Kwon Hae-hyo revealed as Bae Yoon-kyu's future stepfather in KBS drama

Tension escalated in episode 26 of 'Love on the Menu' when Kwon Hae-hyo visited Bae Yoon-kyu's store to reveal he is the man living with Bae Yoon-kyu's mother. After spending two and a half years bringing bouquets to win her over, the sudden confession has created a sharp shift in the drama's complex family dynamics.

The character relationships in the KBS drama 'Love on the Menu' have become entangled in an unexpected direction. Tension in the drama has heightened following the revelation that Kwon Hae-hyo is the husband living with Bae Yoon-kyu's mother.

"Sorry for the late introduction" Kwon Hae-hyo's sudden confession

A highlight video of episode 26 of 'Love on the Menu' released by KBS features a scene where Kwon Hae-hyo visits Bae Yoon-kyu's store to reveal his identity. While Kwon Hae-hyo stated he came to encourage Bae Yoon-kyu, the youngest store owner among the nationwide branches, he delivered a shocking fact during their conversation. Kwon Hae-hyo directly told Bae Yoon-kyu that he is the person living with Kyu-ho (Bae Yoon-kyu)'s mother.

Kwon Hae-hyo also mentioned the process of coming to live with the mother. He recalled putting in effort, such as bringing bouquets for two and a half years to meet her, and noted that he struggled initially because she did not give him an opening when they first met. While Bae Yoon-kyu reacted by saying he was relieved that his mother seemed to have met a good person, the situation immediately following the discovery of Kwon Hae-hyo's identity has caused a sharp shift in the drama's flow.

Conflicting gazes and revealing family fragments

Following Kwon Hae-hyo's appearance, a strange atmosphere flows between Bae Yoon-kyu and Kwon Hae-hyo. Bae Yoon-kyu showed a sharp reaction, asking if Kwon Hae-hyo was pretending to be a fool or suffering from amnesia due to certain circumstances. In particular, as conversations unfolded suggesting that Kwon Hae-hyo had even drawn his own father into the situation, a facet of a complex family relationship beyond simple acquaintances was revealed.

The atmosphere on the scene is portrayed multidimensionally through the characters' dialogue. Kwon Hae-hyo is shown frequently visiting the store to observe Bae Yoon-kyu's daily life, while Bae Yoon-kyu remains conscious of this and responds sharply. In this process, small episodes from within the family, such as the mother's daily life and the story of adopting a puppy, intersect, supporting the drama's theme of gathering the fragments of a broken family.

A connection leading to a one-of-a-kind dish

Amidst the conflicts between characters, the drama connects relationships through the medium of "cooking." The setting of a restaurant that serves special dishes not on the menu on certain days of the week is utilized as a device for the characters to confirm each other's sincerity. Scenes where a dish prepared with care for someone is remembered as the best taste of one's life provide clues for the conflicting characters to recover their relationships.

Source: KBS Drama (YouTube)