The Manipulated Episodes 7-8 Recap: Yohan’s Frame-Up Fails as Tae-joong Fights Back

The latest episodes of the Korean drama The Manipulated have shifted the battle between the framed Park Tae-joong and the sinister An Yohan into high gear. Aired on November 19 on Disney+, episodes 7 and 8 show Tae-joong moving from a desperate fugitive to an active investigator, successfully disrupting Yohan’s plans and uncovering more of the conspiracy that destroyed his life.

Tae-joong’s Dangerous Escape and New Mission

The seventh episode begins by resolving the major cliffhanger from the previous week, confirming that Tae-joong survives both Yohan’s gunshot and his daring prison escape. Injured but determined, he finds shelter at the repair shop of his friend, Noh Yongshik. With Yongshik’s support and a new phone, Tae-joong immediately begins his counterattack.

His first target is the lawyer, Kim Sangrak, who helped frame him for murder. After a violent confrontation in the lawyer’s office, Tae-joong discovers a crucial piece of evidence: a red envelope containing files on a new target. Kim Sangrak explains the process of “sculpting,” where the organization selects an innocent person and fabricates evidence to frame them for a crime. Before Tae-joong can learn more, the fake doctor from the prison, Woo Bin-nam, attacks and triggers an explosion, killing the lawyer. Tae-joong escapes with the files, which reveal that a woman named So Hyeonjeong is the next planned victim.

Yohan’s Ruthless Response and a New Target

Yohan is furious that Tae-joong has evaded capture again. His anger leads him to track down Woo Bin-nam, whom he brutally executes for his failure. This action shows Yohan’s chilling calm is beginning to crack under pressure. He then recruits a new tracker, Hwang Il-guk, a detective released on bail, to intensify the hunt for Tae-joong.

Meanwhile, Tae-joong and Yongshik realize they must protect So Hyeonjeong and her daughter from being framed. Using Yongshik’s technical skills, they create and install tiny magnetic cameras around Hyeonjeong’s hair salon to monitor Yohan’s team, who are already surveilling her every move. The episode builds tension as Hyeonjeong finds a “lost” phone and goes to return it, mirroring the method used to implicate Tae-joong. He rushes to the shopping center to stop her, setting up a major cliffhanger.

The Phone Heist and a Narrow Rescue

Episode 8 picks up with the phone handoff. Just as Hyeonjeong is about to return the device, Tae-joong swoops in on his motorcycle and snatches it. This bold move successfully prevents her from falling into Yohan’s trap. Enraged by the failure, Yohan smashes a sculpture in his home—a significant act, as it is revealed these sculptures are used to hide murder weapons and other incriminating evidence.

Tae-joong, posing as a thief, contacts the number on the phone and demands money for its return. This leads him directly to Yohan’s evidence-manufacturing facility, where he secretly records their operations. However, a poorly timed phone call from Yongshik alerts the workers to his presence, forcing him to fight his way out. At the same time, Yongshik warns him of an attack at Hyeonjeong’s salon. Tae-joong arrives just in time, crashing his bike through the salon door to save Hyeonjeong and her daughter from a deadly assault by Yohan’s enforcer.

A New Enemy is Revealed

The dynamics of the conspiracy become clearer when Yohan receives uninvited guests: Baek Dokyung and his father. They reveal that they provided the funding for the original cover-up that sent Tae-joong to prison and pressure Yohan to fix the “Tae-joong problem.” This confrontation corners Yohan and forces his next move.

In the episode’s final moments, Tae-joong returns to the evidence factory to find a gruesome scene. All of Yohan’s workers have been murdered. Among the bodies, he finds an envelope filled with cash, photos, and a message waiting for him. A video plays, explicitly naming Baek Dokyung as the true culprit behind the original murder and challenging Tae-joong to find him. Yohan has effectively set the stage for a new conflict, manipulating Tae-joong into targeting the wealthy and powerful Baek family.

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