From heartfelt reunions to quiet gestures of care, episodes three and four of “My Lovely Journey” delivered an emotional punch wrapped in gentle storytelling. The drama continues to balance slice-of-life warmth with touching revelations, and these episodes were especially rich with moments that made viewers pause, smile, and maybe even shed a tear. From Yeon Seok’s (Kim Jae Young) growing care for Yeo Reum (Gong Seung Yeon) to CEO Oh’s (Yu Jun Sang) relationship with our female lead, here are four times “My Lovely Journey” episodes three and four warmed our hearts.
Warning: spoilers ahead!
Yeon Seok’s growing care for Yeo Reum
When the first episodes aired, many viewers were convinced that Yeon Seok would end up joining Yeo Reum on her substitute travel trip to Buyeo. It seemed like the perfect setup for a budding romance on the road. But the reality turned out to be even more heartfelt and subtle.
After Yeo Reum’s whereabouts are leaked online, Yeon Seok and CEO Oh waste no time heading to Buyeo to track her down. She goes silent, ignoring both calls and messages, which only heightens their worry. Eventually, CEO Oh and Yeo Reum reconcile, with Yeo Reum assuring him that she’s committed to completing the substitute travel for their client Kate (Kim Hye Hwa). With the misunderstanding resolved, Yeon Seok and CEO Oh get ready to leave.
But here’s the moment that captured everyone’s attention: instead of driving off, Yeon Seok steps out of the car, walks back to Yeo Reum, and hands her a microphone along with a windshield attachment for her camera. He quietly explains how to use it to get clearer, better-quality audio. It’s not an invitation to join her trip; it’s a small but deeply thoughtful act of support.
This scene beautifully illustrates Yeon Seok’s understanding of Yeo Reum’s independence. He’s not there to take over her journey, but to equip her with the tools to succeed on her own terms. It’s a rare depiction of care that doesn’t overshadow the other person’s agency.
Yeo Reum’s unwavering work ethic
Some of the most telling character moments in “My Lovely Journey” happen in the smallest of scenes, and one moment in episode three perfectly captures Yeo Reum’s professionalism.
When CEO Oh arrives in Buyeo to speak with her, Yeo Reum is still rightfully angry. He had essentially abandoned her and even told her she wasn’t suited for the very industry he had encouraged her to join years earlier. Her disappointment is palpable, and she can’t even bring herself to meet his gaze.
Yet, despite the emotional tension, Yeo Reum doesn’t let her frustration get in the way of her work. She calmly takes out her camera and starts filming the beautiful food in front of them, ensuring that Kate will still get the visual experience she was promised. It’s a fleeting scene, but it speaks volumes about her integrity and commitment.
This kind of discipline and self-control is part of what makes Yeo Reum such a compelling heroine. She’s not without emotion, but she knows when to put the needs of her work and the people depending on her above her personal feelings, a trait that earns her both the admiration of viewers and the trust of those around her.
Yeo Reum as the lighthouse
Episodes three and four also deepened the backstory between Yeo Reum and CEO Oh, adding new layers to their relationship. Viewers already knew that Yeo Reum had grown up on a small island with dreams of becoming an idol, but the reason behind CEO Oh’s almost paternal attachment to her had remained unclear, until now.
In one thoughtful scene, CEO Oh advises Yeon Seok, who has distanced himself from his family to pursue his directing career, to return home before it’s too late. He warns that if Yeon Seok waits too long, society will see him as a failure, regardless of his personal growth. The words carry the weight of personal experience, hinting that CEO Oh once walked a similar path, leaving a secure life behind for a dream that cost him his family ties.
Later, in a flashback, we see the moment when a 13-year-old Yeo Reum first met CEO Oh during what appears to be a low point in his life. Her youthful encouragement to “find the lighthouse” and not give up left a lasting impression on him. While the full extent of CEO Oh’s struggles hasn’t yet been revealed, this scene suggests that Yeo Reum became a guiding light for him during a dark time. It’s this bond, forged long before the events of the drama, that explains why their relationship goes far beyond that of a typical CEO and trainee.
Reunion after 45 years
Among the warm moments in these episodes, none was more poignant than Kate’s reunion with her twin sister after 45 long years.
Kate had grown up believing she was abandoned because she wasn’t wanted. On the other side of the world, her sister harbored resentment, convinced that their mother had cast her aside. The truth, however, was far more complex and heartbreaking.
Their mother had faced an impossible choice: with only the means to care for one child and one of her daughters gravely ill, she decided to keep the sick child, believing that the healthy one would be more likely to survive in someone else’s care. The decision tore her apart, and though she never reunited with Kate, she spent years visiting the same prayer bead tree where she had last seen her, weeping for the daughter she had lost.
When the truth is finally revealed, the reunion between the sisters brings a flood of emotions, grief for the lost years, relief in finally knowing the truth, and love that had never fully disappeared. It’s the kind of scene that lingers in your mind long after the credits roll.
While these episodes were filled with big reveals and emotional confrontations, they also wove in quiet moments of healing, where characters offered comfort in subtle, almost unnoticeable ways. One such moment was when Yeo Reum gently reassured Kate’s niece, who mentioned she was trying to lose weight. Yeo Reum tells her that it isn’t necessary, reminding her that she isn’t overweight and is still just a child. This tender exchange ended up being one of the highlights of the show, leaving a lasting impression.
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Javeria is a binge-watching specialist who loves devouring entire K-dramas in one sitting. Good screenwriting, beautiful cinematography, and a lack of clichés are the way to her heart. As a music fanatic, she listens to multiple artists across different genres and stans the self-producing idol group SEVENTEEN. You can talk to her on Instagram @javeriayousufs.
Currently watching: “My Girlfriend is the Man!” and “My Lovely Journey“
