Spoilers are ahead for Pachinko season 2, episode 4.
Pachinkoseason 2, episode 4, picks up where the third installment left off. In the World War II-era timeline, Sunja (Minha Kim) and her sons, Noa (Kim Kang-hoon) and Mozasu (Eunseong Kwon), start to settle into rural life, which is vastly different from their world inPachinkoseason 2, episode 1.Even out in the rice fields, reminders of the war— and the threat of bombings — loom large in the background. Although Mozasu seems to like his life in the country, he spends his time whittling weapons and telling Mr. Kim (Kim Sungkyu) about the war.
While the second episode in the sophomore outingrevealed the fate ofPachinko’s Isak(Steve Sang-Hyun Noh), Sunja’s late husband and Mozasu’s biological father, the fourth episode illustrates that nowhere is safe or stable. Notably, Hansu (Lee Min-ho) was the one who promised that Sunja and the rest ofPachinko’s cast of characterswould be better off in the countryside, butHansu’s apparent selflessness begins to fray. Meanwhile, inPachinko’s 1980s timeline, Solomon (Jin Ha) navigates the elder Sunja’s (Youn Yuh-jung) unexpected visit, a date with Naomi (Shogun’s Anna Sawai), and his grandmother’s pointed wisdom.
6Sunja Is Reunited With Her Mother
Sunja’s Mother Suspects Hansu Is Noa’s Father
In one of episode 4’s more emotional moments, Sunja is reunited with her mother, Yangjin (Jeong In-ji), after years spent apart. While Sunja and her mother didn’t always see eye-to-eye, there’s clearly a lot of love between them, and the miles and time spent apart, especially during the war, cause them both to break down when they’re finally together again. The reunion unfolds in the rice fields, with Hansu driving Yangjin to her daughter’s new home. Time and again,Hansu has done the impossible to make Sunja happy, even though he couldn’t save Isak’s life.
…Yangjin not only reminds her daughter to tread lightly with Hansu, but correctly guesses that the family’s wealthy savior is Noa’s biological father.
At the dinner table, Yangjin gets to know her grandsons and tells them stories of her life. Just as the food is served, Hansu interrupts the gathering, asking if he can join them. Although he doesn’t want to eat anything,Hansu wants to spend time with Sunja and Noa. This interaction, and the fact that Sunja wanders off for a walk in the middle of the night, sparks an idea in Yangjin’s mind. When Sunja returns home, Yangjin not only reminds her daughter to tread lightly with Hansu, but correctly guesses that the family’s wealthy savior is Noa’s biological father.
5Naomi & Elder Sunja Bond Over Food & Their Pasts
Sunja Visits Solomon Because Of A Dream
In the other timeline, Sunja decides to visit Solomon after her grandson refuses to return her calls. Although he’s surprised to see Sunja, Solomon welcomes her into his less-than-clean apartment.Sunja explains that she had a dream about himand, although she can’t remember all the details, it was this experience that pushed her to visit. However, Sunja isn’t the only person dropping in on Solomon. After their first date in episode 3, Naomi, Solomon’s former co-worker, has agreed to go out again. Their plans shift thanks to Sunja, who offers to make a home-cooked meal.
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While Solomon takes a phone call, Naomi assists Sunja in the kitchen, which gives the two women a chance to bond.Naomi explains that she had a difficult childhood marked by an ever-absent father and a mother who did all she couldfor the family. In particular, Naomi remembers her mother’s incredible cooking. These are all revelations that Sunja can relate to very well. Sunja shares that making food was, for a long time, the way she supported her family too. Even though the world has changed so much, Sunja finds echoes of her own past in Naomi’s stories.
4Sunja Learns About Solomon’s Deal
Solomon’s Grandmother Imparts Valuable Advice
During her conversation with Naomi in the kitchen, Sunja learns that one of the things that drew the young woman to her grandson was his ability to stand up for what he believes in.Naomi says she felt “empowered” when Solomon initially helped Han Geum-ja resist the dealthat would have taken her land. Of course, it’s also revealed to Sunja that Han Geum-ja had a supposed change of heart, which means Schiffley’s will be acquiring the property after all. While Sunja doesn’t ask more in Naomi’s presence, it’s clear that she’s eager to tell Solomon something.
New episodes ofPachinkoseason 2 priemere every Friday on Apple TV+ through August 14, 2025.
After dinner, Solomon walks Sunja to where she’s staying, which is when Sunja asks her grandson more about the deal.Solomon insists that Han Geum-ja will receive a lot of money for the sale— and, more importantly, that she came to the decision herself. While viewers know for sure that Solomon is lying, Sunja seems able to sense it. She warns her grandson about getting in over his head in whatever scheme he’s cooking up. “Do not forget who you are,” Sunja tells him, just as her mother told her all those years ago in the rice fields.
