When the Phone Rings

A rising politician, Baek Sa-eon, and his wife, who does not speak, live under a fragile, strained marriage that looks stable to outsiders. That fragile arrangement is violently disturbed when a mysterious caller claims to have kidnapped someone linked to them, and the couple must deal with the immediate threat while a larger pattern of secrets starts to show. As pressure from the media, the police, and political rivals grows, loyalties shift and small gestures of trust take on new meaning. The series keeps the focus tight on how public ambition and private silence interact, building suspense through interpersonal tension rather than spectacle.

Released in 2024, the series was created by Kim Ji-woon and directed by Park Sang-woo and Wi Deuk-gyoo, bringing together a production team experienced in crime and melodrama for a primetime Korean TV audience.

Critics and viewers have given it strong marks, reflected in an 8.4/10 average from 269 votes, with particular praise for the lead performances. The show mixes mystery, crime procedural elements, and domestic drama to explore themes of power, communication, and moral compromise, asking how much people will hide to protect status and how silence can be used as both refuge and weapon.

On social media and in cultural conversations, the show prompted discussion about the intersection of political life and private relationships, and about the ways silence and disability are portrayed on screen. Yoo Yeon-seok's role and the depiction of a marriage shaped by public scrutiny generated especially intense comment, helping the series reach a wider audience beyond typical genre fans.

As of its release period, the series had not been reported as a winner of major international awards, though it generated considerable attention from critics and viewers who highlighted its performances and atmosphere.