“A mysterious phone call shatters a perfect life in “When the Phone Rings,” a gripping Korean thriller about secrets, identity, and survival.”
“When the Phone Rings” follows a putatively ordinary woman whose life is turned upside down after entering a series of mysterious phone calls from a foreigner. Each call reveals disturbing secrets roughly about others, some about herself. As she dives deeper into the riddle, the lines between reality and vision begin to blur, leading to a cerebral game of survival and verity.
When the phone rings Cast
Yoo Yeon-seok as Baek Sa-eon – The Charismatic Mask of Power
Baek Sa-eon is the picture of perfection—smart, confident, and eloquent. As the youngest presidential spokesperson in Korean history, he commands attention with every speech, every word meticulously calculated. He comes from an elite political dynasty, with his father running for president and his grandfather having left a towering legacy in Korean politics.
But behind his polished image lies a web of secrets.
As a former war correspondent, Sa-eon carries emotional scars from the battlefield—traumas he never fully processed. His past isn’t just troubled; it’s fractured. The drama hints early on that Sa-eon’s identity might not be as real as it seems, creating a gripping tension throughout the series.
Yoo Yeon-seok plays this role with layered nuance, balancing charm with subtle unease. His portrayal of a man who seems to have it all—but might lose everything if the truth surfaces—keeps viewers hooked episode after episode.
Key Themes Around His Character:
Identity and deception
Pressure of legacy and politics
Emotional trauma and resilience
Power vs. vulnerability
Baek Sa-eon isn’t just the face of political brilliance—he’s a man trapped between truth and survival. As the series unfolds, his carefully curated life begins to crack, revealing a darker, more vulnerable side that adds emotional weight to the mystery.
Chae Soo-bin as Hong Hee-joo – The Silent Witness with a Voice of Strength
At first glance, Hong Hee-joo seems fragile—soft-spoken, gentle, and emotionally reserved. But silence can be deceiving.
Hee-joo, a gifted sign language interpreter, lost her ability to speak after surviving a traumatic car accident in childhood. Since then, she’s communicated through signs, navigating a world that often underestimates her. Married to Baek Sa-eon, she appears to live in the shadow of his political glow. But as the story unfolds, it becomes clear—Hee-joo sees and understands far more than anyone realizes.
Her character is a study in quiet strength. She’s observant, emotionally intelligent, and fiercely determined to uncover the truth when strange events begin to unfold around her. When the mysterious phone calls start disrupting their lives, Hee-joo becomes more than just a passive listener—she turns into a silent investigator of her own story.
Chae Soo-bin brings remarkable depth to Hee-joo. Without spoken dialogue, she conveys volumes through her eyes, body language, and subtle expressions. It’s a performance that proves silence can be more powerful than words.
Key Themes Around Her Character:
Trauma and healing
Empowerment through adversity
The power of observation
Love, trust, and betrayal
Hong Hee-joo may not speak, but she commands attention. Her silence becomes her strength as she pieces together a mystery that not only threatens her marriage—but also her sense of identity and safety.
Supporting cast: “When the phone rings”
Jung Dong-hwan as Baek Jang-ho. Sa-eon’s late grandfather, a legendary politician whose legacy looms large over the family.
Yoo Sung-joo as Baek Ui-yong. Sa-eon’s ambitious father, currently running for president and deeply concerned with maintaining the family’s reputation.
Chu Sang-mi as Shim Kyu-jin. Sa-eon’s poised and calculating mother, always protecting her family’s image—no matter the cost.
Choi Kwang-il as Hong Il-kyung. Hee-joo’s powerful and manipulative stepfather, chairman of a major newspaper company.
Oh Hyun-kyung as Kim Yeon-hui. Hee-joo’s glamorous mother, a former nightclub singer with secrets of her own.
Han Jae-yi as Hong In-ah. Hee-joo’s stepsister, confident and cold, with a complicated relationship with the family.
Park Jae-yoon as The Kidnapper. A mysterious man who claims to be the real Baek Sa-eon—his arrival turns everything upside down.
Pictures from Pinterest