Raise your hand if you’ve been personally victimized by the ending of Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo! Seven years after the historical K-drama’s finale first aired, fans remain heartbroken after the series left on a tragic note. However, information on an unaired alternate ending has viewers clamoring for a second season, as it reportedly featured Wang So’s reincarnation!
READ: “Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo’s” Alternate Ending Featured Wang So’s Reincarnation
Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo gained cult status for K-drama enthusiasts, especially for its finale which tugged at everyone’s heartstrings. The drama delved into IU’s Go Ha Jin, a modern-day woman who found herself in ancient Korea. She takes on the name of Hae Soo, and eventually falls for Prince Wang So (played by Lee Joon Gi)—but their ending wasn’t exactly the stuff of happily-ever-afters.
After succumbing to illness, Hae Soo passes away. Her body returns to modern-day Korea, where she one day stumbles upon a history exhibition. There, she sees a painting of Wang So, prompting her old life’s memories to come crashing down onto her.
Back in November 2016, IU shared a behind-the-scenes look at the series, which featured snaps of a monitor that peeked at her character in tears. From the looks of it, the scene in question was from the drama’s emotional finale, but with a slight difference: The next frame showed an unidentified hand offering her a handkerchief.
After rounds of speculations, Lee Joon Gi and IU confirmed in 2021 that this was an unaired alternate ending that hinted at Wang So’s reincarnation.
“I do feel sad that we couldn’t show fans the scene where Wang So and Hae Soo meet, but your visuals were also amazing,” IU said as translated by Soompi, when she addressed Joon Gi on a special Naver NOW show for his birthday.
“In the modern-day scene, where you have short hair and are dressed in a suit. Your visuals in that scene where you handed me a handkerchief—it was really a shame that it didn’t make it on TV. Your fans would have gone wild if that had aired.”
Joon Gi also discussed the unaired ending during a 2022 interview on the Korean variety show MMTG. “When she looked at him, he stood there like someone who didn't know anything. He just smiled and turned away,” he recalled. “Then I think Hae Soo called him and he looked back. I think she smiled at him.”
The alternate ending, however, has not seen the light of the day. Joon Gi considered that it would’ve been featured in the drama’s DVD, but the scene may have been “blocked,” according to the actor.
Due to its tearful conclusion, fans are wishing for a second season, which Joon Gi also “hopes” for. The actor revealed that the cast has “talked a lot” about a potential follow-up.
IU also remarked about a second season in an earlier interview. “If the conditions are right for us to all gather together, there is no reason not to do it,” she said.
We’re still crossing our fingers for their eventual happy ending!
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