Three things then I’m done with this KiHo mystery and will move on to the title explanation, which is more fun to write about.

1. Re. the encounter between KiHo’s former classmate Daewoong and KiHo’s dad

Daewoong: You don’t need the whole life insurance. Just take the indemnity insurance.
Father: No, I want that too. I don’t spend my salary on anything anyway.
Daewoong: Why buy it when you don’t have any kids anyway?
Father: What are you talking about? I have KiHo.

What’s going on here?  He searched high and low for KiHo after he exposed his abusive conduct, but for all that he planned to make KiHo the beneficiary of his life insurance policy? Huh? What a psycho. 

Despite the hair salon of KiHo’s mother being named “Brothers Salon” presumably after KiHo and WooHak, KiHo’s father only recognized KiHo as his son. I’ll assume then that BoGeul and WH were half-brothers and that their mother was their biological parent in common.

Daewoong: (snatching the insurance papers from Mr. Jung) Sir, you know what? I travel 4000 km a month in that car. It’s safe to say I’ve travelled all over this country. If KiHo was still alive, I would’ve spotted him as his closest friend.
Father: You probably couldn’t recognize him since it’s been 15 years. Despite being his father, even I can’t imagine what he’d look like now.

Unless KiHo had his face surgically altered, this wasn’t possible.

Daewoong: I know this might sound heartless. But you should just consider that insolent kid dead and forget him.

Daewoong was cautiously dissuading Mr. Jung from searching. He didn’t want Mr. Jung to suspect him of knowing KiHo’s whereabouts.

Father: They found Mokha alive.
Daewoong: (his shifty eyes indicate his nervousness)
Father: Didn’t you see the news?
Daewoong: (uncertain about how to answer him) Of course. She was on a deserted island for 15 years.
Father: If Kiho’s still alive, he must’ve seen her on the news too.
Daewoong: Come on, Mr. Jung.
Father: (signing the insurance form) If he did, he would look for her. If you ever get in touch with Mokha, promise me you’ll let me know, Daewoong.
Daewoong: (nervous) Okay. Don’t worry about it.

Daewoong looked thankful that their food arrived. After they took leave of each other, he called up his wife, YoungJu, who was Mokha’s Bestie in middle school.

Daewoong: YoungJu, it’s me. I just met with KiHo’s father. I’m afraid he’ll reach out to MokHa just to find KiHo. What do we do? Do you think we should tell KiHo about this?
YoungJu: Why is he so determined to find him? He’s already moved on and happy. (sighing) What should we do? Shouldn’t we reach out to MokHa and let her know?

My comments:

a. Let’s assume that subs had no error. If Daewoong considered giving KiHo heads-up about his father’s search for him, then it meant that KiHo had no amnesia.

For KiHo to benefit from Daewoong’s information, he must be able to remember his friendship with Daewoong and his failed scheme to run away with Mokha.

b. But note the contradiction in the story: if Daewoong could get in touch with KiHo, then why did WooHak tell Mokha in Episode 4 that he sadly lost touch with his classmates after his amnesia?

MH: Why do you think KiHo hasn’t reached out to me? I shouldn’t think this way but I can’t help but think that it’s one of two reasons.
WH: One of two?
MH: Either he doesn’t want to look for me or…he’s not alive.
WH: What are you talking about? You said that he was alive.
MH: Then, does he not want to find me anymore? Is that why he’s not looking for me? Jeez, that breaks my heart too.

Unless there’s some last-minute surprise, the simplest reason for KiHo’s absence was to hide his mother and his mother’s new family from his father’s reach.  Remember KiHo’s parting words to MokHa on the boat? He urged her to change her name like Ranjoo did when she reached Seoul. She should forget about everyone on this island, including YoungJu, Daewoong, and him. He explained, “That way, your father won’t find you. Understand?” Then he wished that she’d become a famous singer so that no one would dare to mistreat her again.

KiHo’s advice to Mokha applied to him, too. He changed his name and identity to escape his father. However, instead of seeking fame in his profession, he was satisfied to work in relative anonymity as a member of a production team. It wasn’t because he feared that his father would find him. I don’t think he was that concerned about his own safety (after all, he had been his father’s punching bag before). Rather, he feared for his loved ones’ safety.

But I digress….

WH: Why only those two? There could be another reason.
MH: Another reason? I’m not sure there is. What other reason?
WH: I suffer from memory loss.
MH: What do you mean?
WH: I hurt my head in an accident. So I don’t remember anything before high school.

In the summer of 2002, KiHo and Mokha were in middle school. Mokha was 16 years old when she was marooned on that island. Thus, when WooHak said that he didn’t remember anything before high school, it could mean that he only started remembering things in 10th grade, when he was 17 years old; 11th grade when he was 18 years old; or 12th grade, when he was 19 years old.

