So, was sufficiently obsessed curious about the Plot Development of Doom in ep 16 of New Gisaeng to check it out raw and look what we have:
Am madly puzzled right now! Soompiers seem to be just as puzzled as I am as everything points towards (a) Damo is madly in love with Saran (b) he's horrifically miserable to dump her (c) it's not as if he presented her as prospective bride to his parents and they said nope.
So - whaaaaat? Whyyyyy? Why would a seemingly un-insane young man dump his girlfriend without any warning and without any good reason, seeing that he's totally in love with her, their relationship has been progressing swimmingly, and he's completely devastated to let go and that obviously his "well, I dated to get into your pants but you are not letting me into them fast enough so buhbye" excuse is clearly a 100% lie.
Soompiers are saying he's been weird since his trip to Japan. If this was a 1990s melodrama starring Choi Ji Woo, I'd be guessing there is a deadly illness involved, but clearly not the case, so what?
Am so very curious!
Bonus, here is awesome Saran post break-up. She's definitely my favorite character in the drama and one of my fave heroines in general because she's this rarity in kdrama land - she's very contained and reserved and nothing is going to break her in public. Her self-posession and maturity are amazing.
Damo, you are such an idiot to let her go!
P.S. I know I am way behind on replies, I promise to get to them soon.