Scarecrow: 3 Key Points for the Second Half

ENA's Monday-Tuesday drama 'The Scarecrow' is nearing its end with only four episodes left, and the unpredictable plot, even after the true culprit's identity was revealed, is garnering a heated response from viewers. The 8th episode recorded an average nationwide viewership rating of 7.4% and a peak of 8.2%, securing the top spot among Monday-Tuesday dramas. The 2049 target audience rating also ranked first across all channels. The drama continues to be popular, holding high rankings on domestic and international OTT platforms.

'The Scarecrow,' which reached its halfway point with the broadcast of the 7th episode, delivered shock and twists by revealing the identity of the serial killer apprehended after 30 years. The death of the first suspect, Lee Ki-beom (played by Song Geon-hee), served as a catalyst for Kang Tae-joo (played by Park Hae-soo) to awaken. Fueled by peak anger and hatred towards Cha Si-young (played by Lee Hee-joon), who caused his death, Kang Tae-joo vowed to fight back. Despite the culprit's identity being revealed with only four episodes remaining, viewers' curiosity and anticipation for the future storyline are growing.

One of the key points to watch in the latter half is the dangerous game of truth between Kang Tae-joo and the true culprit, Lee Yong-woo (Lee Ki-hwan, played by Jung Moon-sung). In the present day of 2019, Kang Tae-joo, after learning that Lee Yong-woo is his former friend Lee Ki-hwan, calmly handles his rudeness to elicit a confession and statement. The secret behind the mysterious numbers Lee Yong-woo wrote – 'Murders 12+2, Rape 19, Attempted Murder 15' – is slowly being unveiled. Particularly chilling is the reason for dividing the 14 murders into 12 and 2, and his statement about the number 2: "The interesting part is this side," followed by, "One of them was a child. A very young girl." The broadcast of Kang Soon-young (played by Seo Ji-hye) receiving news of Yoon Hye-jin's (played by Lee Ah-rin) disappearance in 1988 amplifies the ominous premonition.

Another point to watch is the ultimate fate of Im Seok-man (played by Baek Seung-hwan), the second victim falsely accused of serial murder. After Lee Ki-beom was cleared of false charges and released, his friend Im Seok-man becomes the prime suspect due to new circumstances and clues, leading to his arrest. Like Lee Ki-beom, Im Seok-man is forced to make a false confession during a harsh investigation, and his family even turns their backs on him, placing him in a tragic situation. Ultimately, in court, Cha Si-young seeks the death penalty for Im Seok-man, leading to a worst-case scenario where he cannot be saved. Attention is focused on whether Im Seok-man will meet the same fate as Lee Ki-beom.

The final point to watch is the escalating conflict between Kang Tae-joo and Cha Si-young, leading to a destructive relationship. Lee Ki-beom's death served as a critical turning point. The cause of death was revealed to be sepsis resulting from confinement, assault, and torture during an illegal investigation. Cha Si-young and the detectives did not attend Lee Ki-beom's funeral and showed no remorse. In response, Kang Tae-joo created a scene at Cha Si-young's mother's funeral by handcuffing Cha Si-young. Cha Si-young framed Kang Tae-joo for abuse, leading to disciplinary action and reassignment. Kang Tae-joo, forced to leave Kangsung, left Cha Si-young with a warning: "I will definitely destroy you." Interest is high in how the twisted and bitter animosity between the two, entangled in misunderstanding and hurt, will conclude.