Burnout Syndrome ends with Jira’s exhibition, featuring the painting of him and Koh as the centerpiece, which he sells exclusively to Koh.
GMMTV’s Burnout Syndrome concluded with 10 episodes on February 3. When Jira lost his inspiration, Ing set a deadline to push him forward, asking him to create a full collection she would curate. A year later, Jira held his exhibition, featuring his centerpiece—a painting of him and Koh with flame lilies, each representing one of Koh’s secret visits and the emotions Jira felt during each visit.
Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for the series. Reader discretion is advised.
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Can Pheem delete the paintings Koh fed to his AI in Burnout Syndrome episode 10?
After their breakup, Koh is left alone. He stares at Jira’s paintings of him and tries to sleep, but fails. At the same time, Jira goes to Pheem, desperate to erase the paintings Koh fed into the AI system. However, Pheem explains that once the AI learns something, it doesn’t easily forget. He still tries, but no longer has access to the system. As Jira breaks down, Pheem comforts him, saying the future will decide whether people value AI-made art or the real work of real artists—people like Jira.
Meanwhile, Koh goes to Burnout bar and is paired with Ing, who doesn’t know he is the Koh Jira talked about. Koh opens up about his insomnia. When he was with Jira, he slept easily. Now, he can’t. Ing advises him to stay close to Jira without crossing any boundaries—and to try thinking of something else.
Will Jira come back to Koh in Burnout Syndrome episode 10?
Koh came to Jira that same night and confronted him, asking him to come back. He admitted he was struggling to sleep again. Instead of softening, Jira snapped. He called Koh selfish, especially when Koh dismissed the issue as a “small thing.” Koh argued that even if he hadn’t done it, someone else would have.
As Jira tried to leave, Koh stopped him. He reminded Jira of the day they met—when Jira said he could be anyone. Koh asked if he could just be someone who loves him. He broke down and admitted, “I can’t live without you.” Jira answered simply: he could. Then he walked away. This time, Koh let him go.
Still parked below Jira’s apartment, Koh imagined sleeping on Jira’s balcony again, Jira kissing him to sleep. Eventually, the fantasy faded—and Koh finally fell asleep. Later, Jira came down to check on him. Seeing Koh there, vulnerable and quiet, Jira painted him once more.
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How would Ing encourage Jira to continue painting?
The next day, Jira goes to Ing in tears and tells her what Koh did to his art. He asks if he should give up painting and find something AI can’t replace. Ing firmly tells him that AI already can’t replace what he does. She reminds him, “Technology learns from you—you’re its teacher,” and encourages him to return to what he loves, just in a new way.
Jira admits, “Without Koh, I don’t know how I would paint.” Ing responds that artists don’t have to paint their lovers. Instead, she urges him to look around—to paint people, surroundings, and society—because anything can be inspiration. To push him forward, she gives him a deadline: finish one collection within a year, and she’ll curate his exhibition.
“It’s best if we end things,” Jira says
Jira meets Pheem at Burnout bar to borrow the painting he gave him, planning to use it as the centerpiece of his collection, possibly with a theme about burnout. However, things escalate when Koh arrives and sees Jira with Pheem. Outside the bar, Koh and Pheem get into a fight, believing Pheem is trying to pursue Jira again.
During the argument, Koh accuses Pheem of trying to take Jira away, saying Pheem knows how much he loves him. Pheem fires back, saying he met Jira first and that Koh was the one who stole him—leaving Koh silent.
After the fight, Pheem leaves while Koh lies on the floor, exhausted. Jira talks to him, and Koh says this is why he hates people—too much chaos and drama. He admits he’s at his limit and says that if Jira isn’t coming back, he’ll stop trying. Jira answers quietly, “It’s best if we end things.” Koh accepts this, stands up, and walks away.
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Will Koh buy Jira’s painting of them in Burnout Syndrome episode 10?
One year later, Jira holds his painting exhibition successfully, but only one piece sells. Ing encourages him, saying he’s just starting and the important part is exploring his own style. Later, Jira asks Pheem if Koh released his AI; Pheem reveals that Koh sold both Hive and his AI.
At the exhibition’s centerpiece, Jira explains the painting: he imagined flame lilies as fire, with the two figures in the center representing him and Koh. Despite trying not to, he couldn’t stop painting Koh—his heart wouldn’t allow it. He also mentions that he doesn’t want to sell this painting to anyone else but Koh.
With that, Pheem accompanies him to Koh, giving him a final hug before leaving. Jira brings the painting to Koh and sells it to him. He explains that he painted it every time Koh secretly came to see him, sleeping outside his building.
Every visit, Koh looked peaceful, as if having a good dream. Koh seemed harmless and unmalicious, and Jira admits he sometimes fantasized about swooping down to kiss him or cuddle him to sleep. On some nights, he cried, letting the tears hit his face, and poured all those emotions into the flame lilies in the painting. Each flower holds a unique feeling, like its own story.
Jira spent a long time on the painting—Koh had secretly visited 277 times, and each visit contributed to the energy and detail of the work. The painting is valued 277 times higher than his previous pieces. Koh says he’ll buy it, and the two become intimate, reconnecting and getting back together.
Burnout Syndrome Ending Explained and Review
Burnout Syndrome delivers a compelling mix of romance, tension, and thought-provoking commentary. At the heart of the story is the love triangle between Koh, Jira, and Pheem. The chemistry among the three is electric. Pheem’s final act of letting go—hugging Jira one last time after accompanying him to Koh—was truly heartbreaking, a perfectly executed moment that conveyed closure.
Meanwhile, Koh secretly visiting Jira just so he could sleep properly—was deeply moving. And Jira immortalizing those moments in his painting of 277 flame lilies, each representing a secret visit and the emotions tied to it, was a stroke of genius. It visually captured their year-long emotional struggle, longing, and the intensity of their love for each other.
Beyond the romance, Burnout Syndrome also explores timely themes about the impact of Artificial Intelligence on human creativity. Through Jira’s struggle as an artist, whose authenticity is gradually challenged by AI, the series raises questions about the true value of human-made art in a world increasingly shaped by technology. It reminds us that while technology can mimic skill, it can never replicate the emotions, experiences, and personal stories that make art truly human.
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You can watch all 10 episodes of Burnout Syndrome now on iQIYI and the GMMTV Official YouTube Channel.
Source: GMMTV OFFICIAL, Burnout Syndrome (X)
