Spoiler warning: this article reveals the ending of The Husband, including the antagonists’ criminal downfall and the protagonists’ final decision about their marriage.
Episode 12 brings The Husband (KBS2) to a close, resolving the criminal storyline involving Noh Man-hee (Kim Dae-myung) and Choi Chi-woong (Woo Ji-hyun). The conclusion also answers the audience’s biggest question about the future of Kang Tae-joo (Namkoong Min) and Go Se-yoon (Lee Seol), definitively establishing the couple’s relationship status.
The finale focuses on the legal and personal consequences of the characters’ choices.
The Surgery and the Deal with Noh Man-hee
Near the end, Noh Man-hee kidnaps Tae-joo and takes him to an abandoned building. His goal is to force Tae-joo to perform a procedure using fetal stem cells to save Kim Kyung-ae (Lee Sang-hee), Man-hee’s wife. During the confrontation, Tae-joo convinces the antagonist to abandon his plan to kill him, arguing that the guilt over his crimes would ultimately become a burden for his surviving wife.
With the support of his father-in-law, Go Dong-chan (Jang Gwang), Tae-joo gains access to an operating room and performs surgery on Kyung-ae. The procedure is successful. After confirming that his wife has survived, Man-hee honors their agreement and turns himself in to the police. Meanwhile, Go Dong-chan also voluntarily turns himself in to face the legal consequences of his illegal medical practices.
Choi Chi-woong’s Arrest and Se-yoon’s Injury
The antagonist Choi Chi-woong remains on a collision course with the other characters until the very end. During his escape, he intercepts Se-yoon and, driven by his resentment toward Tae-joo, attacks her with a bladed weapon, leaving her injured. The attack is brought to an end by the police’s swift arrival. Chi-woong is arrested and formally charged with kidnapping and attempted murder, bringing the series’ criminal threat to an end.
The Decision to Divorce
After recovering from her injury, Se-yoon discusses the future of her marriage with Tae-joo. The central issue is a video in which a drunken Tae-joo tells a driver to remove his wife from his life. The series clarifies that Tae-joo’s real intention was to protect her from the dangers surrounding him.
Se-yoon concludes that this dynamic, built around hiding the truth under the guise of protection, creates a constant cycle of pain for her. She takes the initiative and asks for a divorce. Tae-joo accepts the separation, acknowledging that they are incompatible in the way they approach care and communication. The story makes it clear that their breakup happens because of emotional exhaustion, not a lack of love.
Final Scene: Reuniting on a Birthday
The final scene takes place on the birthday of the couple’s deceased daughter. Tae-joo and Se-yoon meet again at the location. During their conversation, Se-yoon invites her ex-husband to go for a walk, and he agrees.
The series ends with the two of them walking together. The sequence does not confirm that they are getting back together, but it does show that, after their divorce is finalized, the two have reached a more stable relationship built on mutual respect.