Sobriety, Please: Choi Sooyoung's Shocking Cake Throw at Ex-Fiancé After Learning of His Betrayal

## The Morning After: A Chaotic Reunion with First Love

The second episode of tvN's new Monday-Tuesday drama 'Sobriety, Please' aired on May 13, 2025, continuing the story of Han Geum-joo (played by Choi Sooyoung) and her unexpected reunion with first love Seo Ui-joon (Gong Myung) in her hometown of Bocheon.

The episode begins with Geum-joo waking up in an unfamiliar place-Ui-joon's home. The previous night, Ui-joon had accidentally hit his car while trying to avoid a suddenly appearing Geum-joo, who had fallen asleep at the scene. He had no choice but to carry her to his house, despite her protests that she couldn't go home.

Meanwhile, a misunderstanding arises when Geum-joo's shoe is found near the lake, leading her mother Kim Gwang-ok (Kim Sung-ryung) to fear the worst. When Geum-joo learns that people think she's dead, she rushes to the lake, only to find herself at the center of town gossip about causing Ui-joon's injury.

The episode brilliantly portrays the morning-after confusion and the small-town dynamics that quickly turn a simple misunderstanding into a full-blown scandal, setting up the complicated relationship between our protagonists.

## The Price of Carelessness: Becoming Ui-joon's Driver

When Geum-joo discovers that Ui-joon has estimated repair costs exceeding 2.8 million won for his car, she finds herself with no choice but to become his personal driver to work off the debt. What begins as a simple arrangement quickly becomes complicated as Geum-joo faces criticism everywhere they go, with townspeople blaming her for Ui-joon's injury.

The situation becomes increasingly frustrating for Geum-joo as she's forced to do not only driving duties but also field work and errands for the elderly that Ui-joon would normally handle. When she confronts him, suspecting he's taking revenge, their exchange reveals the stark contrast in their current situations: "How does a successful doctor from Seoul end up doing this here?" she asks, to which he replies, "How does a successful mechanic from Seoul end up like this?"

This section of the episode cleverly uses their forced proximity to highlight their contrasting life trajectories while building tension between them. Geum-joo's backstory is revealed-she had been a hardworking mechanic with excellent performance records, but her promotion was delayed due to her upcoming marriage, leading her to take a vacation that ultimately changed the course of her life.

## The Town-Wide Prohibition: Mother's Desperate Measure

In a dramatic turn of events, Geum-joo's mother Kim Gwang-ok takes extreme measures to help her daughter overcome her alcohol addiction. She declares to the Bocheon Commercial District Association: "Anyone who sells alcohol to my family member is done doing business with me." This bold move effectively places the entire town under prohibition.

Geum-joo's siblings Han Jeong-su (Kim Sang-ho) and Han Hyun-joo (Jo Yoon-hee) protest, arguing that a town-wide prohibition is unreasonable. However, Gwang-ok remains firm, pointing out the destruction alcohol has caused in their family: Hyun-joo married a man she met while drunk after just one month of dating and later divorced him, now drinking after putting her children to bed; Jeong-su lost the junkyard his father left him after drunkenly cosigning a loan for a friend, and his subsequent spicy fish stew restaurant failed because he drank more than the customers.

This section powerfully illustrates how addiction affects entire families, not just individuals. The town's compliance with Gwang-ok's demands shows her influence and determination, while also setting up the comedic "alcohol prohibition" storyline that will likely drive much of the series' humor.

## Misunderstandings and Empathy: Geum-joo's Attempt to Connect

After hearing rumors that Ui-joon came to Bocheon for troubling reasons, Geum-joo begins to show him more consideration. She relates to what she believes is his situation, feeling it mirrors her own struggles. In a passionate moment, she tells him to "go back to Seoul," trying to save him from what she perceives as a similar fate to hers.

