Summary
A solid episode with plenty of character and plot development.
We recap the 2023 Netflix K-Drama series King the Land Season 1 Episode 5, which contains spoilers.
Set to a steady pace and packed with character and plot development, this installment of King the Land was certainly one of the stronger ones. Gu Won’s (Lee Jun-ho) relationship with Sa-rang (Im Yoon-ah) is evolving interestingly and promises to bring with it more intrigue, given the predicament they now find themselves in.
King the Land Season 1 Episode 5 Recap
How does Gu Won help Sa-rang celebrate her birthday?
While dropping the upset Sa-rang back home, Gu Won detours to take the concierge out for a birthday dinner. However, the wealthy heir causes some mild embarrassment with the couple’s outfit he bought (purposefully, we later find out) for the two to wear, as well as through the extravagant portion sizes ordered for their meal.
Despite some initial awkwardness, particularly over bill paying and questions about preferences, Sa-rang and Gu Won have fun together, with the concierge particularly happy with her parting cake gift.
Yet a bitter Yu-nam almost scuppers the good feeling, spitefully accusing his ex of cheating until he is firmly put in his place by King Hotel’s Head Manager.
While Sa-rang’s friends try to convince the concierge that Gu Won must like her to have bought replacement clothes for their birthday meal together, Sang-sik notices signs the Head Manager may harbor affection for his employee.
As an aside, Pyeong-hwa is tasked with boosting in-flight duty-free sales in exchange for a promotion recommendation, and Hwa-ran faces resistance from her younger brother regarding her plans for ‘Super Farmer Week.’
What does Sa-rang do to thank Gu Won?
The next day, Sa-rang returns the favor to Gu Won, giving him a small present and taking him out to dinner. It’s initially awkward, with the class differences between the two showings, but soon the wealthy heir becomes immersed in the experience he’s having, to the point he wonders when he will next be eating alongside the concierge.
Sa-rang seems hesitant to make this a regular thing, though he does smile when Gu Won tells her she’s allowed to be comfortable in his presence.
What happens during Super Farmer Week?
As Hwa-ran permits her husband’s affair but refuses to sign off on a divorce until she has risen to the top of King Group, Gu Won starts changing his staff’s way of work. Firstly, he admonishes Sa-rang for “checking in” with VIP guests the hotel hope to have a stay soon. Then, Gu Won signs off on “Super Farmer Week,” meaning King the Land staff members will have to visit produce vendors and thank them after all.
Braving the bad weather, Sa-rang hikes to find the ginseng digger she has been tasked with personally thanking determined not to be ignored by him. Elsewhere, Gu Won spends his day at the hotel worried about the concierge, so he eventually calls her in an attempt to get her to return.
However, things turn bad from here. Sa-rang refuses to return until she has met with the ginseng digger, yet soon finds herself in danger when falling down part of the mountain following a clumsy celebration. By the time the concierge regains consciousness, her desperation rises, given she requires urgent help.
King the Land Season 1 Episode 5 Ending Explained
Terrified of potentially imminent death, Sa-rang begins to cower and weep. Though help unexpectedly appears on its way when Gu Won lands on a helicopter. With this in mind, the episode ends with the wealthy heir jumping to the concierge’s location.
What did you think of the K-Drama King the Land Season 1 Episode 5? Comment below.
