My Liberation Notes (나의 해방일지, 2022) — Inertia, Loneliness, and the Quiet Salvation of One Person

Broadcast: JTBC | April 9 – May 29, 2022 (16 episodes)
Director: Kim Seok-yoon
Writer: Park Hae-young
Cast: Kim Ji-won, Son Seok-koo, Lee Min-ki, Lee El, Chun Ho-jin
Genres: Healing, Slice-of-life, Human drama
Age Rating: 15+

Why This Drama Stuck with So Many Viewers

My Liberation Notes asks a simple but piercing question: “Am I happy as I am?”
Set in the commuter town of Sanpo, it follows three weary siblings and a mysterious neighbor known only as Mr. Gu. With few big twists and no flashy melodrama, the show finds meaning in small commutes, empty dinners, and half-spoken thoughts—until one sentence cracks the routine:

“Please… worship me.” (추앙해요.)

That plea isn’t about romance as spectacle; it’s a request for recognition, dignity, and the courage to be seen.

Story Overview

Sanpo sits close to Seoul yet feels miles away. The Yeom siblings—Mi-jeong, Chang-hee, and Gi-jeong—wake early, return late, and drift through days that all look the same. Next door lives Mr. Gu, a man with no disclosed past who drinks quietly and keeps to himself.
Mi-jeong, exhausted by life’s constant “labor of relationships,” asks Mr. Gu to worship her—meaning: stand beside me, witness me, and help me believe I can be whole.

Main Characters

Yeom Mi-jeong (Kim Ji-won) – The introverted youngest sibling. Nearly invisible at work, she hides a fierce longing to be filled and to live truthfully. Kim Ji-won plays her with exquisite restraint.

Mr. Gu (Son Seok-koo) – A taciturn man with a scarred past. He speaks little, acts simply, and comforts by being there. Son Seok-koo turns stillness into a full language.

Yeom Chang-hee (Lee Min-ki) – A dreamer stuck in neutral. His frustrations and small eruptions mirror the anxieties of a generation.

Yeom Gi-jeong (Lee El) – The practical yet romantic eldest. She craves a love loud enough to drown out loneliness—and learns to define liberation on her terms.

What It’s Really About

Liberation as Everyday Work: No miracles—just micro-choices that slowly bend a life.
Recognition Over Romance: Being faithfully witnessed can be more transformative than grand gestures.
Modern Exhaustion, Plainly Spoken: The dialogue lands like diary entries—unadorned, devastating, true.

Five Memorable Moments

“Worship me.” Not a love confession—an existential SOS.
Bus-window monologue: “I wish we were all happy, crisp like sunlight.” A portrait of quiet fatigue.
Mr. Gu’s confession: “You make me tense.” Honesty as intimacy.
Gi-jeong’s creed: “I can love anyone—so I will.” A messy, human declaration of agency.
The final walk: Two silhouettes, side by side. No fireworks—only peace.

Why You Should Watch

You prefer character-driven stories over plot pyrotechnics.
You’re drawn to scripts that sound like real people thinking out loud.
You want a drama that soothes without sugarcoating.

Performances & Craft

Kim Seok-yoon’s direction stays close to faces and routines; Park Hae-young’s lines feel journal-fresh. The palette—muted fields, winter sun, late-night neon—wraps the story in lived-in melancholy. Son Seok-koo’s Mr. Gu sparked a genuine cultural moment (“Gu-ssi syndrome”), and Kim Ji-won’s Mi-jeong gave that moment its aching center.

Final Thoughts

My Liberation Notes suggests liberation isn’t escape but companionship—someone steady enough to stand near your quiet and name it life. When the credits roll, you may find yourself asking: “Can I worship myself, too?”

Recommended Keywords:
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