The K-Drama Pachinko's new season is scheduled to be released this Friday, on August 23. The original show, available on Netflix, is among the top shows when it comes to Lee Min-ho and of course, Kim Min-ha gained global popularity with the very series which is set in the pre-Liberation period Korea. It is based on the novel by Min Jin-lee and tells the tale of four generations of a Korean immigrant family. Min-ha plays the lead, and the stories are told through her perspective. So, before season 2 releases, here’s a recap of Pachinko season 1…

The story, through Sun-ja’s eyes

Sun-ja is the central character of Kim Min-ha. The story revolves around her life through four generations in her family. It commences from her childhood, being born poor in colonial Korea, and tells the tale till she turns a grandmother. When young, Sun-ja witnessed class difference and Japanese soldiers torturing tenants protesting for free Korea. It was when she saw them that Sun-ja realized what rebelling meant. Sun-ja is brought up by her mother after her father’s death to tuberculosis.

How does Lee Min-ho enter the story?

Yes, it is a love story, but does it have a happy ending? Find out. A youthful Sun-ja falls for Lee Min-ho's Ko Han-su, who excelled at finances. Han-su wanted a successful future, which he did not see with Sun-ja, and thus, despite their affair, he does not marry her. Han-su marries another woman out of convenience and starts a family, but Sun-ja is pregnant with his son. Han-su refuses to accept Sun-ja, and so, she leaves without expecting Han-su to provide for her and their son. Sun-ja did not wish to live a secret life, and so, she took the decision to leave from his life. But not before selling the watch that Han-su gave her.

When Han-su noticed the watch, he once gifted Sun-ja, he buys it back with a promise to make Sun-ja regret her decision. This is even though Han-su secretly keeps a watch over their son.

Sun-ja moves on, too

Sun-ja does get married later. She walks down the aisle with Baek Isak (Noh Sang-hyun), who was a guest at her guest house. Sun-ja moves to Japan with her husband and lives with her husband, his brother, and his wife. Unfortunately, Baek Isak is captured over suspicions. After waiting for a while, Sun-ja decides to go back to Korea and moves to Busan with her son.

Sun-ja's grandson introduced

The story ended with an introduction to Sun-ja's grandson, Baek Solomon (Jin-ha). Blinded by success, he goes to all lengths to crack a deal. Solomon tries to convince an old Korean lady to sell her piece of land, but she refuses to, not matter the price. During a meeting between him, bank members, and the old Korean lady, she asks Solomon to question his grandmother, whether she would sell her land after all the hardships they had to put up with. That is when Solomon changes his outlook on life and shows a transformation.

What can we expect in Pachinko season 2?

As promised, Han-su is back to take his revenge. He does so by reminding Sun-ja of their happier times. Han-su follows Sun-ja to Osaka (yes, during the Hiroshima-Nagasaki times) and states the fact - that he never stopped spying on her.

Solomon has also transformed, but it has cost him. He is spiralling back down to poverty and needs to find a way. Nonetheless, he has hope to figure out a way, knowing it probably cannot get worse than where things currently stand. And so, happy times are expected from the show.

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