Pachinko's Minha Kim Says Isak Is 'Giving Another Extra Life to Sunja' in Heartbreaking Scene

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[Warning: The following contains spoilers for Pachinko Season 2, Episode 2, "Chapter Ten." Read at your own risk!]

Pachinko's Season 2 premiere was missing a key character. I am, of course, talking about the sickly pastor Isak (Steve Sanghyun Noh), who is also the beloved husband of series protagonist Sunja (Minha Kim). In the first season of Apple TV+'s sprawling drama, Isak was arrested for political treason. He was imprisoned for years, but in Season 2, Episode 2, titled "Chapter Ten," the character unexpectedly stumbles back home. 

Only his return is anything but a celebratory occasion — Isak immediately collapses, and Sunja quickly learns that her husband is deathly ill with only hours left to live. In one of the season's most stirring scenes yet, she and Isak have their final conversation while lying down side by side. It's after this exchange that the pastor breathes his last breath.

"I kept touching his face in that scene," Kim told TV Guide. She said that Sunja could feel that she was losing her husband. "I tried to share my temperature and warmth to him," Kim explained. The camera pans between the two characters and is entirely focused on their faces — and on Sunja's hand gently brushing Isak's cheek. 

In this exchange, Sunja makes a vow to reassure Isak. "I promise you, our children will live good lives," she says. "Noa and Mozasu, they will thrive." 

These words are especially significant to Sunja. "The promise they make in that conversation, it also leads Sunja to move on," Kim shared. "And it's an engine for her to protect their family as well."

Instead of draining Sunja of her will to live, her husband's death does the opposite. "When Isak is dying, I think he's giving another extra life to Sunja," Kim said. 

ALSO READ: Pachinko Season 2 review: Apple TV+'s epic, intimate family drama is richer than ever

The first two episodes of Pachinko Season 2 are available to stream on Apple TV+.