#and the fact that it was yeo-jeong's mum and not yeo-jeong himself appealing to her for that help helped keep it from being guilt trippy

[muninnhuginn]

I think something that doesn’t get as much attention when analysing Dong-eun’s character is just how much about it is about *control* for her. She intends from the beginning to pull off her revenge without leaving a trace. It gets a bit obscured because of how much of her plans rely on characters reacting according to their nature and creating a domino effect, but her research to get to that point is meticulous. And, for all that we as the audience are allowed to see her moments of weakness, she doesn’t allow herself to be seen like that by her tormentors. The only exception (and interestingly it’s a shared weakness with Yeon-jin) is her mother.

But overall, she refused herself happiness for years because she didn’t want it to distract her from her goals. She intended to commit suicide once her revenge was complete and remove herself from the picture entirely, safe in the knowledge that those who had tormented her and others would have no way back.

The spanner in the works was ultimately Yeo-jeong. Sure, she factored him in once she knew of him but in actuality it was him who took the first step. He chose to devote himself to her cause and understand her rather than trying to dissuade her. That said, whilst the others don’t take it to the same extent, he’s not the only one who takes this approach with her. Mrs Kang, her former co-worker, the school nurse, and the lady who rented the apartment out to her. They all support her in various ways, and are able to draw her out of her shell despite her best wishes. Even the moments of light she has with others aren’t enough for her to change her plan though.

In the end, Dong-eun had stayed alive as long as she had for other people. The old lady when she was trying to commit suicide, So-hee and the lack of closure for her. Wanting to help other people is the one thing to break through her plans, her iron-clad control time and again. So when she finds out that Yeo-jeong wouldn’t want to live if she wasn’t around and chooses to call off her own suicide as a result? It’s simply a continuation of that trait.

Of course, this time around, she’s in a much better position, surrounded by people who she has helped and have helped her in turn. Revenge complete, she can begin to live for herself.