3Hansu & Sunja Share An Intimate Moment
Sunja Refuses To Pursue A Romantic Relationship
In the past, Sunja decides to go for a walk after dinner. While trekking down the road, she bumps into Hansu, who’s still driving around the property. When Sunja asks what he’s up to, Hansu is somewhat evasive, but does reveal that he’s looking for the Foreman. While Hansu is flirtatious, Sunja seems less sure.She thanks him again for bringing her mother home, which Hansu brushes aside as “nothing.“Sunja reiterates that it is a big deal — that everything Hansu has done is beyond kind. Hansu then insists that Sunja try driving his car; after hesitating, she obliges.
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Sunja’s attempts at driving cause the duo to turn off the road and into a muddy stretch of the surrounding fields. Together, Sunja and Hansu free the vehicle from the mud. While resting against the car, the two lean in for a kiss — but a sudden sound breaks them apart. Hansu assures Sunja that it’s nothing to worry about, but she realizes that reconnecting with Hansu is a slippery slope. Even though her husband is gone,Sunja’s heart still belongs to Isak. Upset, Hansu exclaims, “Everything I do is for you,” but Sunja, unwilling to bend, leaves quickly.
2Hansu Beats The Foreman & Noa Sees
Noa Is Out Watching The Fireflies
After Sunja leaves for her walk,Noa sneaks out of the house with his newfound friend to see a truly incredible sight: a field full of fireflies. Since moving, Noa has had a more difficult time than his younger brother, though his life in the city wasn’t great either. Noa struggles to fit in and feel whole, especially in the wake of Isak’s death. Hansu showing up time and again probably doesn’t help. While it might have been nice to share a dinner table with the wealthy stranger, Noa sees a much darker side to his biological father later on.
…it seems [Sunja’s] refusal to pursue a relationship has uncoiled Hansu’s deep-seated anger.
Hiding in the bramble, Noa watches as Hansu threatens the Foreman of the rice field. The interaction suggests that the Foreman is doing something behind Hansu’s back, but the details of the scheme remain clouded.Hansu then proceeds to throw the Foreman to the ground and beat him to a bloody pulp. Just as he’s coming out of his blind rage, Hansu spots Noa running away from the scene. Although Hansu had been looking for the Foreman before his interaction with Sunja, it seems her refusal to pursue a relationship has uncoiled Hansu’s deep-seated anger.
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When speaking with Sunja, Hansu mentioned that he doesn’t just do all of these kindnesses for her, but for Noa as well. Even though he’s kept his distance and helped from afar for so many years, Hansu is moving closer to Sunja’s family. Joining the dinner table was, perhaps, Hansu’s boldest move, even though the invitation could be seen as a kindess for finding Sunja’s mother. Still,Pachinkoseason 2, episode 4 reveals thatHansu isn’t as selfless as he appeared. Instead, it seems Hansu believes Sunja owes him her love, and life, for all he has done.
1The Rice Shed Burns Down In Pachinko Season 2, Episode 4’s Ending
The Tragedy Pushes Mr. Kim & Kyunghee Closer
At the very end ofPachinkoseason 2’s fourth episode, the rice shed burns down. It’s a devastating moment for Sunja, Mr. Kim, and Kyunghee (Jung Eun-chae), Sunja’s sister-in-law. Earlier in the episode, the Foreman was berating Kyunghee for her seemingly inadequate work, though he stopped once Mr. Kim, Hansu’s right-hand man, appeared. Mr. Kim tried to comfort Kyunghee, but she was reluctant to accept his kindness. Grappling with immense grief and change,Kyunghee throws herself into her work at the rice fields, which is why the loss of the rice shed hits her so hard.
…Kyunghee falls into Mr. Kim’s arms and they share a kiss.
Although Sunja, Kyunghee, Mr. Kim, and the rest of the family race to the scene,the shed is completely enveloped in flames. All their hard work is destroyed in a matter of minutes. The next day, Sunja and Mr. Kim clean up the burnt wreckage, but the very sight of it prompts Kyunghee to run off. Mr. Kim follows her into the surrounding woods. At first, Kyunghee is upset that he followed her. Although Mr. Kim has been upfront about his feelings, Kyunghee has been hesitant. In the end, Kyunghee falls into Mr. Kim’s arms and they share a kiss.
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Pachinko’s fourth episode doesn’t reveal the identity of the person who burnt down the rice shed, but there are several potential culprits. Although it wouldn’t be a smart business decision,Hansu could have destroyed the rice shed in his anger and as a means of getting back at Sunjafor denying his advances. The Foreman, who was beat up by Hansu, also has a solid motive. Finally, Noa, upset at what he witnessed Hansu do to the Foreman, could have set the fire, perhaps hoping his family could leave the rice fields — and Hansu — behind.
Pachinko
Created by Soo Hugh, Pachinko is a Drama series created for Apple TV that was released in 2022. The series stars Soji Arai, Jun-woo Han, and Jin Ha. The series follows multiple characters as they attempt to navigate their lives in New York, Japan, and Korea.