MH: Really?
WH: Here, look. From here to here. It’s my scar.
MH: Goodness gracious. Gosh!
WH: When I woke up from surgery, it felt like my life began from high school. I didn’t recognize [my mother] but she said she was my mom. I didn’t recognize my dad either. Then I met Bogeol long after I was discharged. He felt like a total stranger.

FYI. Men between 18 and 35 years old are conscripted into the military. They serve about 18 months. So, if WooHak entered the military when he was 18, the EARLIEST he could’ve met BoGeum was when he was 20 years old.

MH: You don’t have any memories at all? Maybe if you look at old photos…
WH: They said our house caught on fire. And our photos were all burned up. It’s okay. I recovered thanks to my family, and it wasn’t too bad. It’s just a shame that I lost all of my childhood friends. I’d love to find them, but I can’t. There’s no way since I don’t even remember them.

There! See that? If he lost his childhood friends, then DaeWoong couldn’t have been referring to him when he told his wife that he’d warn KiHo about his dad.

MH: That’s true.
WH: Let’s say if I were KiHo, I wouldn’t be able to find you since I don’t remember you.

Exactly. That’s why I said that he couldn’t be KiHo because KiHo waited for her at the Old Seoul Station at different intervals. To me, KiHo was in high school here,

then in university,

then in the military service.

MH: What?
WH: I mean…You asked me if there were other reasons. This could be one. He’s alive and wants to find you, but he lost his memory.
MH: I see.
WH: Who knows? Maybe KiHo could be like me.

Awww. I thought it was sweet of him to offer to be an amnesiac KiHo just so Mokha wouldn’t feel dejected that she hadn’t been contacted yet.

But nope. I don’t think he’ll get the girl at the end of this kdrama. Sorry, fans of WooHak/Cha HakYeon. 

First, look at the MokHa’s reaction. I had to snicker when I saw MokHa’s bland reaction.

I’ve always disliked this actress for her immobile face and flat cheeks but in this instance, her lack of expression was appropriate. It indicated her tepid response to WooHak’s suggestion that he could be KiHo with amnesia. She wasn’t moved.

Second, it was his timing (or his delayed reaction) that cost him dearly. Seriously, I had “Reply 1988” flashback when I saw BoGeol rush out of the cafeteria and WooHak drive in his SUV hours later.

Who else remembered this moment?

Lol.

But fans of WooHak could argue that BoGeol had an unfair advantage. He knew instantly that Mokha was in danger as soon as WooHak told him about the flowers.

WH: You may not believe me, but I want to be alone right now.
BG: Why? You hate eating alone. Is something up?
WH: Do you know why I was intrigued by KiHo? Because he was just like me. He was firm and wise.

Lol. He lost me when he described himself as “firm and wise.” Nope.

Maybe as the drama progresses, he’ll become “firm and wise.” But now, he lacked the gravitas.

WH: (continuing) He listened to Mokha and supported her dream. He was selfless, and…
BG: (looking up with glazed eyes)
WH: “Seo Mokha” I understand why he wanted to protect her. He felt like someone familiar. He was just like me!

What did he expect? Of course, KiHo would feel familiar to him!

He shared one room with KiHo despite being in their 30s. He copied everything KiHo wore: from underwear to pajamas and even his raincoat. And he rebelled against everything KiHo said.

He was even sitting across KiHo.

BG: (exasperated) How so? He’s a completely different individual.
WH: You’re right. He is. He isn’t me.
BG: (surprised by WH’s admission) Huh?
WH: He sent Mokha a bouquet of flowers today.

And that got BoGeol’s attention.

BG: What did you say?

Then he stood up and ran.

Since BoGeol was KiHo, he knew that the flowers didn’t come from him. Somebody who was pretending to be him had sent Mokha the flowers.

And there was only one person in the world who would have the malevolent intention to deceive Mokha with flowers “from KiHo.” His father.

That’s why he ran.

2. Re. the return of WooHak’s memory

To me, this burst of memory goes to show that WooHak isn’t KiHo.

a. My theory is that WooHak was trapped in the house when KiHo’s dad came banging on the door and looking for his son. That harrowing encounter so frightened WooHak that he blocked it out with his amnesia.

b. If all WooHak could remember was the doorknob being rattled by KiHo’s father, then he couldn’t be KiHo. Why?

My two simple reasons:

One, the shack where KiHo lived in with his father (not to mention his own bedroom) had sliding doors. No doorknobs. However, there was a solid wooden door with doorknob in WooHak’s flashback.

