Imagine you could still talk to your loved ones even after they’ve passed away or slipped into a coma. Not in a spooky or ghostly way, but through a video chat service, run by this company called Wonderland. That’s the premise of sci-fi fantasy film Wonderland. It takes us on an emotional journey with a unique high-tech twist. In the world of Wonderland, the titular company offers a service that gives people an opportunity to connect with their loved ones, who are no longer there. They can see and talk to them through these very realistic video calls. Families can choose to keep the service going for as long as they need. They can also end it if it ever comes to that. It’s a way for people to hold on to the past until they’re ready to move forward. In the film, we meet multiple characters, among which we come across a couple, Jung-in and Tae-ju. A terrible accident has left Tae-ju in a coma. Struggling with her grief, Jung-in turns to Wonderland to stay connected with her beloved. Through this service, she sees and talks to Tae-ju and keeps their relationship alive despite the circumstances. But then, Tae-ju wakes up from his coma. Is it for better or worse? Will Jung-in stop using the Wonderland service now that Tae-ju is back? What will happen to their relationship in the end? Let’s unpack it all through this article about the story of Jung-in and Tae-ju.
Spoilers Ahead
Why didn’t Jung-in stop using Wonderland’s services?
As we meet the couple, Jung-in and Tae-ju, it’s clear they are deeply in love, even when they’re apart. At first, I didn’t realize that Tae-ju was in a coma. It seemed like he was an astronaut on a mission who talked to Jung-in from a rocket ship in space while she lay in her bed. This made it feel like he was far away but still taking care of his girlfriend from a distance. They lived together, and without him, Jung-in’s life felt empty, which made her even more dependent on him. As a flight attendant, she traveled the world, but often forgot to take her medicine and didn’t know how to care for herself. Despite being “in space,” Tae-ju always reminded her to take care of herself. He was that attentive. But after a while, things became clear. Tae-ju had actually been hospitalized after an accident and was in a coma. To cope with the loneliness and the void of not having her boyfriend near her, Jung-in used the Wonderland service.
In Wonderland’s chosen AI theme, Tae-ju was in space because he felt so far away from Jung-in. She chose this theme to make it easier for her to cope with their separation. She told herself that they were apart not because he was lying unconscious in a hospital bed but because he was up among the stars, far away from Earth. It was the only way she could deal with his absence (in physical form). As the film went on, we followed Jung-in’s emotional journey. She was torn between holding on to her love for Tae-ju and facing the reality of his condition. The service from Wonderland became a double-edged sword—it helped her cope with the pain, but it also made it harder for her to move on. Jung-in’s interactions with Tae-ju through Wonderland brought back memories and emotions. She laughed, cried, and shared moments with him, just like before. But as time went by, she began to question whether this connection was helping her heal or keeping her stuck in the past. Eventually, the real Tae-ju woke up from the coma. Jung-in was so happy. Finally, she had the chance to be reunited with her love. You might expect that she wouldn’t need the Wonderland service anymore, right? Wrong.
The Tae-ju who recovered had suffered serious damage, and his cognitive skills were weakened. He was not the same person anymore, the one Jung-in loved. He didn’t take care of her the way he used to, and their roles were reversed. It was kind of expected, given the circumstances, but Jung-in couldn’t deal with that. She always had to make sure Tae-ju wouldn’t burn himself while cooking or do something silly like invite strangers into their house. He either talked non-stop or stayed completely quiet. She didn’t want this version of her boyfriend. When she became lonely and tired, she turned to the virtual Tae-ju again, who understood her, told her where the medicine was, and woke her up from her sleep. With the virtual version, she felt very protected and secure. That’s why she continued with the service.
Did Jung-in And Tae-ju decide to break up?
Jung-in was not happy. She wanted to be, but she truly wasn’t. She had to make a decision – whether to continue living in a virtual space or to embrace reality, no matter how difficult it might be. In the midst of her struggles, there was a fire in their apartment, and the detective suspected Tae-ju, since he had lost his cognitive skills. Even though Jung-in said Tae-ju didn’t do it, deep down, she feared he might have been responsible. Tae-ju himself started to realize that he was becoming a burden. He could feel Jung-in distancing herself from him, and he didn’t want that. He loved her deeply, so he proposed a vacation to get away from it all and start fresh. But Jung-in couldn’t let go of her virtual boyfriend, who still existed. She kept herself busy talking with Wonderland Tae-ju. Real Tae-ju started suspecting she might be in love with someone else. As he still wanted to give it one last chance, Tae-ju followed Jung-in to the airport, hoping to go to Barcelona with her. When he saw her phone ringing, he noticed she was talking to a virtual version of him, the one in space. It became painfully clear to him. She wasn’t in love with the man he had become after the accident; she was in love with the memory of his former self, the perfect, attentive, and loving version, not the damaged one. With a heavy heart, Tae-ju decided to let go, as he realized that sometimes, love means knowing when to set someone free.
How did Tae-ju help Bai-li?
Bai Li is another character in the film, who’s dead in real world. But her Wonderland version desperately wanted to talk to her daughter using the technology before she went to China with her grandmother. Bai Li’s mother, however, didn’t want her granddaughter to live in a bubble by interacting with a digitized version of her mother. So, she called off the Wonderland service. Desperate, Bai Li seeked help from Tae-ju, who happened to be at the airport at that time. He understood the importance of these connections and agreed to help. When Bai Li’s daughter tried to run away, Tae-ju found her at the airport. He helped the mother and daughter to connect by providing them the chance of sharing one last moment together. Though technology seemed to break Tae-ju’s heart, he was happy to help mend others. Helping Bai Li and her daughter gave him a sense of purpose and reminded him of the profound impact these digital connections could have.
Thankfully, at the end of the movie Wonderland, Jung-in and Tae-ju finally reconnect. Jung-in realized how much she missed him when he was away, and now that he was here, she could actually be with him. She didn’t want to send him away anymore. She loved every version of him; even if they were imperfect. This profound realization led her to sever her ties with the Wonderland service. She decided to be with the real Tae-ju, the one in flesh and blood. No longer needing the digital connection, she embraced the imperfect, yet deeply loved, man right in front of her. It was a heartfelt moment of acceptance and true love, as she chose the reality of their love over the illusion of the virtual world – as everyone should do.