Hae-jo and Jae-mi, the two main leads of Mr. Plankton, experience a storm of emotions in the finale of the 10-episode romantic K-drama. But in the end, does their love prevail? Here are all the details of the Netflix original series Mr. Plankton, from the plot to the ending, explained.
Spoilers ahead!
Another romance K-drama from the writer of It’s Okay to Not Be Okay (2020), Mr. Plankton is a tender but heartwrenching tale of optimism and a love that is impossible to achieve. When protagonist Hae-jo is obliged to deal with a terminal illness with only three months to live, he learns that grief is always difficult, surprising and nonlinear. As he embarks on his final journey of life accompanied by his ex-girlfriend Jae-mi, hopes, regrets, and moments of short-lived joy make his last days memorable.
A Hong Jong-chan directorial, Mr. Plankton stars Woo Do-hwan and Lee You-mi in leading roles. While Woo is known for one of the most-watched K-dramas on Netflix, Bloodhounds (2023), Lee is popular for shows like All of Us Are Dead season 1 (2022) and Squid Game season 1 (2021).
Meanwhile, the duo’s latest release, Mr. Plankton, has been applauded by critics and fans for good reasons. The show will make you swoon more often than not, as a naive Jae-mi, initially unaware of her ex-lover Hae-jo’s sickness, tries to stay away from him but fails miserably. However, the ending of Mr. Plankton, which poignantly explores the show’s recurring question, “Why do tragedies keep happening to people whose lives are already pathetic?”, is more likely to have you reaching for a tissue box.
Mr. Plankton ending explained: The cast and their characters
- Woo Do-hwan as Hae-jo/ Choi Seung-hyeok
- Lee You-mi as Jae-mi
- Oh Jung-se as Eo Heung
- Kim Hae-sook as Beom Ho-ja
- Lee El as Bong-suk
- Kim Min-seok as Yoo Ki-ho
Mr. Plankton ending explained: Is Hae-jo able to find his biological father?
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Throughout the first nine episodes of the Netflix original K-drama, viewers learn that protagonist Hae-jo, aka Choi Seung-hyeok, was born to Choi Yeong-jo and his wife after the duo conceived him through IVF. However, at the tender age of eight, his parents discovered that the clinic had made a mistake with the sperm, and Seung-hyeok was not his father’s biological child.
In the last episode, a flashback gives an even clearer picture of Seung-hyeok’s past. After his parents discover the truth about his birth, their relationship deteriorates. One night Seung-hyeok’s mother asks if he wants to go stargazing with her, to which he says no. The next morning, police officials inform his father that she is no more and her car fell off a mountain, hinting at the fact that it could have been suicide. Seung-hyeok’s father withdraws completely from that day and ends up ignoring all of his son’s pleas. On his graduation day, Hae-jo asks his father to come to get him jjajangmyeon but when the latter doesn’t come, Seung-hyeok abandons that life and runs away. He is then found by Bong-suk, who raises him and gives him a new identity, Hae-jo.
In the present, Hae-jo and Jae-mi are on their way to Gangwon to meet the fourth individual who could probably turn out to be his biological father. For context, Hae-jo inherited a rare brain disease from his biological father and only has three months left to live. So he embarks on a final journey to reunite with his biological father. Accompanying him is his ex-girlfriend Jae-mi. In the last episode, Hae-jo, freshly out of the hospital after his latest treatment session, informs a worried Jae-mi in the middle of the night that it would be too late if he did not meet his father soon and leaves in a cab. At first, it seemed like Hae-jo went to approach the fourth potential sperm donor but it was Choi Yeong-jo.
The duo spot each other outside the latter’s house and Hae-jo, after staying away from Yeong-jo since his teenage days, finally breaks down while embracing his father. Yeong-jo hugs him back and takes him inside the house he was once raised in. When Hae-jo enters his childhood room, he realises that Yeong-jo never threw away his belongings and his room still looks the same way it did when he had left. Hae-jo lays down on his bed and finally feels at home.
