporation as the number 1 company in South Korea.
That answers Soo-ah's question and also shows us how Yi-seo is going to be a bigger part of Sae-ro-yi's life in the future as his partner than before. After finding out Toni's connection to the old lady in the neighborhood who lends money, we learn in this episode that she is not just any moneylending old lady but a real estate mogul. Toni's grandmother turns out to have influential connections and that includes Dae-hee as well.
After initially hesitating, because he didn't want to use Toni, Sae-ro-yi decides to ask for her help. Once he does, it turns out his company's biggest obstacle has been dealt with quickly. However, it is Geun-soo's betrayal that comes as a shock. He releases news about Hyun-yi being a trans person to the press and that wreaks havoc on Hyun-yi's mental space just hours before she is about to participate in the Best Pub competition.
The only condition that Toni's grandmother put forth was that DanBam wins the Best Pub competition, and the condition that Dae-hee put to Geun-soo about becoming the corporation's heir is for Jang Corp to come first in the competition. So the pressure is high on both sides and just when it seems that Sae-ro-yi might have to take over from Hyun-yi to participate in the competition, she comes through strong.
With just one message from Yi-seo, Hyun-yi finds strength and inspiration to stand before everyone and say, "I am Hyun-hi, the head chef at DanBam. I am transgender." The acceptance from Sae-ro-yi and Yi-seo plays a huge role in Hyun-yi coming through and the conversation and the run-up to this is heartwarming.
'Itaewon Class' episodes can be streamed on Netflix.
