Jira makes a deal with Koh in Burnout Syndrome episode 3, with Jira becoming his Mr. K while Koh becomes his muse for his artworks.
In Burnout Syndrome episode 3, which aired on December 10, Ing encourages Jira to go back to working with Koh and make him his muse. Following her advice, Jira proposes a deal with Koh: Koh will be his model, and Jira will be Koh’s Mr. K. Later, Koh sleeps soundly while Jira sketches him. When Koh wakes up, he unintentionally interrupts an intimate moment between Jira and Pheem and tells Jira to sleep with him.
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Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for the series. Reader discretion is advised.
Burnout Syndrome Episode 3 Recap: Pheem is down bad for Jira
After Pheem and Jira’s kiss, things turn awkward between them. Pheem immediately apologizes, saying he couldn’t resist. When Jira says he’s going home, Pheem nervously asks if he messed things up and if he’ll ever see him again. Jira reassures him that it’s okay and there’s no need to worry, then leaves.
Later, Pheem continues to drink alone to cope with his worries and talks to the bar owner, Ben. He confesses, “Would you say it’s weird if I want his life to be even more messed up, just so he keeps coming back to me?” He adds, reflecting on his feelings, “I’m down bad for Jira. He’s healing me in the most natural way possible. I just want him.”
Ing tells Jira to go back to Koh
The next day, Jira returns Koh’s suit through his butler and asks him to send back his clothes as well. When the butler asks if Jira should be blacklisted, Koh simply says, “Not yet.”
Meanwhile, Jira visits Ing and gives her an artwork he painted, inspired by Koh, saying that it’s an eyesore in his room. He also tells her he discovered Koh’s name and learned that he owns Hive. Ing immediately urges Jira to stay close to Koh, pointing out that he’s filthy rich and a perfect muse. She adds that working with Koh could give him steady work and income, and pushes him to go back and beg, saying he should be willing to do anything.
At the same time, Pheem visits Koh unannounced to talk about his department. Koh challenges him to a swim match and promises to consider his request if Pheem wins.
Just as Pheem wins, Jira arrives at Koh’s place, also unannounced. The butler tells Jira that he seems special to Koh, explaining that everyone else who has visited Koh has been blacklisted—except him. He lets Jira go to the pool, where he sees Koh and Pheem together. Both Jira and Pheem are clearly shocked but pretend not to know each other. Soon after, Koh sends Pheem away, leaving Jira and Koh alone.
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Jira makes a deal with Koh; Koh buys Jira’s artwork of him
Jira immediately asks Koh to take him back and says he wants the job. He then shows Koh his nude erotic artwork inspired by Koh and admits, “Before this, my drawings never lived up to my expectations. I felt burned out. But since I met you, my art feels better.” Jira proposes a deal: Koh becomes his model, and Jira becomes Koh’s Mr. K—benefiting each other as employer and employee. Koh agrees to try, but sets clear rules: no drama, no empathy, no giving in, and no arguing from Jira.
Meanwhile, Pheem waits for Jira in the lobby and asks if he’s upset because Jira never called after their kiss. Jira brushes it off, saying he’s been busy with work. Later, they spend time together, and Pheem opens up about his complicated, love-hate friendship with Koh that has lasted nearly 20 years.
At the same time, Koh reviews the artwork he bought from Jira. Jira never named a price and simply asked Koh to pay what he thought it was worth. Koh pays far more than expected, even recreates the pose from the drawing, and orders his butler to have it framed.
When Jira gets home, he sees Koh’s payment and immediately calls Ing, telling her he can finally return the money he borrowed. Overwhelmed, he breaks down in tears and says, “I can stop doubting if I’m talentless.”
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Koh became Jira’s muse in Burnout Syndrome episode 3
The next day, Jira returns to Koh’s place to sketch him and finds Koh sick from a new sleeping pill prescription. Jira tells him there’s no need to pose and to just act like he normally would at home, alone.
Koh takes a shower while Jira sketches, but the awkwardness still lingers. To help him relax, Jira suggests doing something from his childhood. Koh chooses folding laundry, and as Jira sketches, they start talking. He shares that his uncles and aunties taught him at his parents’ old factory, prompting Jira to comment on Koh’s delicate side. Koh brushes it off, saying that showing weakness only makes people take advantage of him.
They then talk further about Koh’s “boring” clothes. Koh explains that he prefers machine-made clothes because tailor-made ones remind him of his family’s factory and the people who worked there. He recalls how his parents kept all their employees even when the business struggled, until they eventually had to sell the company to bigger ventures, including Mr. Thames. “It taught me not to trust people too much,” Koh says, admitting that betrayals happen often.
As Koh lies on the floor in a pile of clothes, he talks more about his childhood and his difficulty sleeping while Jira continues sketching. Koh later asks why Jira wants to draw him as he starts to doze off. Jira answers honestly, saying he gets horny when he draws Koh and adds that Koh was the first person to buy his art. Before Koh can respond, he falls asleep. Jira finishes the sketch and quietly leaves.
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Koh tells Jira to sleep with him in Burnout Syndrome episode 3
Jira visits Pheem’s office to give him a flash drive filled with 2000s music they both love. Soon after, Pheem invites Jira to his place to listen to it together. The night grows intimate, but Koh keeps calling, demanding that Jira come to him or their deal will be over. With no choice, Jira leaves.
The episode ends with Jira arriving at Koh’s place, where Koh tells him he has to sleep with him.
Burnout Syndrome Episode 4 Preview and Release Date
Burnout Syndrome episode 4 teases Ing telling Jira that he likes Koh, pointing out that Koh is exactly Jira’s type—and that his red-flag personality excites him. The much-anticipated underwater kiss between Jira and Koh is also set to happen in this episode.
The episode will be released on December 17 and will air on GMM 25 at 8:30 PM (ICT). Fans can catch the rerun on the GMMTV OFFICIAL YouTube channel, with the uncut version streaming on iQIYI at 10:30 PM (PHT) / 9:30 PM (ICT).
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Source: GMMTV OFFICIAL, Burnout Syndrome X Account
