On the evening of January 25, Our Golden Days officially aired its fiftieth and final episode. Instead of providing a satisfying conclusion to its long narrative, the drama was met with a wave of fierce criticism, as viewers expressed frustration with what they described as a forced, absurdly tragic ending that undermined the entire viewing experience.
In its final story arc, Our Golden Days takes a sharp turn into melodrama when male protagonist Lee Ji Hyeok falls seriously ill with a terminal illness. His younger brother, acting as his legal guardian, urgently contacts his father. Panicked, the father runs across the street to get a taxi, only to be involved in a serious car accident.
The tragedy is further aggravated when the father dies after donating his organs to save his son.
The son survives, the father dies, and the drama pushes its tragedy to such a degree that many viewers are left reacting with bitter laughter rather than tears. Sarcastic comments poured in on social media, with audiences deriding the climax as “forced tragedy at its peak” and even labeling the ending “ridiculous”.
Although the male protagonist’s life is spared, the price he pays is the death of his father, a decision that few viewers found comforting or meaningful. Rather than a bittersweet or hopeful conclusion, the ending was widely criticized for lacking emotional balance and narrative logic.
In the comments sections across the platforms, audiences expressed anger and disappointment, saying the ending single-handedly ruined the entire 50-episode journey they had patiently followed. Many have bluntly described the final 80 minutes as a complete waste of time, accusing the drama of desperately trying to emotionally manipulate viewers into tears.
For those unfamiliar, Our Golden Days follows Lee Ji Hyeok, a talented and successful man who seems to have it all: career, charm and love. Cold and decisive yet subtly humorous, he hits rock bottom before gradually rediscovering the true meaning of life through his relationships with Ji Eun O and Park Seong Jae.
Ji Eun O is portrayed as an optimistic and energetic woman who works as a bar manager and interior designer. Despite being rejected after developing unrequited feelings for Lee Ji Hyeok, she chooses to stay by his side. Meanwhile, Park Seong Jae, Ji Hyeok’s wealthy childhood friend, appears calm and refined, but internally struggles with loneliness and the emotional conflict between love and friendship.
Before its premiere, Our Golden Days was considered KBS’ greatest hope, backed by director Kim Hyung Suk and writer So Hyun Kyung, the duo behind My Golden Life, which once reached a peak rating of 45.1%. Expectations were high and many believed the drama would replicate that success.
However, when episode 50 ended, what viewers were left with was not nostalgia for the “golden days” but a deep sense of disappointment. Instead of warmth or reflection, the drama’s legacy has become a cautionary tale of how an ill-conceived ending can overshadow even the most promising of beginnings.
