Lee Jun-ho Dives into Flames to Save Kim Min-ha in 'The Typhoon' After Dramatic Comeback Victory

tvN's Saturday-Sunday drama 'The Typhoon' achieved a new personal best in viewership ratings with its 12th episode, captivating audiences nationwide. The episode garnered an average rating of 9.9% and a peak of 11% nationally, solidifying its top position in its timeslot across all channels.

Beginning with a narration by Kang Tae-poong (Lee Jun-ho) questioning what is most precious, the episode, titled 'The Reason I Live,' delved into the characters' struggles amidst the IMF crisis. The question, once simple, became a profound dilemma for Tae-poong as he faced a critical national bidding.

The bidding for surgical gloves was initially in favor of Pyo Sang-sun, who controlled the supply through an exclusive contract with a U.S. company demanding full price. Facing an impasse, Tae-poong received a hint from his friend Wang Nam-mo (Kim Min-seok) about wholesale pricing. He attempted a direct deal with a Malaysian factory, bypassing the U.S. headquarters. However, upon arrival, Song Joong (Lee Sang-jin) discovered the factory had ceased glove production for a U.S. contract and switched to making pillows, with the surgical glove manufacturing moved to an undisclosed location.

Amidst this uncertainty, just three minutes before the bid deadline, an enigmatic telegram from Song Joong arrived: '5111, 40, ok.' Tae-poong deciphered the message, quickly calculated the bid price, and submitted it at the last second, securing a dramatic comeback victory for Typhoon Trading.

The secret to securing 3 million surgical gloves lay in Song Joong securing the entire remaining stock at a 40% discount, anticipating the factory's predicament after their contract termination. This success was a convergence of Oh Mi-sun's (Kim Min-ha) intuition, Tae-poong's bold gamble, and Song Joong's negotiation prowess.

Meanwhile, the defeated Pyo Sang-sun (Kim Sang-ho) seethed with anger. His son Pyo Hyun-jun (Mu Jin-sung) confronted his father, revealing his knowledge of a 1989 IOU through subtle probing of Cha Seon-taek (Kim Jae-hwa).

As tension mounted, the surgical gloves arrived. Mi-sun, alone in the warehouse to check the inventory, was caught in an inexplicable fire. Desperately trying to save the goods, she collapsed. The previous day, after the bidding victory, Tae-poong had asked Mi-sun what was most precious to her, to which she replied, 'Tomorrow,' hoping for a better self. Witnessing Mi-sun overcome by flames, Tae-poong didn't hesitate. He charged into the inferno, his answer to his own question revealed: 'The most precious thing is you.' The episode powerfully resonated with the theme 'The Reason I Live,' highlighting Tae-poong and Mi-sun's fight to protect each other's tomorrows amidst the harsh realities of the IMF crisis, leaving viewers eager for their future emotional journey. 'The Typhoon' airs every Saturday and Sunday at 9:10 PM KST on tvN.

Netizens are praising Lee Jun-ho's intense portrayal of Kang Tae-poong, with comments like 'Lee Jun-ho's acting is insane!' and expressing sympathy for Kim Min-ha's character, 'Poor Mi-sun, I hope she's okay.' Many are also eagerly anticipating the next episode, saying, 'How can I wait until next week?'