‘Hot Soles of My Feet’ decorated the grand finale of ‘Drama Special 2024’ with the passionate performances of Oh Ye-joo, Kim Kang-min, and Yang Eui-jin, who are full of deep familial love and love.

On the Tuesday drama KBS 2TV ‘Hot Soles of My Feet: Drama Special 2024’ (directed by Lee Jin-ah, written by Han Bom) aired on the 10th, younger sister Ha-neul (played by Oh Ye-joo) and reclusive loner No-eul (played by Yang Eui-jin) shared each other‘s wounds and gave each other genuine comfort, leaving a touching impression.

‘Hot Soles of My Feet’ opened with Ha-neul checking on the life or death of her older sister No-eul, who has been a reclusive loner for three years due to school violence. Haneul, who took care of her older sister in place of her father Cheol-yong (Park Ho-san), who was frequently on long-term business trips, desperately wished to escape from her prison-like house, even if only for a little while.

At that time, Haneul’s best friend suggested a trip to Jeju Island, and Haneul, who had been dreaming of liberation, caught everyone‘s attention by starting her older sister’s ‘Escape from the Room’ project in earnest. However, Haneul‘s anticipation did not last long. While looking for a part-time job to save up for the trip, Haneul accidentally hurt Kim Yang’s (Kim Kang-min) leg, and her older sister was still growing isolated in frustration.

Kim Yang, who had a crush on Haneul, flirted with her and told her to take responsibility for him, while also introducing her to a part-time job at a cafe run by her mother, playing the role of a savior. Haneul said, “I understand exactly what the other person wants. Recalling Kim Yang‘s words, “This is how you open your heart,” she decided to approach her sister.

As the Jeju Island trip drew near, Haneul was troubled by whether she could leave her sister behind. In the end, Haneul decided to ask her sister directly, and heard a knock on the door from Noeul, a positive signal. Just when everything was going well, suspicious movement was detected in her sister’s room, heightening the tension of the play.

Haneul was overcome with anxiety, wondering if her sister was having bad thoughts again. She knocked on the door with a resentful face and shouted at Noeul to come out and talk, but she remained silent. In response, Haneul said, “Do whatever you want, sister. I won‘t care whether you die or not,” and ran out of the house.

Haneul, who had been holding back tears, regretted telling her best friend, “I shouldn’t have said that.” Hyunji told her to go to her sister quickly, and Haneul ran home with all her might. But when she saw the open door, she went out to look for her sister with a bewildered face. At that moment, she got a phone call and heard that her sister was in the emergency room.

Along with this, the scene of No-eul, who had been isolated in the room, unfolded, bringing tears to the eyes of those watching. No-eul changed little by little as Ha-neul understood her hardships and walked around the room for her sister who wanted to go see her friend. The scene of the two sisters moving their soles hotly against the wall moved the living room theater deeply.

Ha-neul went into the emergency room holding the wool and shoes that Kim Yang had given her. At that moment, No-eul‘s scream was heard from inside the curtain, and soon her sobbing filled the emergency room. After she stopped crying, No-eul told Ha-neul to go to Jeju Island and said, “I can do it too. I’ll take out the trash well. He made me choke up when he said, ”Don‘t get sick like me.“

At the end of the broadcast, Noeul headed home wearing the doll mask that Haneul had given her. Haneul suggested that they go to Jeju Island together next time, and Noeul nodded. The smiling ending of the two sisters walking along the Jeju Island beach together filled Tuesday night with warmth.

‘Drama Special 2024’, which celebrated its 40th anniversary this year, created waves of excitement and emotion through a variety of genres such as historical dramas, road movies, period dramas, melodramas, and growth dramas, as well as five high-quality one-act dramas. In addition, the perfect combination of the three elements of the new writer and director who will lead K-drama, as well as the great acting of the actors, proved the meaning and value of ‘Drama Special 2024’.

Jeon Hyo-jin, Donga.com reporter jhj@donga.com