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Did Kim You-jung’s Character Get Kicked Out of the Independence Group? Episode 2 Explained

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Author: Shivam Das · Independent coverage. Corrections / Contact

100 Days of Deception cast at the drama press conference
100 Days of Deception cast at the drama press conference

Quick answer: Episode 2 of 100 Days of Deception does not clearly show Lee Ga-kyung receiving a formal expulsion. Instead, after a dangerous operation falls apart and Yoo So-ran blames her for the damage, Ga-kyung chooses to walk away. That distinction matters: she is trying to protect her own survival while the group is fighting a much larger and riskier battle.

Updated October 12, 2026 · By Shivam Das

Warning: Episode 2 spoilers below.

Kim You-jung and Park Jin-young in character in 100 Days of Deception
Character stills from the drama. Image: CJ ENM, via The Korea Times.

What actually happens to Lee Ga-kyung in Episode 2?

Episode 2 pushes Ga-kyung deeper into the independence movement’s plans, but it does not suddenly turn her into a committed operative willing to sacrifice everything. She accepted a dangerous arrangement for practical reasons and still measures every decision against the possibility of getting out alive.

When a violent incident disrupts the operation, Ga-kyung is caught in consequences she did not fully control. Hideo helps keep suspicion away from her, but that rescue does not resolve her conflict with So-ran and the people around her. The episode makes clear that being useful to a resistance network is not the same as being trusted by it.

From the group’s perspective, So-ran’s anger is understandable: secrecy is essential, and a compromised operation can put multiple people at risk. But the episode also shows the cost of treating a new recruit as expendable. Ga-kyung has not joined because she shares every part of the group’s ideology; she is negotiating for a chance at a different life.

Four principal characters in 100 Days of Deception character-poster artwork
The character-poster artwork emphasizes the secrets each player is keeping. Image: tvN, via Soompi.

Was Ga-kyung kicked out, or did she leave on her own?

The more accurate reading is that Ga-kyung decides to leave. Episode recaps describe her returning what she can, refusing to remain entangled in the couple’s dangerous plans, and walking away without the payment she had expected. So-ran criticizes her, while Philip remains wary of her motives. Those are signs of a badly damaged relationship, but they are not the same as a clearly announced formal expulsion.

This distinction matters for viewers searching for an “independence group betrayal” twist. The episode shows a rupture in trust rather than a definitive organizational decision. Ga-kyung’s departure leaves room for the story to bring her back into the mission under different circumstances.

Episode 2 also reveals why So-ran’s choices are so severe. Her past is marked by colonial violence, the loss of her child, and years of uncertainty about her husband. Her mission is personal as well as political. That history helps explain her hard line, but it does not automatically make every decision she makes fair to Ga-kyung.

Park Jin-young as Sato Hideo in a scene from 100 Days of Deception
Hideo’s intervention complicates Ga-kyung’s attempt to escape the situation. Image: tvN/Netflix K-Content, as credited by AOL.

Why the split matters for Episode 3

Ga-kyung leaving the group creates three immediate questions. Can she stay out of the operation when she already knows too much? Will So-ran see her as a liability or as someone whose independence might still be useful? And what does Hideo want now that their connection involves a stolen wallet and a dangerous secret?

The pawnshop meeting at the end of the episode suggests their paths will cross again. Ga-kyung is not suddenly safe just because she has walked away. The bullet and pawn ticket connect her to a larger chain of events, while Hideo’s interest means even her attempts to return to ordinary life may draw attention.

My read: the most interesting tension is not whether Ga-kyung is loyal or disloyal. It is whether a person who entered a movement for personal survival can become part of its cause without surrendering the instinct that kept her alive. The story is strongest when it lets both sides of that conflict remain visible.

100 Days of Deception drama artwork accompanying Episode 2 coverage
Drama artwork used in coverage of the show’s early ratings. Image: tvN, via Korea Portal.

Official preview: watch the character dynamics

The official preview gives viewers a sense of the tension between Ga-kyung and Hideo, whose encounters are built on misdirection, quick thinking, and mistaken assumptions.

Kim You-jung and Park Jin-young in a 100 Days of Deception preview scene
Preview still from the series. Image: tvN, via Soompi.

Read tvN Drama’s original post on X.

What viewers should watch for next

  • Ga-kyung’s leverage: Will the pawn ticket and bullet draw her back into the conflict?
  • So-ran’s trust: Can the resistance leader separate personal grief from operational judgment?
  • Hideo’s motives: Is he protecting Ga-kyung, investigating her, or doing both?
  • The cost of secrecy: Who pays when a clandestine mission begins to unravel?

Frequently asked questions

Did the independence group officially kick Lee Ga-kyung out?

Episode 2 does not clearly show a formal expulsion. Published recaps describe Ga-kyung choosing to walk away after So-ran blames her for the failed operation and trust breaks down.

Why does Kim You-jung’s character leave?

Ga-kyung wants to protect herself and avoid being pulled further into a dangerous mission. The operation’s fallout and So-ran’s distrust convince her that leaving is safer than staying.

Does Ga-kyung meet Hideo again?

Yes. The episode brings them together again at a pawnshop, suggesting their connection—and the mystery around the pawn ticket—will continue.

What is the main twist in Episode 2?

The episode deepens So-ran’s tragic history and shows that the mission is shaped by personal revenge as well as the independence movement’s goals. Ga-kyung’s attempt to leave does not remove her from danger.

Where can viewers watch 100 Days of Deception?

The series is available internationally on Netflix, while it airs on tvN in South Korea. Availability can vary by region.

Sources and further reading

Editorial note: This article distinguishes episode details from interpretation about what may happen next. Images are credited to their cited publishers or original production sources; confirm reuse permissions before relying on third-party image files long-term.

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