Missing (2016) Plot Summary Explained

Han-Mae kidnapped Da-eun to get a liver transplant for her own son Jae-in, who suffered from Congenital Biliary Atresia. After being abandoned by Jae-in's father Suk-ho and his family, Han-Mae became desperate to save her child's life and saw Da-eun as the solution.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes show Han-Mae discussing anesthesia and organ donation at the Mok-ryeon bar, hinting at her willingness to manipulate circumstances.

• han-mae
• da-eun
• kidnapping
• liver transplant
• jae-in

At the port, Han-Mae realized Ji-sun's daughter was not with Jae-in and handed Da-eun back to the police before leaping into the sea. Ji-sun followed and saved Da-eun, but Han-Mae drowned.

Foreshadowing: The chase on the ship's hull shows Han-Mae's final moment of choosing the child's safety over her own escape.

• han-mae death
• port scene
• drowning
• final fate

Ji-sun missed her court appointment because Han-Mae had received the notice but failed to inform her. The judge ruled against her, citing her workaholic schedule and presumed mental instability due to the divorce, leading to temporary loss of custody.

Foreshadowing: Han-Mae's deception begins early when she deliberately withholds the court notice from Ji-sun.

• custody battle
• court
• ruling
• ex-husband

The photos connected Han-Mae to Jae-in, listing Suk-ho as the father and Kim Yeon as the mother. This revealed Han-Mae's real name was not Han-Mae but Mok-ryeon, and she had a child named Jae-in who was abandoned by Suk-ho's family.

Foreshadowing: The flashback at Mok-ryeon bar shows Han-Mae's first encounter with Hyeon-ik, establishing her past identity.

• mihwa studio
• photo
• jae-in
• suk-ho
• identity

Han-Mae engineered the accident that injured Da-eun while under the old Chinese nanny's care to create a reason for Ji-sun to fire her. This allowed Han-Mae to position herself as the replacement nanny and gain access to Da-eun for her larger plan.

Foreshadowing: Security footage later reveals Han-Mae deliberately causing the accident to manipulate the situation.

• nanny
• accident
• security footage
• manipulation

Hyeon-ik was Han-Mae's first client at the Mok-ryeon bar and was aware of her plan. He helped track down Ji-sun and explained that the money Han-Mae obtained went to Suk-ho to cover Jae-in's medical care. He later confessed to police about the scheme.

Foreshadowing: The flashback shows Hyeon-ik's initial encounter with Han-Mae at the bar, foreshadowing their later collaboration.

• hyeon-ik
• mok-ryeon
• bar
• debt
• confession

Han-Mae arranged a passport for Jae-in and planned to flee to China after obtaining the liver transplant for her son. She needed to escape South Korea to avoid capture and to seek medical help for Jae-in's terminal condition.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes show Han-Mae discussing organ donation and preparing for travel with stockpiled flu medicines.

Jae-in suffered from Congenital Biliary Atresia, a rare liver disease that required a transplant to survive. Han-Mae's desperate measures to save her son drove her to kidnap Da-eun for a potential liver match.

Foreshadowing: The hospital investigation reveals Jae-in's discharge was part of Han-Mae's scheme to orchestrate the abduction.

• jae-in
• biliary atresia
• liver transplant
• hospital
• disease

After Han-Mae disappeared, Ji-sun received a call from someone claiming Da-eun was held hostage. Ji-sun transferred all her money and was directed to Yeouido Wharf, where she found only a bag of Da-eun's toys, the call was a ransom scam exploiting her desperation.

Foreshadowing: The forged IDs and burner phones hint at a larger network of deception beyond Han-Mae's personal plot.

• yeouido wharf
• ransom
• toys
• kidnap call

Ji-sun hired Han-Mae after firing the previous Chinese nanny who caused Da-eun's injury. Han-Mae was presented as her neighbor's niece, but she was actually a stranger paid to be introduced, part of a deliberate setup to infiltrate the family.

Foreshadowing: The neighbour's nanny later reveals Han-Mae was a stranger, exposing the initial deception.

• nanny hire
• neighbor
• deception
• chinese nanny