Pavane Ending Explained: Under the direction and script of Lee Jong-pil, 파반느 features Go Ah-sung as the reserved but strong-willed Mi-jeong, Byun Yo-han as the charming but lonely Yo-han, and Moon Sang-min as the kind-hearted Gyeong-rok. Based on the novel Pavane for the Dead Princess by Park Min-kyu.
Korean Movie Pavane Summary
The Korean movie Pavane revolves around three people from different walks of life who drift into the same department store, each with their own secret pain. Mi-jeong is alone in the basement, a woman who is often the subject of others’ judgments about her appearance, keeping to herself and her corner. Gyeong-rok, with the lingering pain of his father’s absence, begins at the same store and notices her, sensing the kindness behind the walls she erects.
And then there’s Yo-han, the closeted son of a powerful chairman, hiding his loneliness behind charm and confidence. As they start to connect, what began as a friendship blossoms into something more, forcing them to confront their fears, their insecurities, and their desire for a true, human connection.
Pavane Ending Explained
What Actually Happened to Gyeong-rok on Christmas Eve?
On Christmas Eve, Gyeong-rok heads to Mi-jeong’s hometown, pouring his heart out in a letter to her, pleading for a meeting. A fierce blizzard closes down all modes of transport; when the bus he is in crashes, he dashes out of it and runs through the blizzard to reach her. Mi-jeong holds her ground in the cold, a silent, wordless testimony to the fact that her love for him has not faltered. They share a quiet, muffled meal, discuss Yo-han’s illness, and slowly begin to repair the distance that time and space had driven between them.
As night begins to fall, Mi-jeong softly proposes that he take the last bus before the blizzard becomes even more ferocious. Gyeong-rok boards the bus, then suddenly dashes out of it, frightened that this may be their last opportunity. He rushes back, pours out his heart to her once again, and they promise to meet again on New Year’s Eve to begin afresh. In the snow, they finally kiss, a tentative, flickering light in the darkness.
However, fate has other plans. That same night, the bus he boards to return home crashes in the storm, and Gyeong-rok dies. Mi-jeong, who does not possess a mobile phone, is never informed of the tragedy. A week later, Mi-jeong waits at the designated spot, convinced that he has left her for good, only to realise that he had not decided to leave her; he was lost in the night before he could return.
Did Mi-jeong and Gyeong-rok End Up Together?
In reality, they do not end up together. Emotionally compatible, they choose each other, but reality has other plans in a twist of fate. Gyeong-rok’s sudden death brings their relationship to a halt. Mi-jeong waits for him on New Year’s Eve, certain that he will not show up, only to find out that he died before he could fulfil his promise. Thus, in reality, their love life is brought to a premature close.
However, there is a second chance in the novel written by Yo-han. In this reality, Gyeong-rok survives the accident but loses his memory. He slowly retrieves it through music, specifically the classical piece that Mi-jeong loves. In this alternate reality, they do end up together and fulfil their dream of travelling together, even catching a glimpse of the northern lights. This is the happy ending that reality did not give them.
Thus, Mi-jeong and Gyeong-rok do not end up together in reality, but their love remains at the centre of the narrative. It was real, life-changing, and significant, although short-lived. And through Yo-han’s book and Mi-jeong’s memories, their love lives on, defying death.
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What Happened to Yo-han at the End of Pavane?
Yo-han sinks into a deep loneliness, feeling as if he has been abandoned by his family and, by extension, Gyeong-rok as he draws closer to Mi-jeong. He is surrounded by the empty sound of shallow relationships, and the pressure becomes too much for him as he attempts to take his own life. He fails, but the experience leaves him paralysed for a period of time, marking the lowest point of his life.
Five years go by, and Yo-han rebuilds himself from the ashes. He regains his health and turns to writing, becoming a successful novelist. He writes a novel based on the interwoven lives of the three of them, giving Gyeong-rok and Mi-jeong the ending that they had been denied in life.
Aside from his writing career, he joins a rock band and performs on stage, even writing a song for Gyeong-rok that he performs at a concert. In the end, he finds a way to channel his pain and guilt into his art, deciding to live life to the fullest while keeping his friend’s memory alive.
Did Mi-jeong’s Life Change by the End of Pavane?
Yes, Mi-jeong’s life is also radically changed by the end. At first, she is locked away in isolation, working in the basement of the department store and being judged all the time by how she looks. Her self-confidence is brittle, wounded by deep emotional pain from the past. Gyeong-rok’s love gives her a whole new perspective on herself and gives her a sense of self-worth that she has never experienced before.
But after Gyeong-rok’s death, the pain of loss weighs heavily on her, and it takes five years for her to transform from the shell she was. She finds a new life as a music teacher, pursuing her passion and creating a small but significant community for herself. In the ending of Pavane, we see that life seems brighter and more meaningful to her, even as she continues to miss him.
Mi-jeong may not have had the future she had dreamed of with Gyeong-rok, but she learns to walk taller and live with courage. His love changes her forever, and instead of falling back into the darkness, she presses on, holding his memory close to her heart.
Also Read: Pavane Review: Emotional Slow-Burn That Stumbles Yet Stays With You
