Son Suk-ku Unravels the Mystery Man in ‘More Beautiful Than Heaven’
In the latest episode of JTBC’s weekend drama More Beautiful Than Heaven, Son Suk-ku’s character Go Nak-jun takes a deeper dive into his complex family history and unresolved emotions connected to the mysterious ‘Shirt Man’, who was revealed to be former detective Kang Jung-gu, portrayed by Jung Jin-gak.
The episode begins with Go Nak-jun and his wife Lee Hae-sook, played by veteran actress Kim Hye-ja, sending off his reborn mother, Park Jong-gwi, hinting at the drama’s ongoing themes of life, loss, and reincarnation. Hae-sook, overwhelmed by her husband’s coldness after a heated argument over his mother’s death, finds solace in a church community—only to be humorously hauled away by security after getting drunk while making sweet rice cakes.
As the story unfolds, Nak-jun picks up his wife and they return home, where a heartfelt moment reveals Hae-sook’s years of struggle living with her mother-in-law and her resilient spirit. This leads Nak-jun to reflect on his past insensitivity and to see his wife in a new light.
Meanwhile, the mysterious old man wearing a Hawaiian shirt, whom Hae-sook always suspected, is identified as Kang Jung-gu, someone with a hidden and tangled connection to both Somi (played by Han Ji-min) and Nak-jun. The episode teases a dark history involving Somi, who can’t explain the waves of anger she feels toward the ‘Shirt Man’ and fears she may have committed a great sin.
The mystical element is further heightened as Somi, who was once seen on a train to the afterlife trying to save Nak-jun, continues to wrestle with fragmented memories and inexplicable emotions triggered by strangers—including a sudden burst of tears after touching a baby.
The emotional climax arrives when Hae-sook visits her mother-in-law’s ‘paradise house’ only to find she had been preparing for her departure all along—applying for reincarnation without informing her family. Despite initial resentment, Nak-jun ultimately accepts her choice, inspired by the wisdom of Heo Joon-ho’s character, the center director, who emphasizes the cyclical nature of life.
In a poignant goodbye, Park Jong-gwi shares her unspoken truths with her son and daughter-in-law. The episode closes with a major twist as Nak-jun meets the mysterious Kang Jung-gu again. Upon hearing the name, Nak-jun is jolted into memories of his past, setting up thrilling questions for the next episodes.
Notably, Somi shows early signs of romantic feelings for Nak-jun, igniting emotional conflict with her line, “I think I started to like someone I shouldn’t have”. As she and Nak-jun discover a dandelion ring they once exchanged, Hae-sook watches on, signaling deeper layers yet to unfold in this metaphysical drama.
