 |
| Last Summer Ending Explained: Do Ha, Ha Gyeong, and the Truth Behind the Twins (Photo: KBS2 |
KBS2’s 12-episode romance-life drama Last Summer (마지막 썸머) has wrapped up its quietly emotional run, serving a finale that’s tender, messy, deeply human, and surprisingly cathartic.
Mixing non-linear storytelling with raw character work, the drama shifts from youthful nostalgia to adult heartbreak, pulling viewers into the complicated lives of the Baek twins and the woman caught between them, Song Ha Gyeong. If you’ve just finished the finale and still feel a knot in your chest — here’s everything unpacked.
ICYMI: Last Summer filming locations.
Quick Recap of Last Summer Final Episode
The finale picks up after a season of old wounds resurfacing, slow-burn confessions, and a lifetime of guilt circling the three leads.
Early episodes set up Baek Do Ha and Song Ha Gyeong as childhood frenemies who grew up sharing only 21 days each summer — days that shaped them more than either dared admit.
But the ending goes far deeper than a simple “will they, won’t they”.
 |
1. Letting Go of Shared Guilt
The final episode sees Do Ha and Ha Gyeong finally confronting the shadow of Baek Do Yeong, the older twin whose complex history with both siblings and Ha Gyeong carried years of unresolved hurt.
Their acknowledgement of Do Yeong’s absence — and the guilt they’ve both carried — hits like a soft punch. The drama doesn’t sensationalise it; it treats grief as something lived quietly, not loudly.
2. The Observatory Crisis
The long-running Patango High School Observatory Remodelling Project reaches a tipping point when Ha Gyeong is injured on site by an unidentified individual.
Public opinion turns sharply negative, protests erupt, and the project — Do Ha’s long-held dream — sits on the brink of collapse.
But in true small-town drama fashion, the Pavengers (the beloved five township heads) and the village women’s association step in.
 |
Their warmth, humour, and stubborn loyalty act as the emotional backbone of the finale. They’re the kind of supporting characters that make you grin without meaning to.
3. Switzerland of Emotions — The Winter Trip
The emotional climax arrives with the winter stargazing trip — a symbolic echo of their 21-day summers. Here, secrets finally unravel:
-
Ha Gyeong admits her long-buried fear that Do Yeong’s disappearance was somehow her fault.
-
Do Ha reveals how long he’s carried the weight of things left unsaid.
-
The two finally recognise that their shared wounds do not chain them — they connect them.
There’s no flashy declaration. No dramatic run-and-hug. Just two flawed people choosing each other with exhausted honesty.
4. The Final Stretch: Peace, Not Perfection
Do Ha settles his grief. Ha Gyeong confronts her past. The observatory project edges toward hope. And the twins’ family finds a quiet reconciliation with memory itself.
The show ends not with a bang but with a breath — fitting for a drama built on subtlety.
Last Summer Ending Explained
 |
The ending of Last Summer is ultimately about release.
1. Letting Go of the Past to Build a Future
Both Do Ha and Ha Gyeong have spent years running — him from guilt, her from abandonment and fear. The final episode forces them to sit in discomfort and accept their shared past rather than hide behind it.
Their relationship works because they’ve stopped pretending.
2. Do Yeong’s Story Is the Heart of the Show
The emotional ghost of the older twin isn’t just a plot device; it’s the narrative’s centre of gravity. His story represents:
-
the harm of unspoken truths
-
the weight siblings carry for each other
-
the cruelty of unresolved grief
Accepting Do Yeong’s absence allows both characters to finally breathe.
3. The Observatory as Symbol
Do Ha’s dream project symbolises:
-
rebuilding broken things
-
preserving memories without being ruled by them
-
seeing clearly, literally and metaphorically
By the finale, it stands as a sign that future and past can coexist without erasing each other.
4. So Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
It’s bittersweet, leaning hopeful. Not fairy-tale joy, but the warm, grown-up kind of happiness that comes with acceptance.
Cast & Characters Wrapped
 |
• Lee Jae Wook as Baek Do Ha
The emotional anchor of the drama. Brilliant architect, fragile heart, chronic guilt collector. His arc is one of learning to stay instead of run.
• Lee Jae Wook as Baek Do Yeong
Tragic, misunderstood, and layered. Even in absence, he shapes the narrative. His storyline is the quiet storm of the whole show.
• Choi Sung Eun as Song Ha Gyeong
The deepest character in the series. Her walls, fears, and loneliness are explored with unusual honesty. She steals the show without trying.
• Kim Gun Woo as Seo Su Hyeok
Complex, supportive, occasionally messy — the kind of third lead who could’ve easily been shallow but instead feels painfully real.
• Jung Bo Min as I Seul
Bright presence, grounding energy. Her friendship with Ha Gyeong offers a lovely counterbalance to the heavier plotlines.
Town Characters (The “Pavengers”)
A chaotic, loveable ensemble that brings humour, warmth, and some of the finale’s best moments. Small-town dramas are nothing without characters like these.
TLDR + Short Review
 |
TLDR: The finale gives closure, healing, and grounded romance rather than melodramatic twists. It’s slow, thoughtful, and built on character depth.
Short Review:
Last Summer isn’t a mainstream hit, but it absolutely deserves cult status. With layered storytelling, heartfelt performances, and a finale that ties its emotional threads with precision, this drama is a gem many viewers will discover late.
If you enjoy romance with real emotional stakes and non-linear exploration of character psychology — this one’s a winner.
Verdict: 4/5 — beautifully written, quietly affecting, and criminally underrated.
FAQ
 |
Does Last Summer have a happy ending?
Yes — a mature, hopeful happy ending. Not everything is perfect, but Do Ha and Ha Gyeong end together emotionally grounded and ready to move forward.
Is the ending sad?
It’s bittersweet because the story acknowledges loss and guilt, but ultimately the tone is warm and healing.
Do we get closure on Baek Do Yeong?
Yes. The finale gently resolves his narrative, emphasising acceptance and memory rather than tragedy for shock value.
Is there a Last Summer Season 2 coming?
Officially, nothing is confirmed.
Historically, Korean dramas rarely get sequels unless:
-
they’re adapted from novels with sequels, or
-
they become major ratings hits.
Last Summer isn’t based on a multi-part novel and wasn’t structured as a franchise drama, so expectations should stay low.
But if Season 2 happened, what could it explore?
Fans are already asking for it, and here’s what a sequel could touch:
-
Do Ha and Ha Gyeong navigating their relationship beyond shared trauma
-
A deeper dive into Su Hyeok’s arc (he’s ripe for expansion)
-
The aftermath of the observatory project’s success or failure
-
Flashbacks filling the remaining mysteries around Do Yeong
-
A new conflict testing the now-healed relationship dynamic
A second season could shift the story from “healing past wounds” to “building a future together”.
 |
Any Thoughts?
Last Summer ends exactly the way it lived — gentle, emotionally honest, and full of small but powerful moments. It’s the kind of drama that rewards patient viewers who enjoy peeling back layers rather than chasing cliffhangers.
If you’re craving a romance with depth, flawed characters, and heartfelt storytelling, this drama is worth every minute. If you’ve watched the finale, tell me — were you satisfied with the ending, or are you secretly hoping for Season 2 too?