Tae Joong uncovers the truth about ‘sculpting’ in The Manipulated episode 7.
The Manipulated episode 7 escalates the tension as Tae Joong (Ji Chang Wook) and Yo Han (Doh Kyung Soo) confront each other directly. From Tae Joong returning to the city to Yo Han’s ruthless cover-ups, every moment pushes Tae Joong to find out the truth.
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Yo Han’s grip on power only grows darker. The stage is set for a dangerous collision as Tae Joong gathers evidence to target Yo Han for his next victim.
The Manipulated Episode 7 Recap: Yo Han and Tae Joong’s Head-to-Head Showdown
Tae Joong and Yo Han go head-to-head. Park escapes while Yo Han fires at him. He still manages to run away despite getting shot in the arm. He quickly changes his clothes to avoid recognition and continues to flee.
Back in the city, Tae Joong hides under a hoodie. Exhausted, he finds his way to Yong Sik’s (Kim Jong Soo) place and knocks on his door. They reunite, but Tae Joong collapses unconscious, and Yong Sik takes him in, rushing to avoid anyone from seeing them.
Meanwhile, Yo Han discovers Tae Joong’s discarded white overalls and realizes he escaped. “Why’d you have to go and ruin everything?” he says, determined to keep the incident from reaching the media. Warden Han Hee (Lee Seo Hwan) worries about the escape, but Yo Han reassures him his position is safe. Yo Han wonders what Tae Joong’s next move will be.
When Tae Joong regains consciousness, he apologizes to Yong Sik for barging in. Yong Sik takes care of him and explains he tried to visit but was blocked without reason. Convinced something terrible happened, Yong Sik insists on helping. “You didn’t come here on your own. God sent you here because it’s part of His plan,” he tells Tae Joong, handing him a phone.
The Truth About ‘Sculpting’
Park Tae Joong visits his brother’s urn before setting his sights on his first target. He searches for Kim Sang Rak (Kim Joong Hee), one of the men who caused his downfall. Tae Joong chases him down, confronts him, and records their conversation.
Sang Rak claims he was only following orders but refuses to reveal who gave them. Tae Joong discovers a photo of a woman, intended to be framed through “sculpting” evidence, and considers her their next victim. Sang Rak explains that sculpting means planting everyday items from a victim at a crime scene to make them appear guilty. “That’s how we were able to frame you,” he admits.
Before Tae Joong can press further, Sang Rak’s men attack. The intruder was the prison doctor who injected him with warfarin. A violent fight breaks out. Sang Rak admits the doctor killed Tae Joong’s brother. An explosive device is thrown, but Tae Joong escapes with evidence tied to their next target.
Elsewhere, Yo Han immediately learns of Tae Joong’s attack. The fleeing “doctor” runs into Yo Han, who kills him and orders his staff to dispose of the body. Yo Han then enlists Detective Hwang (Lee Sung Woo), promising support if he does his job perfectly, and instructs him to track someone down, Tae Joong.
Yo Han and Tae Joong target Hyeon Jung for two different reasons
Back at Yong Sik’s place, Tae Joong plays the audio recording of Sang Rak’s confession. Shocked, Yong Sik listens as Tae Joong reveals who Yo Han’s next target is: So Hyeon Jung (Lim Hwa Young), a hairdresser working at a salon. Yong Sik sees Tae Joong’s determination to catch the real culprit. He comforts him by saying, “It must have felt like the world was crumbling around you,” and promises he can stay with him anytime and ask for help.
Inside the prison, the inmates return, but Warden Han Hee blocks investigations into Tae Joong’s escape. Detective Hwang arrives and finds Tae Joong’s obsessive notes on his case. “Looks like he was going over all of these documents quite obsessively,” he remarks.
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Outside, Yo Han begins targeting Hyeon Jung and finds out she has a sick child, Seo Yoon (Lee A-Rin). He is planning to use her tools in hairdressing as planted evidence. Tae Joong also monitors her, but with protective intentions. He sets up hidden cameras around her workplace to find anything suspicious that might harm her, with Yong Sik supporting him financially.
While monitoring, Tae Joong catches someone stealing Yong Sik’s belongings—it turns out to be his daughter, Eun Bi (Jo Yoon Soo). After confronting her, Eun Bi demands rent if Tae Joong is going to stay in her father’s house and even punches him before storming off.
Detective Hwang continues his investigation with Officer Yang (Kim Jae Chul), inspecting Sang Rak’s burned body and suspecting Tae Joong is responsible. Surveillance footage shows Tae Joong leaving a building. Hwang suspects he is close to someone recently released, and he knows it’s Yong Sik.
Yo Han’s Trap Tightens
Tae Joong notices a man shadowing Hyeon Jung. He realizes she is being followed. Determined to protect her, he vows to act before it’s too late.
Yo Han sets his trap, planting evidence through Hyeon Jung’s profession. She finds a lost phone at her salon and is asked to return it, mirroring the exact scheme that led to Tae Joong’s wrongful accusation. Tae Joong rushes to intervene but only meets her, Seo Yoon, alone in the salon. As Hyeon Jung arrives to return the phone, a mysterious woman approaches her.
The episode closes with Detective Hwang visiting Yong Sik, interrogating him about Tae Joong. “You know Park Tae Joong, right? I heard you were close. Have you had any contact with him recently?” he presses, threatening Yong Sik to reveal the truth.
How far will Tae Joong go to protect Hyeon Jung, and what will it cost him this time? Catch the episodes of The Manipulated on Disney+, now streaming.
Source: Disney+, @DisneyPlusKR (Official X Account)
