Snowy Road Ending Explained: What Happened and Why?

What Happens at the End of Snowy Road?

Jong-bun, in her eighties, is one of the last surviving 'Comfort Women' victims forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese Army during World War II. Back in 1944, at the end of the Japanese occupation in Korea, Jong-bun was a poor but energetic girl while Young-ae was the smart rich clerk's daughter. One day, Jong-bun gets abducted and finds herself on a train for Manchuria. To her surprise, she also finds Young-ae on the train facing the same fate to become a comfort woman. Jong-bun and Young-ae help each other go through the living hell and as the war comes to an end, they finally escape from the comfort women camp, only to face two different paths of life. Decades later, Jong-bun helps out a teenaged girl who is disoriented in life, reminded of her own painful past.

Lee Na-jeong's narrative builds toward a resolution centered on Kim Hyang-gi (Young Jong-bun)'s journey. Back in 1944, at the end of the Japanese occupation in Korea, Jong-bun was a poor but energetic girl while Young-ae was the smart rich clerk's daughter.

How Does Kim Hyang-gi (Young Jong-bun)'s Story End?

• Kim Hyang-gi: Kim Hyang-gi's storyline wraps up in the final act, though some viewers have found the resolution more ambiguous than expected.
• Kim Sae-ron (Young-ae): Kim Sae-ron's role in the climax proves pivotal to how the central conflict resolves.
• Kim Yeong-ok (Jong-bun): Kim Yeong-ok's character undergoes a significant shift in the final act.

What Does the Ending of Snowy Road Mean?

Snowy Road's ending attempts to resolve the major plot threads, though some narrative elements involving Kim Hyang-gi may feel rushed. Lee Na-jeong's final act has been both praised for its ambition and criticized for its execution.