Koala Drops a Theory on the Big Soul Swap Mystery

I think I might have solved the big mystery in Big – the connection between Yoon Jae and Kyung Joon, which leads into why their souls switched during the accident. Of course nothing can truly explain away the magic involved, but I think I have the context and the raison d’etre. This is completely my speculation after mulling over all the clues left in the first 8 episodes, but I think my hypothesis is rather sound. If I’m right, I’m totally going to pat myself on the head and pop some champagne and dance around the room like a fool. Look at the picture above, which mirrors the picture on the Miracle book, and my theory flows from a moment of magic that is rooted in a debt to be repaid. Read on and ponder with me.

I think Kyung Joon was either a (1) savior sibling to Yoon Jae, or (2) simply a matching donor. I think young Yoon Jae was a sick and needed surgery to survive. A savior sibling is a phenomenon whereby parents have a baby to save the life of an older child who needs a transplant donor that is a genetic match. This issue has ethical considerations, but has been more accepted in modern times. It was said that Yoon Jae’s father drew the Miracle picture when Yoon Jae was a child. That meant Yoon Jae’s father was hoping for a miracle, and the one that could only happen with two children. So whether Kyung Joon was born specifically to save Yoon Jae or they are not related but happened to match, either way Kyung Joon’s life was used to save Yoon Jae’s in the past. Yoon Jae’s dad was praying for a miracle, and it turned out that Kyung Joon was match for Yoon Jae, which explains why Yoon Jae is alive.

The explanation for the Miracle book is sooooo clear in explaining the connection between the two guys – one’s life saves the other. “One child saves the other” – Kyung Joon was born to save Yoon Jae, “So the other child can save another” – Yoon Jae grows up to become a pediatrician and his life is literally about saving the lives of children. Kyung Joon’s birthday June 24th is important to Yoon Jae because it represents the day he was reborn, because with Kyung Joon’s birth he was given another chance at life. That is why the date is important for everyone in the Seo family, as evidenced by Yoon Jae’s mom reminding him about that day. The accident likely caused this Miracle book’s meaning to become circular and supernatural – Kyung Joon saves Yoon Jae, so that one day Yoon Jae can save Kyung Joon, even if means giving his body to Kyung Joon just like Kyung Joon gave a part of his body to Yoon Jae.

So Yoon Jae knows that his life was saved by this boy, and he probably found out that Kyung Joon’s mom died in LA so he was headed there to bring Kyung Joon back. He was reluctant to tell Da Ran because how could he explain that he had a little brother/a donor that saved his life. If Kyung Joon was a savior sibling, this might not even be legal in Korea, which explains why Yoon Jae and Kyung Joon grew up in the US. I think the soul swap could have happened ONLY because part of Kyung Joon is inside of Yoon Jae. My theory on why it happened is that Kyung Joon was in the water longer so he was almost at the brink of death. When Yoon Jae’s hand grabbed his, the souls switched so that Kyung Joon could be saved through Yoon Jae’s body, while Yoon Jae lies in Kyung Joon’s near death body.

I think the hospital death of Yoon Jae was a feint. I was always wondering about that, how Kyung Joon could be saved and in a coma while Yoon Jae was declared dead. The accident sequence showed that Yoon Jae got some air in the car before diving down to save Kyung Joon, whereas during this entire time Kyung Joon was in the water. Unless Kyung Joon has some Aquaman lung capacity on him, all signs point to him biting it before Yoon Jae would. I think Yoon Jae was declared death because Kyung Joon’s soul hadn’t yet attached to Yoon Jae’s body, hence the body is “dead” because it had no soul. It suddenly popped back to life in the morgue when Kyung Joon’s soul “awakened” in the new body.

I wonder if Yoon Jae has been keeping tabs on Kyung Joon, and knew what he looked like. If Yoon Jae knew that Kyung Joon was his donor and saw him underwater (remember that Kyung Joon’s helmet popped off so Yoon Jae could see his face), then him diving down and the soul switch could have been all proactive on his part. As he’s saving Kyung Joon, he could be praying for a miracle to save this boy the way his life was saved by him. If Yoon Jae didn’t know who Kyung Joon was and was diving down to save him, perhaps the soul switch was beyond either of their control and the Heavens way of evening out the score. Kyung Joon’s life being used to save Yoon Jae’s might also explain why Kyung Joon’s mom seemed so well off, she might’ve gotten paid for the procedure hence the guilt all around from the Seo family.

