When a young politician’s wife is kidnapped, it tests the bounds of their already strained relationship. Can they find a way to thwart the kidnapper’s demands and overcome the interpersonal struggles that’ve been tearing them apart? From director Park Sang-woo (The Forbidden Marriage) and writer Kim Ji-un (Melancholia), the series When the Phone Rings puts the couple through the crucible of South Korean politics and marital strife. The drama stars Yoo Yeon-seok, Chae Soo-bin, and Heo Nam-jun. 

When will When the Phone Rings be released?

Stream it now. New episodes premiere each week through Jan. 4. 

Where can I find the trailer for When the Phone Rings?

Check it out at the top of this page. 

Who’s in the cast of When the Phone Rings?

• Yoo Yeon-seok (Mr. Sunshine) as Baek Sa-eon, a spokesperson for the South Korean president
• Chae Soo-bin (The Fabulous) as Hong Hee-joo, a sign language interpreter
• Heo Nam-jun (Sweet Home) as Ji Sang-woo, a psychiatrist
• Jang Gyu-ri (It’s Okay to Not Be Okay) as Na Yoo-ri, an anchorperson
• Han Jai (Mask Girl) as Hong In-ah, Hee-joo’s half-sister

What happens in When the Phone Rings?

Three years ago, Sa-eon (Yoo) and Hee-joo (Chae) married in a secret arranged marriage and have lived unhappily together ever since. In fact, the two hardly speak at all — in part because Hee-joo lives with selective mutism, but primarily because they despise each other. At the moment, Sa-eon, a spokesperson for the South Korean president, is dealing with a national emergency. There’s a hostage crisis, and he’s forced to take a hard line: The government won’t pay ransom and refuses to compromise. That same night, Hee-joo is kidnapped after work, where she’s a newsroom sign language interpreter. Her captor, a crazed masked man who hijacked Hee-joo’s car via malware, is hellbent on getting Sa-eon’s attention. But when the kidnapper gets Sa-eon on the phone, Sa-eon calls his bluff, telling him to kill Hee-joo … and she hears every word. So when Hee-joo manages to get away — for now — she’s angrier than ever. What will it take for Sa-eon to care about his wife, to publicly acknowledge her? And what does this kidnapper really want from them, anyway? 

Is When the Phone Rings based on a book?

No, it’s an original story.

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