The Shocking Finale of 'Such an Intimate Traitor': Kim Sung-hee's True Colors Revealed in Emotional Father-Daughter Reconciliation

The Shocking Truth Behind 'Such an Intimate Traitor' Finale

MBC's Friday-Saturday drama 'Such an Intimate Traitor' concluded its 10-episode run on April 15, 2025, with a powerful finale that revealed the true culprit behind the murders and brought emotional closure to the complex father-daughter relationship at the heart of the story. The series, which started with a 5.6% viewership rating, reached its peak with the final episode scoring an impressive 9.6%, proving the audience's growing investment in this well-crafted thriller.

The finale centered around the revelation that Kim Sung-hee (played by Choi Yu-hwa) was the actual murderer who had killed not only Song Min-a (Han Su-a) and Choi Young-min (Kim Jung-jin) but also Lee Su-hyun (Song Ji-hyun). Throughout the series, Kim Sung-hee had been portraying herself as an innocent victim while secretly collaborating with Choi Young-min, forcing Su-hyun to commit crimes while pretending to be naive in front of the runaway family children.

The Unexpected Villain: Kim Sung-hee's True Colors

In a shocking turn of events, the final episode revealed that Kim Sung-hee, who had appeared to be a minor character throughout the series, was actually the mastermind behind the murders. Su-hyun, who had been held captive in Kim Sung-hee's house, managed to escape with the help of Kim's son Do-yoon, who had witnessed his mother's crimes. Su-hyun immediately called Ha-bin but was murdered by Kim Sung-hee before Ha-bin could arrive at the abandoned factory where they were supposed to meet.

The truth came to light when Detective Gu Dae-hong began to suspect Kim Sung-hee after noticing Do-yoon's reluctance to eat anything his mother gave him. Do-yoon's heartbreaking confession that he was afraid his mother might kill him too was particularly moving. The investigation further confirmed Kim Sung-hee's guilt when CCTV footage showed her entering the abandoned factory first, followed by Ha-bin, Ji-soo, and Choi Young-min. Additionally, Ha-bin's voice was recorded on Choi Young-min's burner phone while Kim Sung-hee was filming Su-hyun's body, providing conclusive evidence of her guilt.

A Father's Doubt and a Daughter's Pain

One of the most emotionally charged aspects of the series was the strained relationship between profiler Jang Tae-soo (Han Seok-gyu) and his daughter Jang Ha-bin (Chae Won-bin). Throughout the series, Tae-soo harbored suspicions that his daughter might be responsible for the deaths, including that of her younger brother Ha-jun years earlier.

The finale revealed that Ha-bin's mother, Yoon Ji-soo (Oh Yeon-soo), had discovered Su-hyun's body and, believing Ha-bin was the killer, buried the body herself. This led to Ji-soo being blackmailed by Choi Young-min, who had received false information from Kim Sung-hee that Ji-soo was the murderer. The weight of suspicion from both parents had deeply affected Ha-bin, who had even studied her mother's depression to better understand and help her.

In a particularly poignant scene, Ha-bin and Tae-soo read a letter Ji-soo had left at Su-hyun's columbarium, revealing that she lacked the courage to directly ask Ha-bin if she had killed Su-hyun or to admit that she had wrongly suspected her daughter.

The Emotional Reconciliation

The most touching moment of the finale came when Tae-soo finally asked Ha-bin directly, "Did you kill Ha-jun?" After years of suspicion and misunderstanding, Ha-bin tearfully replied, "I didn't kill him," releasing years of pent-up pain. This simple exchange, which could have prevented so much tragedy had it happened earlier, marked the beginning of healing for the broken family.

The series concluded with Tae-soo resigning from his position and giving Ha-bin a watch as a birthday gift, symbolizing his hope that the family's time, which had stopped due to mutual distrust and suspicion, would start flowing again. The final scene showed the father and daughter beginning to rebuild their relationship, suggesting a hopeful future despite their painful past.

Critical Acclaim and Viewer Response

'Such an Intimate Traitor' received widespread acclaim for its tightly woven plot, exceptional performances, and masterful direction by Song Yeon-hwa. The series maintained its tension throughout all ten episodes, a rare feat for mystery dramas that often lose momentum in their later stages.

Viewers particularly praised the chemistry between Han Seok-gyu and Chae Won-bin, whose father-daughter dynamic formed the emotional core of the series. Chae Won-bin's portrayal of the complex Ha-bin character garnered special attention, with many noting her ability to convey deep emotion through subtle expressions and controlled performance.

Online communities buzzed with theories throughout the show's run, with few correctly guessing Kim Sung-hee as the final villain. The unexpected revelation surprised many viewers, who had been focused on other characters as potential culprits. The series' ability to maintain its mystery until the very end was widely appreciated by thriller enthusiasts.

Chae Won-bin's Breakthrough Performance

In a revealing interview after the finale, Chae Won-bin shared the challenges of portraying Jang Ha-bin, describing the character as a "cloud that kept changing shape" whenever she thought she had grasped her. The 23-year-old actress admitted that there were moments during filming when she felt overwhelmed and wanted to give up, but director Song Yeon-hwa encouraged her to continue.

Chae Won-bin also revealed the physical toll the role took on her, causing her to lose 4-5kg during filming, with the difference visible between the first and final episodes. Despite the challenges, she expressed pride in her commitment to the character, saying that while she couldn't claim she performed perfectly, she could confidently say she was sincere in her portrayal.

The actress shared a touching anecdote about her connection with Han Seok-gyu, revealing that they were born in the same maternity hospital, with Han's second daughter's birthday just two days apart from hers. Han Seok-gyu, who remembered this fact and congratulated her on her birthday during filming, referred to her as "a junior whose birthday I will never forget."

Legacy and Future Viewings

'Such an Intimate Traitor' has secured its place as one of the standout Korean thrillers of 2025. The series, which was a winning entry in MBC's drama screenplay competition without an original source material, was produced by Ascendio and Woodside, with screenplay by Han A-young and direction by Song Yeon-hwa.

For those who missed the original broadcast or wish to rewatch the series, it is available for streaming on Wave and Netflix. The drama's success has also generated interest in the cast's future projects, with Chae Won-bin's next appearance being in KBS2's 'Miss Fortune,' which was actually filmed before 'Such an Intimate Traitor.'

As of April 2025, 'Such an Intimate Traitor' continues to perform well in integrated content rankings, securing second place in the second week of November 2024, according to OTT content search platform Kinolights, demonstrating the lasting impact and popularity of this compelling thriller.