Doona! (2023), Netflix’s swoon-worthy K-drama starring Bae Suzy and Yang Se-jong, tells a deeply human story of love, fame, and heartbreak. Adapted from the webtoon The Girl Downstairs, it follows a reserved college student, Lee Won-jun, who falls for his mysterious roommate — former K-pop idol Lee Doona. As the series navigates their emotional highs and lows, viewers are swept into a tale of vulnerability and emotional transformation.
Doona! Korean Drama Ending Explained: A Bittersweet Goodbye to First Love
But the ending left many fans with mixed emotions. Was it romantic? Was it realistic? Why didn’t they end up together? Let’s break down the Doona! ending and what it means for both characters and viewers.
Quick Recap of the Plot
Lee Won-jun moves into a shared house near his university and finds out he’s living with none other than Lee Doona, who’s mysteriously retired from her idol career. As they spend more time together, Doona begins to heal from her traumatic past in the entertainment industry, and Won-jun, shy and grounded, discovers a newfound emotional depth.
Their romance is slow-burn and filled with tension — a healing process for both. But while their love is deep, it’s far from easy.
Doona’s Decision to Leave
In the final episodes, Doona makes the decision to return to the entertainment world. Despite her love for Won-jun, she realizes that staying with him means holding him back from his own dreams. She also sees that she’s still not whole — she needs to face her career, her trauma, and her independence without relying on someone else.
Rather than a dramatic breakup, their parting is tender and mature. It’s a decision born out of self-awareness, not selfishness.
The Time Skip & Reunion
The show fast-forwards a few years later. Won-jun is now working and more confident, while Doona is back in the public eye, having found a way to own her career on her terms.
They cross paths again — the air is still heavy with what they once had. Their conversation is brief, but powerful. No tears, no melodrama. Just mutual respect, quiet pain, and a sense of closure.
Why They Didn’t End Up Together
1. Timing and Growth: Their love was genuine, but the timing was off. They met when both were still figuring out who they were.
2. Doona’s Healing Journey: She needed space to reclaim her identity beyond being someone’s love interest.
3. Won-jun’s Self-Discovery: He grew from someone hesitant and unsure to a person who understands that love sometimes means letting go.
Their separation wasn’t failure — it was growth.
Symbolism in the Ending
- Doona’s Return to Stage: Not a surrender to fame, but a choice. She now controls her own narrative.
- The Crosswalk Meeting: Represents the intersection of two lives that once merged but now move in parallel.
- Their Smile: A nod to the warmth of first love, now wrapped in gratitude instead of longing.
Themes Highlighted in the Ending
- First Love Isn’t Always Lasting: But it’s formative and beautiful in its own right.
- Healing Through Love: Even if temporary, some people enter your life to help you become whole.
- Letting Go with Grace: The hardest kind of love is the one that chooses freedom over possession.
Fan Reactions & Interpretations
Some fans were heartbroken. Others praised the mature depiction of love. Many appreciated how the ending didn’t force a fairy-tale reunion just for the sake of closure.
The realistic portrayal resonated with viewers who’ve experienced love that was real, but not meant to last.
A Realistic, Poignant Ending
Doona! ends not with a grand romantic gesture, but with emotional truth. It’s a reminder that love doesn’t have to be forever to be meaningful. Doona and Won-jun don’t ride into the sunset — but they carry the marks of each other’s love in how they move forward.
It’s not the ending most fans wanted. But perhaps, it’s the one that felt most honest.
FAQs
1. Why didn’t Doona and Won-jun stay together?
Because they needed to grow individually. Staying together would have stunted their personal journeys.
2. Is there hope for them in the future?
The show leaves it open. They part with warmth — not finality. There’s always a possibility.
3. Did Doona go back to being a K-pop idol?
Yes, but this time she’s on her own terms — stronger, wiser, and independent.
4. What message does the ending send?
That love is not always about holding on — sometimes it’s about setting each other free.
5. Will there be a Season 2?
Netflix hasn’t confirmed one, and the ending feels complete. But if renewed, it could explore a reunion.