However, this turns out to be a misunderstanding, and Ui-joon coldly tells her not to meddle in his affairs. This interaction reveals Geum-joo's capacity for empathy despite her own problems, while also maintaining the mystery around Ui-joon's true reasons for returning to their hometown.

The scene effectively builds character depth for both protagonists-showing Geum-joo's caring nature beneath her chaotic exterior, and hinting at Ui-joon's hidden pain behind his composed facade. Their dynamic continues to evolve from mere childhood acquaintances to individuals who might understand each other's pain, even if they're not ready to admit it yet.

## The Cake Confrontation: Facing the Ex-Fiancé

In one of the episode's most dramatic moments, Geum-joo realizes she had previously ordered a cake for her ex-fiancé Kim Ju-yeop (played by Yoo Eui-tae). She rushes to Seoul, only to encounter Ju-yeop with his new pregnant girlfriend.

The truth finally emerges: Ju-yeop had gotten another woman pregnant during a "one-night mistake" while drunk, which explains why he had given Geum-joo the ultimatum of "choosing between alcohol or him." Furious at this revelation, Geum-joo throws the cake at him, declaring, "I want to kill you, but I'm holding back because of the baby. Please live properly."

Ju-yeop's callous response-"You should live properly too. Stop getting hit from behind"-adds insult to injury, suggesting there might be more to their breakup story than initially revealed.

This confrontation provides the emotional climax of the episode, allowing viewers to finally understand the full context of Geum-joo's broken engagement and her subsequent spiral. The cake-throwing scene serves as both cathartic release and symbolic rejection of her past relationship, while setting her firmly on the path toward potential healing and new beginnings.

## The Hidden Truth: Ui-joon's Secret Revealed

The episode ends with a shocking revelation about Seo Ui-joon. While he presents himself as an alcohol addiction counselor who travels around giving lectures, his refrigerator is surprisingly filled with alcohol. Even more disturbing, a post on the medical school community forum claims that Ui-joon "killed someone."

This twist completely subverts viewers' understanding of Ui-joon's character. Earlier in the episode, rumors suggested he had been unfairly pushed out of a professor track at Seoul Yeon Medical School and abandoned by his fiancée who cheated on him, leading him to briefly become an alcoholic "living like a bum." While some characters dismissed these rumors as "too dramatic," Geum-joo had defended their plausibility, saying "Reality is often more dramatic than dramas."

The final revelation suggests there's much more to Ui-joon's story than either the rumors or his public persona indicate. His refrigerator full of alcohol despite his anti-drinking stance creates a compelling mystery that will likely drive the plot forward in subsequent episodes. Is he still struggling with addiction while preaching sobriety? What connection does this have to the accusation that he "killed someone"?

This cliffhanger ending perfectly sets up the continuing story while adding layers of complexity to what initially appeared to be a straightforward romantic comedy.

## Viewer Response and Ratings: A Promising Start

The second episode of 'Sobriety, Please' follows a strong premiere that recorded a nationwide rating of 3.4% according to Nielsen Korea. This represents a successful launch for the series, especially considering it follows the previous tvN drama 'Divorce Insurance,' which ended with ratings in the 0% range.

Online community reactions have been largely positive, with viewers particularly praising the chemistry between Choi Sooyoung and Gong Myung. Many comments highlight the realistic portrayal of alcohol addiction and family dynamics, while others appreciate the balance of humor and serious themes.

The cake-throwing scene has become a particular talking point, with many viewers expressing satisfaction at Geum-joo's confrontation with her ex-fiancé. Meanwhile, the mystery surrounding Ui-joon's past has generated significant speculation, with fans developing theories about what might have happened in Seoul.

Director Jang Yu-jung had previously expressed concerns about ratings during the press conference, stating: "Receiving the report card of ratings after the broadcast airs is unfamiliar and frightening. The staff did their best, and I hope the second episode will be more loved than the first." Based on the positive reception so far, it seems her hopes are being realized as viewers connect with this healing romance drama.