Ep 5. What happened at Seonhwa Temple

More than anything, it helps to understand the sense of HUMOR of the screenwriter in order to understand what she wants to communicate. The title alludes to the old tourism slogan for Las Vegas, “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” The slogan pitches freedom to do anything you want in Vegas because no one would know about it or talk about it after you leave Vegas.

That’s what this title is all about.

It tells us that what happens at Seonhwa Temple on Buddha’s birthday, STAYS at Seonhwa Temple forever and ever. No one would know what the couples did on that night during their encounter, except for the lovers involved.

Now, let’s see what the couples did.

Let’s start with the easiest.

Samsoon, the youngest sister.

She fled to escape SoonDeok’s Orabeoni (big brother). Her flight into the forest inspired to write her next sequel with her as the heroine and the Orabeoni as her hero. She began to write the first page of her story. The Orabeoni caught her and confirmed his suspicion about her secret identity. However, instead of hauling her away to jail, he let go with a simple warning to stop writing because authorities were looking to pin the suicide of young lady on her.

Do you see it? What happens at Seonhwa Temple, stays there. He wasn’t going to report her to the Royal Bureau of Investigation and he’d pretend not to know of her double life as Hwa Rok.

Next, Doori the middle sister. She tripped and the nerdy scholar Lee caught her. He brought her to the monk to be treated (btw, this is the same monk who’d figure in Episode 9). They spent time under the moonlight. Though he knew that he should have been circling the tower to meet his “designated” bride-to-be, he invited her to circle the tower with him. She was then reminded that she had already done it on SoonDeok’s order, and left Lee.

What happens at  SeonHwa Temple, stays at SeonHwa Temple. They knew they were supposed to be matched with other people. Except for JungWoo, nobody knew that until the last episodes that romance was brewing between them. They kept their liaison hidden.

Same with SoonDeok’s sister-in-law. She was sulking alone in a hut, disappointed that her crush Oppa wouldn’t show up on Buddha’s Birthday. But he surprised her. Though he said that he just happened to pass by, she knew that he really came to see her. She told him that she got a marriage offer from a nerdy scholar (see Doori’s guy). They shared a toast to her future marriage.

What happens at SeonHwa Temple, stays there. They tacitly knew that these clandestine meetings must soon end.

As for our couple, their meeting began and ended with secrecy.

JungWoo was looking for her and was surprised to see her dressed up as noblewoman. But what happens at SeonHwa Temple, stays at SeonHwa Temple. He wasn’t going to reveal her masquerade though it went against his principles.

JungWoo: You!
SoonDeok: (silent)
JungWoo: What is this outfit?!
SoonDeok: Do you recognize me?
JungWoo: How could I not?
SoonDeok: (gasping)
JungWoo: I asked you why you are dressed like this.
SoonDeok: Ah. I disguised myself as a Bukchon daughter-in-law to make my job easier.
JungWoo: Oho! Even so, how can a merchant pretend to be a noble madam? I will –
SoonDeok: Are you going to report me? (frowning at him)
JungWoo: Seriously. It is quite miserable because this job is far too different from my conviction.

In other words, he was acting in a way that was inconsistent with his upbringing and principles. He was in misery.

On the surface, it seemed like he was merely grumbling about a slight inconvenience, i.e., condoning and going along with SoonDeok’s deceptions. But I think he meant something deeper altogether. He meant that being with her had utterly changed him. He had been content with his life before, but now he was always in misery, trying to please her, and hide his feelings.

SoonDeok: (under her breath) Miserable is a bit too much.
JungWoo: Now that I look at you, you took the thick makeup off your face –
SoonDeok: (interrupting him before he said something insulting) Gosh! Do not say anything. I know very well my face without makeup and a beauty mark looks plain.
JungWoo: I am glad you know. But it is not too bad to look at. I prefer the way you look now.

He cleared his throat, indicating that he felt awkward about complimenting her even though he spoke the truth. He wanted his compliment to sound casual, not romantic, because he didn’t want to fluster her. She was shocked nonetheless.

SoonDeok: What?
JungWoo: (grouchily) Forget it! Hurry up and explain now. Why is Temple Seonhwa a special place?

🙂 I’ll tell you why at the end.

Next, they went to circle the tower together. JungWoo had an attack and he confessed to her about his malady. She offered to be his shield.

What happens at SeongHwa Temple, stays at SeonHwa Temple. Nobody would know why she would take JungWoo’s side in an argument with Samsoon, and order Samsoon to keep her distance from her Orabeoni to humor JungWoo. Ever since she learned of JungWoo’s illness, she became protective of him. But she didn’t want others to know that she indulged his quirks because she was concerned about his health.

Then, he reached for her lamp at the Fence of Darkness.

I said in my earlier review that this was a Rowoon trope. There must be a height stipulation in his contract requiring him to help the female lead reach for something way above her head, like on the top shelf, on the highest branch, on the rooftop….

