Yook Sungjae's Heartfelt Confession in 'Gwigung'

In the latest episode of SBS's Friday-Saturday drama 'Gwigung' (written by Yoon Soo-jung, directed by Yoon Sung-sik), aired on May 10, Yook Sungjae's character, Kang Cheol, finally confessed his feelings to Kim Jiyeon's character, Yeori, marking a pivotal moment in their relationship.

The episode revealed that the dark forces threatening the royal family were linked to one of the blind diviners, and the true identity of the mastermind behind the chaos was unveiled as King Lee Jeong's (played by Kim Ji-hoon) maternal grandfather, Kim Bong-in (played by Son Byung-ho).

Kang Cheol and Lee Jeong engaged in a life-or-death battle against the formidable diviner, Makdol (played by Kim Jun-won). Kang Cheol sustained severe injuries while fighting to save Yeori, who ultimately used a ritual to trap Makdol, allowing her to rescue him. In a tender moment, Yeori instinctively embraced the revived Kang Cheol, creating a charged atmosphere that caught the attention of Bi-bi (played by Jo Han-gyeol), who was wary of Kang Cheol's growing human emotions.

Yeori allowed Makdol to possess her briefly so he could say a final goodbye to his daughter. While Kang Cheol questioned Makdol's behavior during this time, Yeori began to understand the paternal love behind it, reflecting on her late grandmother Neobdeok's (played by Gil Hae-yeon) compassion towards the spirits. The tension escalated as it was revealed that the entity threatening the royal family was a blind diviner known as 'Agugi.'

In a heartfelt confession, Kang Cheol expressed his feelings for Yeori while they were at an inn during a rainstorm. He questioned whether his heart's turmoil was genuine or merely a trick of being trapped in a human body. He asked Yeori if her smile was directed at him or someone else, igniting a wave of emotions.

Yeori, however, felt conflicted about her feelings for Kang Cheol, especially after recalling his past actions that led to Neobdeok's death. She distanced herself from him, grappling with guilt as she reflected on her grandmother's death, shedding tears as she whispered apologies.

Meanwhile, the palace intensified its efforts to uncover the identity of the blind diviner. In a tense interrogation scene, Lee Jeong faced off against the diviners, with the audacity of the diviner Pungsan (played by Lee Seung) triggering Lee Jeong's trauma from past events. Despite pushback from officials aided by Pungsan, including Gwak Sang-chung (played by Yoon Seung) and Ahn Seok-joo (played by Ko In-beom), Lee Jeong was compelled to release Pungsan, leading him to initiate a covert investigation.

As the episode drew to a close, shocking truths about Neobdeok's death emerged. Yeori learned from the spirit Yagwang-gi (played by Park Da-on) that a ritual to expel the blind diviner had taken place a month before Neobdeok's death. Confronting Lee Jeong about the past incident, he revealed that the late king had been possessed by the blind diviner. Realizing the truth, Yeori broke down, exclaiming that it was not Kang Cheol but the blind diviner who had killed her grandmother.

The episode concluded with the revelation that the mastermind behind the royal turmoil was Kim Bong-in, who confronted Pungsan, revealing that Yeori was the one who had disrupted their plans. The chilling cries of the blind diviner echoed through the shrine, setting the stage for an intense showdown between Kang Cheol, Yeori, and King Lee Jeong.

'Gwigung' achieved impressive ratings, with a peak of 11.3% and an average of 9.5% nationwide, maintaining its position as the top-rated drama in its time slot for four consecutive weeks. It also recorded a 2.9% rating among viewers aged 20-49, showcasing its growing popularity.