WooHak must have been in another house (not the house on that island) when KiHo’s father came for his son.

WooHak must have been terrified. He was looking for something to defend himself with.

Hmmm…it’s interesting that all the sharp objects were in one place.

He fell (whether he was attacked or not we don’t know that yet) and hit his head during his encounter with KiHo’s dad.

I wouldn’t be surprised if KiHo’s dad was the one who set the house on fire that burned all their photos. But then again, it could also be KiHo’s handiwork to burn everything down so his dad wouldn’t have anything to track them with.

Two, Kiho suffered worse abuses. WooHak only remembered an enraged father pounding and yelling. If WooHak was KiHo, then he should have remembered more horrifying scenes from the past like being thrown against the wall or beaten black and blue.

c. Hence, I bristled every time I heard WooHak blame KiHo for not restraining MokHa’s father longer at the pier. He told Mokha, “He should have stopped your father at all costs. He should’ve held on even if he’d be beaten to death. He should’ve sent you to RanJoo at all costs! What kind of weak guy can’t hang on for that long?”

He was a fine one to talk. To me, he was armchair-quarterbacking or criticizing with the benefit of hindsight.

I disliked his  because he was belittling the courage of KiHo to confront a man who outweighed him by 150 lbs and minimizing the physical injuries KiHo endured for MokHa. I doubt that WooHak could have lasted longer than young KiHo against MokHa’s dad.

3.  Re. BoGeol’s introduction to Mokha

BG: (extending a hand) It’s nice to meet you. I’m BoGeol, WooHak’s younger brother.
WH: (surprised because he expected his brother to eject MokHa from the premises)
MH: Right. Right. I know. You even bought me those shoes.

Shoes were an interesting mention in light of the epilogue in Episode 2. In that scene, WooHak asked BoGeol rhetorically what Kiho would have done when he saw Mokha again. Given Mokha’s extreme fanaticism for RJ, WooHak gave the obvious logical answer: to escort her to her idol’s stage appearance.

The correct answer however was to buy shoes for Mokha.

When they were making their escape, KiHo remembered to bring a raincoat and an extra pair of sneakers for her. He covered her with the raincoat, then put the sneakers on for her.

Since the shoes were his, they must have been big for her. He promised her then, “Let’s buy some shoes once we get ashore.”

After 15 years in the island, her feet had grown big to fit the sneakers and her big toe made a hole in one shoe, but she kept wearing KiHo’s shoes, perhaps because she was clinging to hope that he would make good on his promise to buy her shoes.

On a side note: her father’s shoe and his dead body washed ashore but there was no way she would wear his shoes.

MH: (continuing) And she’s…(turning to Yoon RanJoo)
RJ: I’m Yoon RanJoo.
BG: I’m honored to meet you.
WG: (again, looking surprised because of BG’s show of courtesy, rather than his customary abruptness)
RJ: You look familiar though. Have we met before?
BG: I’m not sure.
WG: (inserting himself) He gets that a lot. He has common facial features.

He responded so smoothly.

Later in the episode, RJ repeated that BoGeom looked familiar.

MH: Unnie, I have great connections. I already booked you for something.
RJ: Did you now? What is it? Busking?
MH: I don’t know if you’ve heard of YGN’s Heyday Again.
RJ: You booked me? How?
MH: I just found out that a close friend of mine worked there as a producer. He begged me to put you on his show. I told him I’d ask you about it first.
RJ: “Kang BoGeul”? That guy upstairs who looked jobless?
MH: Exactly. That’s him.
RJ: So he was a producer. No wonder. Is that why he looked familiar?

My comments:

a. Initially, I anticipated this screenwriter and director to be devious and sadistic with the hints but then I remembered their collaboration in “While You Were Sleeping” and “Start Up.” Their previous works weren’t meant to be a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside of an enigma. Thus, I’ll take the simplest path (remember Occam’s Razor) and assume that RJ found BoGeul familiar because she’d seen him before as KiHo.

KiHo made an indelible impression on her.

b. Now, let’s compare RJ’s reaction to Kang BoGeul to the reactions of KiHo’s father and KiHo’s former bosses at the wharf upon seeing WooHak. None of them thought WooHak looked familiar.

KiHo’s father personally handed WooHak the flowers and knew that he wasn’t KiHo. (Seriously, it strains credulity that a father couldn’t recognize his own son.) But he must have recognized him as the boy he met before so he knew that KiHo must be somewhere near.

As for the father-and-son bosses of KiHo, they saw WooHak when he accompanied MokHa to the restaurant but they wondered who he was.

If WooHak had been KiHo, they should have at least found something familiar about him — like Joon RanJoo did with BoGeol.

My two cents in 2169 words.