Marriage Not Dating (2014)

Title: Marriage Not Dating
Hangul: 연애 말고 결혼
Writer: Joo Hwa-mi
Director: Song Hyun-wook
Network: tvN
Episodes: 16

Marriage Not Dating Cast and Characters

Yeon Woo-jin as Gong Gi-tae
Han Groo as Joo Jang-mi

Jung Jin-woon as Han Yeo-reum
Han Sun-hwa as Kang Se-ah
Heo Jung-min as Lee Hoon-dong
Yoon So-hee as Nam Hyun-hee

Kim Hae-sook as Shin Bong-hyang

Marriage Not Dating Plot Summary

Gong Ki-tae is a wealthy plastic surgeon being pressured by his family to get married. To get his family to back off, Ki-tae brings home Joo Jang-mi, a woman he’s sure they would never approve of. 

Marriage Not Dating Ending Explained

Does Marriage Not Dating Have a Happy Ending?

Marriage Not Dating ends happily with Jang-mi and Ki-tae getting married, Ki-tae’s mother getting a divorce, and Jang-mi’s parents reconciling.

What Happened to Jang-mi?

Jang-mi is tricked into visiting Ki-tae’s mother’s house by his aunt who tells her Grandma has collapsed and wants her kimchi pancakes. Jing-mi is distraught over Grandma’s condition and admits to her that she likes Ki-tae for real now which pleases Ki-tae’s family. 

Grandma then admits she’s faking her condition as payback for Ki-tae and Jung-mi’s fake engagement shenanigans.

While preparing kimchi pancakes, Jing-mi tells Ki-tae’s mother she has something important to say to her. Ki-tae’s mother anticipates Jing-mi asking for approval of her relationship but Ki-tae but instead Jing-mi asks her to sell her kimchi. 

Business has slowed down at Jang-mi’s restaurant because their kimchi pancakes are missing the secret ingredient: Ki-tae’s mom’s kimchi. Ki-tae’s mom refuses, scoffing at the idea of providing kimchi to Yeo-reum, her son’s love rival/Jang-mi’s other man.

Jang-mi admits to Ki-tae’s mom that she wants to be acknowledged by her and running the restaurant to prove she’s a woman worthy of Ki-tae which softens Ki-tae’s mom’s attitude towards her.

Jang-mi gains Ki-tae’s mother’s understanding and acceptance when she brings makgulli to comfort her. Jang-mi tells her Ki-tae is all she has and she’s working hard at the restaurant so she isn’t entirely dependent on him. She’s serious and wants to be with Ki-tae long-term and wants his mother to understand her because they both love one man: Ki-tae. 

Soon after, Jang-mi’s restaurant begins to thrive again thanks to her new partnership with Ki-tae’s mother who is providing her with her special kimchi.

READ: Fight For My Way Ending Explained

What Happened to Ki-tae?

In episode 15 of Marriage Not Dating, Ki-tae’s grandmother reveals the truth about Ki-tae’s happiest childhood memories in his apartment. Ki-tae remembers living by himself but Grandma reveals he was never alone.

Although he doesn’t remember, his mother was with him the entire time. 

Ki-tae’s mother left his father after finding out about his affair and took Ki-tae with her to live at the apartment. Ki-tae’s mother wanted to get a divorce but his grandmother came and took Ki-tae away forcing her to stay in a loveless marriage.   

Grandma’s revelation results in Ki-tae understanding his mother better and how much she loves him, healing their fraught relationship. 

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Do Ki-tae and Jang-mi End Up Together?

Yes, Ki-tae and Jang-mi are together at the end of Marriage Not Dating.

In the last episode of Marriage Not Dating, Ki-tae proposes to Jang-mi during their trip to the pond to find her dad. Jang-mi thinks Ki-tae is joking to cheer her up but he’s dead serious. Jang-mi wants to wait until they’re sure but Ki-tae insists he’s sure now.

Jang-mi tells him to take the proposal back and it’s not the right time considering everything going on with her parents.

But Ki-tae is undeterred and proposes a bet to Jang-mi:

if her parents reconcile, they’ll get married.

Just as Ki-tae predicted, Jang-mi’s parents get back together and he proposes. 

Ki-tae’s proposal isn’t the fancy one Jang-mi dreamt of but it’s practical and sincere. Ki-tae doesn’t have faith in marriage and can’t guarantee Jang-mi a lifetime of marital bliss.

But he’s willing to work every day to make her happy.

Marriage Not Dating ends with Jang-mi and Ki-tae alone exchanging wedding rings in the pouring rain while their guests take cover from the storm.

READ: Business Proposal Ending Explained

What Happened to Jang-mi’s Parents?

Jang-mi’s mother is diagnosed with breast cancer, which she initially hides from her estranged husband. 

After Jang-mi’s father finds out about the cancer, he sells his chicken restaurant to pay for her medical bills and stays with her during her treatment.

Despite all their issues, the couple reconcile and stay together.

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What Happened to Ki-tae’s Parents?

Ki-tae’s mother decides to divorce his father after years of unhappiness.

She gets the house in the divorce and invites her mother-in-law and sister-in-law to live with her as friends, not as in-laws.

Despite the initial shock, Ki-tae’s father eventually accepts the situation.

READ: Go Back Couple Ending Explained

What Happened to Yeo-reum?

Yeo-reum decides to leave the restaurant he started with Jang-mi and start a new business on his own. He sells his recipes to Jang-mi and bids her farewell.

At the end of Marriage Not Dating, Yeo-reum returns to attend Jang-mi and Ki-tae’s wedding. Yeo-reum inadvertently creates conflict between the couple when Ki-tae overhears a conversation between him and Jang-mi about the money she sent him in exchange for his recipes. 

Who Des Yeo-reum End Up With?

Yeo-reum is single at the end of Marriage Not Dating.

What Happened to Se-ah?

Marriage Not Dating ends with Se-ah completely moving on from Ki-tae. 

Before Ki-tae and Jang-mi’s wedding ceremony, Se-ah tells Jang-mi that she’s pregnant and Jang-mi immediately suspects Ki-tae is the father. 

But during the ceremony, Se-ah’s baby daddy is revealed to be her colleague, Richard (played by Julien Kang).

What Happened to Hyun-hee?

Hyun-hee accomplishes her life goal of being the wife of a rich man after she hooks up with Hoon-dong, gets pregnant, and they have a shotgun wedding.

But despite marrying into money, Hyun-hee is determined to make her own and invests (and works) in Yeo-reum and Jang-mi’s restaurant. 

Hyun-hee supports Jang-mi through her wedding troubles as a loyal friend.

Do Hyun-hee and Hoon-dong End Up Together?

At the end of Marriage Not Dating, Hyun-hee and Hoon-dong are still married though his mother still disapproves of Hyun-hee

What did you think of Marriage Not Dating?