Updated: January 7, 2025
Here’s a collection of quotes from the Korean drama, When The Phone Rings (2024):
Episode 1
“A journalist should report the truth. You shouldn’t distort it.” – Paik Saeon
“Forget the illusion that we’re married. You were sent as a hostage to me.” – Paik Saeon
“I would say my wife is my weakness.” – Paik Saeon
“Do you think I can’t hear just because I can’t speak? Do you think I can’t feel emotions? You don’t want to expose me to indiscriminate attacks? Then why am I hurt and torn apart already?” – Hong Hee Joo
“Did you say I was your weakness? A weakness is a wound that’s prone to infection. When someone touches it, you flinch, tremble, and desperately defend it. That’s a weakness.” – Hong Hee Joo
“Why did you think I’d accept the presumptuous demand to abandon Hong Hee-joo? Why are you dragging my person into this?” – Paik Saeon
“I’ve never been more curious about a man before. Forget about getting arrested, 406. I promise, I’m going to catch you.” – Paik Saeon
Episode 2
“I guess it makes him angry when someone touches his things.” – Hong Hee Joo
“Are you really a mother and not a pimp?” – Hong Hee Joo
“I’m so curious. Once I successfully escape this prison, what expression will you have?” – Hong Hee Joo
“In a negotiation without trust, there’s no victory.” –
“Do you want a tip? Don’t try to have any feelings for me. Let it all go. You don’t need to act like a puppet in front of me.” – Paik Saeon
“Let me be clear. You weren’t part of my plan.” – Paik Saeon
“It won’t be you. It’ll be your sister.” – Paik Saeon
Episode 3
“The fact that he knows so much about me suggests that he’s very close.” – Paik Saeon
“Instead of asking what it is, shouldn’t you be asking why I haven’t revealed it yet?” – Sang Woo
“Tell me. Do you know me well? I suddenly had this thought. I thought I knew you, too. But I don’t think I knew you all that well after all.” – Paik Saeon
“I guess you have no idea how that sounds to me. It feels like your threats are for someone else’s benefit.” – Paik Saeon
“Listen carefully, 406. I will never give you what you want.” – Paik Saeon
“I have no intention of giving her up.” – Paik Saeon
“I won’t divorce you. I’m saying this just in case someone misleads you.” – Paik Saeon
“There’s no divorce for me. Whether it’s a scandal or rumor, I won’t tolerate my name being dragged through the mud.” – Paik Saeon
“Everything you do is clumsy.” – Paik Saeon
“Experience isn’t everything. I can tell by a person’s expression. I know what you’re going to say and what you’re thinking.” – Hong Hee Joo
“It’s true we may be better off as strangers, but I hate that.” – Paik Saeon
“I can’t do anything. No one in this world is on my side.” – Hong Hee Joo
“We’re family. She’s my wife.” – Paik Saeon
Episode 4
“I’m not telling you to stop crying. Cry as much as you want.” – Paik Saeon
“How much longer will you live as the obedient child? Aren’t you sick of others telling you what to do? It’s your chance to try with your name on the line. Chicken out and blow it or give up over what others think. Do whatever you want.” – Paik Saeon
“The two have lived without being able to open up to each other. Would things have been different if they had been more honest and shown their true feelings?” – Paik Saeon
“If they try to make an effort now, could they live like any other ordinary people? Yet again today, like how a mind game is played, the couple merely tries to read each other’s minds. The ironic thing is that their behavior is surprisingly similar.” – Paik Saeon
“So warm yet so cold. So harsh yet so kind.” – Hong Hee Joo
“So do I. I like her.” – Paik Saeon
“If the real owner returns, you have to give it back.” – Paik Saeon
“There was a time when I hated to eat or speak with my mouth. I was surrounded by greedy, noisy, and bothersome people. And she was the most quiet. When I stared at her, strangely I could breathe easily.” – Paik Saeon
“Hee-joo isn’t supplementary pages. She’s a brand new language.” – Paik Saeon
Episode 5
“How could such a young girl hold back a scream?” – Paik Saeon
“You should fight back. Be it your mom, sister, or whoever. Prepare yourself to fight back.” – Paik Saeon
“It’s red. Like your swollen cheek.” – Paik Saeon
“Everyone has secrets. Don’t you have any? Something you’re hiding from me?” – Hong Hee Joo
“Sometimes it’s necessary to pretend not to know and let things slide. That’s how you get some breathing room.” – Young Woo
“It’ll be suffocating if you nitpick and criticize every little thing.” – Young Woo
“Underestimating yourself is a bad habit. I’d like to help you break that habit.” – Paik Saeon
“I want to hear it again. Your voice.” – Paik Saeon
“The world won’t fall apart if you speak up. Everything you want to say, the things you’ve held back. Say whatever you want.” – Paik Saeon
“What I have to say to you isn’t what you want to hear.” – Hong Hee Joo
