Itaewon Class - Ending Explained

The series concludes with Sae-ro-yi finally bringing down Jangga Group, not through violence, but through business acquisition. The major twist in the finale is Chairman Jang's ultimate humiliation: he is forced to kneel before Sae-ro-yi in a desperate, failed attempt to save his company. Throughout the series, it is revealed that Oh Soo-ah was actually a double agent of sorts; she spent a decade at Jangga gathering evidence of embezzlement and corruption, which she finally leaks to the authorities. The 'kidnapping' arc in the finale serves to force Sae-ro-yi to choose between his principles (never kneeling) and his love for Yi-seo; he chooses the latter, proving that his people are more important than his pride. The series ends with Sae-ro-yi and Yi-seo in a committed relationship, symbolizing the triumph of the new 'Itaewon Class' over the old guard.

While widely viewed as an underdog revenge story, some critics interpret the series as a critique of late-stage capitalism, where the hero must become a corporate giant himself to find justice. Another interpretation focuses on the romantic choice: many fans argue that Oh Soo-ah was a more realistic and tragic character whose life of compromise was a more accurate reflection of society than Sae-ro-yi's idealism. There is also a reading of the show as a coming-of-age allegory for South Korea itself—moving away from rigid, authoritarian 'father' figures (Chairman Jang) toward a more inclusive, youth-driven future.