Later that night, Hae-jo embarks on another road trip but before leaving he pens down a message for Yeong-jo on his business card that reads, “I’m your son, Choi Seung-hyeok.”
Mr. Plankton ending explained: Do Hae-jo and Jae-mi reunite?
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The last episode of the romantic K-drama opens with Jae-mi wandering on the streets of Gangwon crying her eyes out. For context, in the penultimate episode, Jae-mi learns that Hae-jo tricked her into believing that they were going to meet his biological father in Gangwon. Earlier in the series, he had promised Jae-mi, who has been an orphan all her life, that he would find her birth mother one day. In the last episode, he fulfills that promise. Hae-jo drops her in front of her real mother’s doorstep and leaves, thinking it would hurt Jae-mi less if she didn’t witness his final moments. However, Jae-mi is less concerned about her mother refusing to recognize her and more about reuniting with Hae-jo.
She calls Ki-ho for help but the latter advises her to return to Seoul. Meanwhile, Hae-jo meets Eo Heung, Jae-mi’s ex-fiance, and the duo share a meal. He recalls his past actions and voices how he should have never abandoned his loved ones, be it Choi Yeong-jo or Jae-mi.
Hae-jo then reaches Seoul and reunites with Bong-suk and Jae-mi. He also promises Jae-mi that he won’t abandon her until his last day in the world. Later, Jae-mi picks him up from Yeong-jo’s place and the lovers wander around Korea in Hae-jo’s jeep, going from one destination to the next.
Mr. Plankton ending explained: What happens to Eo Heung?
Eo Heung, Jae-mi’s ex-fiance, makes peace with the fact that Jae-mi chose to stay with Hae-jo. Additionally, he meets his mother Beom Ho-ja one last time, before driving off to an unknown destination. Later, she calls him and encourages him to wander off and have fun. But he should come back once he starts missing her food.
A few months later, Hae-jo and Jae-mi get a notification of a live video from ‘Heung the Drifter’. It shows Eo Heung, who now is a content creator, sharing his experiences of hiking through Geumjoengsan, a mountain in Busan.
Mr. Plankton ending explained: Does Hae-jo survive?
No, he doesn’t. Mr. Plankton ends in a bitter-sweet note, with Hae-jo spending his final moments in the arms of his one true love, Jae-mi.
In the last episode, Hae-jo and Jae-mi have the best time of their lives exploring Korea on wheels. Soon it’s winter, and the couple go on yet another road trip. On their way, they spot a beautiful location in the snow and run out to play. Hae-jo dares Jae-mi to find a rare four-leaf clover and promises to stay at a hotel with her and not opt for a camp if she succeeds. She agrees and wanders off to find one.
In the next few moments, Hae-jo’s nose starts bleeding. He realises that his time has come and gets flashes of his life. “I want to die under the dazzling blue sky”, he recalls. He then lays down on the snow, looks up to the sky with tears and hears Jae-mi running towards him while crying her eyes out. When she reaches him and holds him in her arms, he laments how desperately he wants to live and be with her forever. He caresses her face and smiles as his voiceover shares his final thoughts, “You are the last scene of my life. Well, I guess then I had…a pretty good life. It was so much fun. Thorough and complete. I love you.”
Before the credits roll, Jae-mi too confesses her love for Hae-jo, who then tears up and smiles at her for one last time. The scene then shifts to their jeep driving off into the distance.
Watch all episodes of Mr. Plankton on Netflix
(Hero Image: Courtesy Netflix Korea | 넷플릭스 코리아 /@netflixkr via Instagram; Featured Image: Courtesy Netflix K-Content/@netflixkcontent via X)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Mr. Plankton is now available to stream worldwide on Netflix.
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Written by
Sushmita Mahanta
Digital Writer (Growth) - Entertainment
Sushmita is a writer with a passion for crafting engaging and informative stories. An avid fan of K-pop and K-dramas, Sushmita mostly writes about Korean culture and entertainment. When not writing, you can find Sushmita dancing, reading, collecting books, learning about fashion, art, motion pictures, and appreciating BTS.