Episode 6
“It’s difficult. Forgiveness.” – Paik Saeon
“What calmed me down every time were the gestures of the girl next door who practiced sign language every night. But that girl had no one to rely on, anywhere.” – Paik Saeon
“A married life with me after leaving that house must’ve felt like a prison to her.” – Paik Saeon
“By any chance, does Hee-joo want sincerity, attention, understanding, and affection? Is that what she wants? I can give that to her. I can give her everything. If that’s what Hee-joo wants, I’ll give as much as she needs.” – Paik Saeon
“If I make an effort and we can change, promise you’ll never make this call again.” – Paik Saeon
“Getting a stubborn child to listen is harder than practicing discipline.” – Yeo Hui
Episode 7
“There was you. When no one else cared about me, you noticed me. Whenever I was scared, you ran over to save me. Even when I said nothing, even when I didn’t cry out for help, you were the only one who listened to me.” – Hong Hee Joo
“I like feeling your heartbeat.” – Paik Saeon
“There’s nowhere to hide except behind me.” – Paik Saeon
“Everyone’s talking about you and they’re gossiping about you. Aren’t you scared?” – Hong Hee Joo
“Tell me how to hate you. Tell me how not to love you.” – Paik Saeon
Episode 8
“To me, this home was warm. When I returned home and saw the lights in the window, it made me feel good to know you were there. When I looked at you, the noisy world around me became quiet and peaceful.” – Paik Saeon
“It was fun. The fiery Hong Hee-joo that only shows up when she’s 406.” – Paik Saeon
“Could you do the same when you know everything about me?” – Paik Saeon
“You knew I was 406, yet you didn’t abandon me. Let us show each other our worst and make it even.” – Hong Hee Joo
“The only Paik Sa-eon I want to leave behind in this world is the one that belongs to Hong Hee-jo.” – Paik Saeon
Episode 9
“It’s my turn now. It’s my turn to protect you.” – Hong Hee Joo
“Some monsters are made, but some are simply born. It was bad luck. How dare something like that be born into my family?” – Park Jang Ho
“For once, I want to protect you. So that you never suffer or get hurt again.” – Hong Hee Joo
“I lived because of you. I endured because of you.” – Paik Saeon
Episode 10
“He’s the monster we created. He’s nothing more and nothing less.” – Mr. Paik
“I trusted you. I don’t trust anyone. But I trusted you.” – Paik Saeon
“I know it’s late, but would you consider trusting me now?” – Paik Saeon
“I regret loving you. No, that wasn’t love.” – Hong Hee Joo
“I thought being obedient was a way to show you love. Love isn’t about forcing one-sided sacrifice like you do or being unconditionally obedient like me.” – Hong Hee Joo
“I wasn’t a stand-in. From the very start, I was your wife.” – Hong Hee Joo
“Once all of this is over, will you marry me?” – Hong Hee Joo
“No. Once all of this is over, I’ll propose to you.” – Paik Saeon
“I’m going to live a life after taking revenge. With the person I want to be with for the rest of my life.” – Paik Saeon
“Why was I born? I always thought about it. If I have to live someone else’s life against my will, why was I born? But I think I found the answer to why I was horn and why I had to live as Paik Sa-eon. It was to meet you.” – Paik Saeon
Episodes 11-12
“Do you like being married to me or not? If you don’t hate it, how about we slowly get to know each other better?” – Paik Saeon
“If it was for you, I thought I wouldn’t mind dying. But I miss you.” – Hong Hee Joo
“I wasn’t afraid of dying. But the thought of never seeing you again was terrifying.” – Hong Hee Joo
“I’ve liked you for a long time now.” – Hong Hee Joo
“Only now after he’s gone do I regret belatedly.” – Hong Hee Joo
“From the blood running in my veins to my name, the only thing I ever did right in this sinful life of mine was protect you, Hee-joo. But it turned out I didn’t protect you. Instead, I took so much from you.” – Paik Saeon
“I didn’t leave you. I needed to punish myself. I was looking for an excuse.” – Paik Saeon
“If you have to be punished, I should be the one to punish you!” – Hong Hee Joo
“You’re punishing me now. You’re right in front of me and I want to hold you like crazy.” – Paik Saeon
“I’m going to forget everything from the past. If I keep dwelling on the past, I’ll be unhappy in the present.” – Hong Hee Joo
Genre: Romance, Thriller, Mystery
Also known as: The Number You Have Dialed
Synopsis: A married couple who has been living without speaking to each other for years gets shaken by a phone call threat.
Based on: the web novel, “The Number You Have Dialed” by Geon Eomul Nyeo
No. of episodes: 12
Cast: Yoo Yeon-seok, Chae Soo-bin, Heo Nam-jun, Jang Gyu-ri
Writer: Kim Ji-woon
Directors: Park Sang-woo, Wi Deuk-gyu
Network: MBC
Streaming platform: Netflix
Date: November 22, 2024
English subtitle translation: Netflix | Images: MBC
KORB 