I don’t think the Hong Sisters have yet to throw anything into the drama that doesn’t have a reason. Da Ran’s parents, with their 16 year age gap and former teacher-student relationship, is clearly a NEON sign showing how a couple can overcome the very same odds between Kyung Joon and Da Ran. LOL, how could Da Ran’s parents ever object to her liking her former student. Haha, that would be the pot calling the kettle black. Kyung Joon’s uncle and the Vice Principal’s crush on Da Ran’s mom and dad, respectively, clearly echo the crushes on Da Ran by Teacher Na and on Kyung Joon by Mari. While it’s pretty heavy handed with all the parallels, at least I see what it’s meant to convey.

So my theory bodes ominous clouds for the future. I worry more and more that either Kyung Joon or Yoon Jae’s body night not survive. I’m pretty much sure Kyung Joon’s soul is going to be the end game, but in which body is uncertain. What if Yoon Jae wakes up and discovers that the donor (maybe brother) he is most indebted to, is in love with Da Ran, and that she loves Kyung Joon back. I bet he’s going to be the noble party here and back off. Some folks felt bad for Yoon Jae, crying how unfair he’s in a coma and can’t explain himself or compete with Kyung Joon on even ground. But if my theory is true, then there is no unfairness because Yoon Jae is paying back a life debt to Kyung Joon.

Can I toss out another possibility? What if there wasn’t a “switch”? What if Kyung Joon’s body is merely a shell without a soul? What if Yoon Jae’s soul is NOT in Kyung Joon’s body, but is instead laying dormant in his own body while Kyung Joon is the active soul. Just like the two sisters in 49 Days shared one body while the other laid in a coma, here the same thing has happened, except Yoon Jae’s soul does not switch back and forth with Kyung Joon in controlling the body. The reason Kyung Joon jumped into Yoon Jae’s body was because his body was comatose, so perhaps Yoon Jae never left but is instead giving Kyung Joon a chance to live. This would explain why at the end of episode 8, Kyung Jae left his body momentarily at the airport and returned to Kyung Joon’s body in the hospital, but there is no indication that Yoon Jae returned to his body. Perhaps what’s required is for Kyung Joon’s body to heal and when it does, Kyung Joon will return to his own body, and then Yoon Jae will have control over his body again.

This kicker in the above theory is that Yoon Jae has been aware of everything happening since the accident, he’s merely a silent observer and unable to speak up. I’ve always felt like Yoon Jae was a passive character, and if he was a sick child, it makes sense that he would be withdrawn and on the quiet side. When Se Young said that Yoon Jae always felt empathy for the old and weak, that jibes with a man who knew what it felt like to be weak and helpless. If Yoon Jae was saved by Kyung Joon, then it explains why he has such a strong guilt complex. He would feel like he owed his life to someone else’s sacrifice. Hence when Da Ran was injured by him, it would be possible for him to want to take care of her life. That doesn’t mean he didn’t like her, because I think he does like her.

My theory works to eliminate a character motivation I personally loathe – guilt. I hate how guilt makes characters do stupid and pointless things, especially if the guilt isn’t based on something the character did. If Yoon Jae was repaying a debt to Kyung Joon in saving his life, then letting Kyung Joon’s soul inhabit his body isn’t something Kyung Joon needs feel any guilt towards Yoon Jae. Similarly Yoon Jae can stop acting all shifty and come clean with his life, as he appeared to have validated his second chance at life and turned out to be an upstanding doctor. As for Da Ran falling for Kyung Joon, I don’t think there is any right and wrong in love. Da Ran and Yoon Jae weren’t married yet. I do think Da Ran will feel guilt if she picks either guy towards the end when she’s obviously going to be asked to choose. But I would love for neither Yoon Jae nor Kyung Joon to feel like they need to be the noble idiot. I want them both to compete on equal footing for her heart. As for which guy wins, let me say that Hong Sisters have a gaping chasm to cross to find an ending that satisfies the masses. I like to think my OTP will have their happy ending, but I’m too numb by dramas pulling the rug out from under me to hold such high hopes. I’m just enjoying the happy moments while it lasts.