Note: I like how this camera director chose this shot. Instead of a full face shot like SoonDeok’s close-up below, this camera angle made JungWoon look mysterious, shadow-y, unknown. The audience could feel SoonDeok’s momentary confusion. In the dark, he looked like a romantic figure.

This scene is obviously connected to SoonDeok’s first memory of her husband. She had “memorialized” him as someone who helped her get a book down from the shelf. To me, JungWoo was demonstrating that it was possible for a romantic moment to be duplicated. And when it was duplicated, it would remain just as romantic as the first time (or maybe even more so).

But what happens at SeonHwa Temple, stays at SeonHwa Temple. SoonDeok wouldn’t dare admit that her heart fluttered when JungWoo appeared out of nowhere to help her reach for the lamp dangling on a tree branch. She would bury this feeling because it would be disloyal to her first husband.

Then, she and JungWoo got the ladies ready for the “first-sight” walk. She employed her secret techniques to help the sisters find their match. JungWoo protested that her methods were fraudulent.

But what happens at SeonHwa Temple, stays at SeonHwa Temple. Nobody would remember how these bachelors were being set up, and the sisters would forget that all their efforts at the “Fence of Darkness” had been for nothing. That’s because their soulmates were elsewhere.

Last, the paper lanterns. This scene is for me the heart of the theme “What happens at SeonHwa Temple, stays at SeonHwa Temple.”

SoonDeok and JungWoo were having a romantic moment at SeonHwa Temple. JungWoo must have planned this all ahead of time because he had chosen a spot away from the crowd (hmmm…did he cordon off this pavillion?) and he had two lanterns specially ordered from Ming to celebrate Buddha’s Birthday.

Note: in every kdrama, the male lead must prepare to wow the girl with an “event.” The surprise event will always involve lights, e.g., candles, lightbulbs, fireworks, neon lights, fireworks, torches, stars, and so on.

Thus, I wasn’t impressed by the floating lanterns as much as I was delighted with the lantern he gifted her. The lantern was more thoughtful.

JungWoo: Just take this. This is the latest item from the Ming Dynasty. Do you know what it is? It is —
SoonDeok: Is it not a sky lantern?
JungWoo: It is.
SoonDeok: I launched one with my brother once in Pyeongyang.
JungWoo: You keep talking about your brother. What does your brother do for a living anyway? Pffft.

All the other people at the festival had only water lanterns. He wanted to be different so he ordered a novelty item from China (which must be expensive since it’s the “latest” item) just for them.

JungWoo: (continuing) And while we’re on the subject, how old are you? You look much younger than me, and yet you speak brashly to me.

This was a personal question. It was unrelated to their professional job. As a matter of fact, this meeting wasn’t part of their job as they had concluded the “first-sight” business with the three sisters.

SoonDeok was preoccupied with lighting her paper lantern and ignored his question. She accidentally dropped her lantern.

SoonDeok: Gosh! I should have made a wish!
JungWoo: You are not a child. Why make a wish? (producing another lantern) Here! You can have this one.

SoonDeok: (grabbing it) May I? Really?
JungWoo: Pffft.

He liked watching her excitement. He must feel good knowing that he was the one who made her face light up like that.

This time, she remembered to make a wish before releasing the lantern. He snorted at her childishness, but secretly, he was pleased to see her so animated.

JungWoo: Making a wish, goodness. (clearing throat) Let me ask you. What wish did you make?
SoonDeok: My brother said your wish will not come true if you tell someone.
JungWoo: (grumbling) Again and again with your non-stop prattle about your brother.

They stared at each other. Slowly, SoonDeok leaned forward as if to kiss him.

JungWoo: (flustered) I read about this in erotic romance novel. This is what happens right before a kiss.

I like how Rowoon didn’t mind “ruining” his image in this drama. Look at this duck face!

Flustered, he looked away from her and closed his eyes. He was acting like a virgin in those erotica novels. Then, the gong struck the hour and she had to rush off.

SoonDeok: Sir, I will see you at the merchants’ inn in three days. (collecting her things) Goodbye.
JungWoo: (gasping) She cannot just leave after creating a situation like this.

It was funny how he had to sit down and compose himself like a Victorian lady.

After she left, he searched for the lantern that SoonDeok had dropped. He lit it and sent it floating to join SoonDeok’s lantern in the sky. He made a wish.

Bong: What wish did you make?
JungWoo: A wish will not come true if you tell someone.

That’s the whole point of this episode. That’s what’s special about SeonHwa Temple.

What happened at SeonHwa Temple, stay at SeonHwa Temple. Their activities, their encounters, their conversations. Everything must be kept a secret.

Why? Because SeonHwa Temple is a special place where wishes were made and wishes could come true.

Did you get it?

What happened at SeonHwa Temple was each couple’s deepish wish. The couples were making an unspoken wish that the person they were with that night at SeonHwa Temple was their fated one, their love match. It was as if they were making a wish on a paper lantern. Should they ever divulge their wish, then the wish wouldn’t come true.

Hence, what happened at SeonHwa Temple, must stay at SeonHwa Temple in order for their wishes to come true.