In Episode 3 of The Divorce Insurance, the series continues to explore the complexities of relationships and divorce through a unique concept: a team offering divorce insurance. The episode kicks off with the team grappling with how to secure couples who are low-risk for divorce. While the insurance aims to prevent divorces by providing financial safety nets, the process of assessing the couples becomes more challenging as emotions and personalities clash.
Han-deul (played by Lee Joo-bin) wakes up from a vivid nightmare, setting the tone for the episode’s tension. The night before, the team had stayed up at Noh Ki-jun’s (Lee Dong-wook) house to brainstorm strategies for lowering divorce rates. However, the morning after reveals a surprising scenario where Ki-jun and Jeon-man (Lee Kwang-soo) wake up in the same bed, adding a layer of awkwardness to the professional atmosphere.
The team faces a crucial meeting in which Han-deul explains the situation. They had originally put 30 divorce insurance contracts on hold after an incident with a couple whose in-laws had tried to sign a joint policy. Disagreements over the terms led to the contract being delayed, and now the team must figure out how to move forward without jeopardizing their goal of keeping a perfect success rate with zero divorces.
The Wedding Chaos and Screening Couples
The plot thickens as the team attends a wedding fair where couples are eager to sign up for divorce insurance. The atmosphere becomes chaotic when multiple couples argue, some believing that their partners’ presence at the insurance booth indicates trust issues. This event forces Han-deul to emphasize the importance of screening applicants carefully to ensure that only couples with a low risk of divorce are accepted. The team aims to maintain a flawless record of success, which proves more difficult as the day progresses.
Among the complications, Ki-jun faces a situation where his personal life is questioned. A flashback reveals his conversation with his sister Jin-ju, who is unhappy in her marriage and contemplating divorce. Ki-jun, unable to understand her position fully, urges her to consider staying in the marriage, believing she hasn’t tried hard enough to make it work. This moment becomes pivotal in helping Ki-jun see things from his sister’s perspective as the series unfolds.
Using AI to Screen Couples
The team comes up with a new solution to screen couples: training an AI model to evaluate the likelihood of divorce in remarried individuals. Despite their reluctance, they bring in Oh Jeong-do, a coworker with a notoriously selfish attitude, to provide data for the AI’s training. The results are mixed—while some couples present with stable and harmonious relationships, others, including Ki-jun, are confronted with the cold, hard truth about their rocky marriages.
Ki-jun’s past is revealed in a flashback, showing him as a young man counseling his sister against divorce, listing reasons to stay married, and dismissing her unhappiness. This experience is significant for Ki-jun, as it highlights the emotional toll of dismissing someone else’s struggles, a realization that will affect his character development.
The Wedding Invitation and the Elopement Twist
Despite the challenges, the team succeeds in getting 30 couples insured, and they celebrate their achievement. Ki-jun, who had previously helped the in-laws of one couple, is invited to their wedding. However, upon arriving at the venue, Ki-jun and Han-deul discover that the couple has eloped. This unexpected turn of events leads to an awkward but heartfelt moment when the in-laws decide to hold a private ceremony, realizing that they cannot force their children to participate in a public celebration.
Ki-jun and Han-deul, ever supportive, clap for the in-laws, acknowledging the unexpected nature of the situation. The in-laws express their gratitude by offering Ki-jun the unused limousine. In a rare lighthearted moment, Ki-jun and Han-deul enjoy a brief moment of respite while driving in the limo. However, the situation takes a turn when the limo gets stuck on a narrow road, causing a traffic jam. Ki-jun quickly comes up with a plan to escape the situation by telling Han-deul to act as though they are a happy couple.
Unexpected Rejections and Ki-jun’s New Plan
The episode concludes with a significant setback for the team. Five of the divorce insurance contracts are suddenly rejected, throwing the team into disarray. As tensions rise, Ki-jun’s personal life becomes further entangled with his professional endeavors. He visits a museum, where he confronts his estranged brother-in-law, Un-hyeong. Ki-jun makes an unexpected move by asking Un-hyeong to take out a divorce insurance policy, signaling that the personal and professional aspects of his life are increasingly interconnected.
The episode ends on a cliffhanger, with Ki-jun’s request hanging in the air. The team’s future success remains uncertain, and the plot continues to explore the impact of divorce insurance on relationships. The next episode promises to build on the emotional and professional complexities introduced in this episode, offering viewers more insights into the lives of Ki-jun, Han-deul, and the rest of the team.
