Sold Out on You Episode 1 and 2 Recap: Does Dam Ye-jin Befriend Mechuri?

‘Sold Out on You’ or ‘Oneuldo maejinhaetseumnida’ is a South Korean romantic comedy drama show that centers on an unlikely connection between two individuals. Dam Ye-jin is a telemarketing host at a major TV network in Seoul. Her life is characterized by extreme dedication to her work, which often prevents her from forming genuine bonds with others. Due to certain issues, she is also challenged by insomnia, which makes her life more difficult.

On the other hand, Matthew Lee, AKA Mechuri, is a farmer from the Korean countryside who is one of the most popular members of his community. He lives a life of peace, away from the city’s noise. Fate intervenes, bringing Dam and Mechuri together under unusual circumstances. What begins as a chaotic first meeting evolves into romantic tension, misunderstanding, and unpredictable twists and turns in their lives. Episodes 1 and 2 of the narrative poignantly set things up for the rest of the season. SPOILERS AHEAD.

Dam Ye-jin Takes Great Risks For Greater Rewards

Dam Ye-jin is one of the hosts of a TV shopping show for the channel “HIT” in Seoul. One day, she is late for filming, causing tension for Ms. Eom, the show’s content director. The other host is forced to begin without her and struggles to market a cleaning glove. Eom is worried and tries to control the situation. Meanwhile, Dam is filming another segment for the channel, cleaning the windows of South Korea’s tallest building with the same glove. Her segment causes glove sales to surge, impressing both the TV channel and the glove company. In the countryside village of Deokpung, Matthew Lee, also known as Mechuri, goes jogging, and a dog named Changsik starts following him. Local vegetable sellers tell Mechuri that the dog probably likes him.

Mechuri is then asked to fix the dish antenna so the villagers can watch a singing talent show. Though he does not enjoy constantly doing odd jobs for everyone, he still helps because he finds it hard to say no. He also drives tractors, helps with cattle, chops firewood, handles bees, tastes raw food, fixes greenhouses, and often lands in funny situations. Mechuri is an indispensable member of the village, and everyone depends on him. Dam goes out with her boyfriend, Ui-seok, a surgeon. She pays more attention to the attractive knife on the table than to him, making him feel ignored. Ui-seok walks away and breaks up with her, accusing her of being married to her work. Dam barely reacts to the breakup and takes the knife to Hwang, one of the people on her show, saying she wants to market it.

A Primetime Issue and a French Connection

A senior TV host, Ji Yun-ji, ridicules Dam for being an amateur. Eom and Dam have dinner at a street restaurant, where Eom tells her to take some time off and enjoy life instead of only working all the time. Dam goes home to a large apartment full of test products. Despite the space and success, she lives alone. We see Dam and Mechuri’s lives side by side in contrast. Dam works endlessly in the city and even depends on sleep medication, while Mechuri enjoys music and a calmer life in the village. Kang Mu-won, the CEO of a company named “Gojeuneok Bio (GB),” calls Mechuri and asks him to accept a new tractor for daily use. He also asks if he should proceed with something, and Mechuri agrees. Dam covers her dark circles with makeup and gets ready to shoot another episode. The segment focuses on a company called Airix.

Hwang and Eom are shocked to learn that their show has been removed from the primetime slot and given to Ji instead. Ji also gets to promote a product from the cosmetic brand Beauty Song, owned by Ms. Song. Dam is stunned when she learns her show has been demoted. Song insults Dam and tells her to leave the studio so Ji can use the space. Dam goes to the channel director, who tells her to secure the marketing rights for an elite French cosmetic brand called “L’Étoile” if she wants the primetime slot back. Hwang and Eom worry about the show’s future, while Dam walks out of the office dejected. Eric Seo, the executive director of L’Étoile, flies to Korea and meets Kang from GB. Eric is there to discuss raw material contracts, since GB supplies ingredients to L’Étoile.

The Mysterious Mushroom Farmer

Kang refuses to renew the contract, leaving Eric disappointed. Dam watches Ji’s show and recalls childhood memories involving Song. She also has disturbing visions of a cream product promotion from the past that led to protests after the cream harmed children’s skin. She struggles to sleep and has difficulty functioning at shoots due to insomnia, which even medication no longer helps. Her doctor warns that the dosage cannot be increased and that continued uncontrolled use of sleeping pills is dangerous. Dam has nightmares and is late for work again. The doctor advises her to face her memories and let go of them if she wants to recover. Eom encourages Dam and tells her to believe in herself. Mr. Cha, Eric’s contact person in Korea, tells him that HIT wants to market L’Étoile. Eric and Cha meet Dam regarding the product.

Eric seems instantly taken by her and hopes to impress her. He agrees to review HIT’s proposal, but only if Dam helps L’Étoile resolve its supply issue with GB. Dam agrees and tells Eric to persuade the CEO of GB directly, while she handles the farmer who supplies the raw materials. Dam researches the ingredients at home and learns that a rare native Korean mushroom, the white flower noori mushroom, is a key part of L’Étoile’s essence and grows only in a specific region. She drives to Deokpung to meet the mushroom farmer who supplies GB. On the road, her car is blocked by Mechuri, driving a tractor. Neither is willing to move aside, and an argument begins. Mechuri says she is on a one-way road and scolds her for being ignorant. They glare at each other as the standoff continues.

A Case of Mistaken Identity

Dam’s car gets stuck in the mud, and she decides to walk, telling Mechuri to squeeze the tractor through the gap. In doing so, he damages her side-view mirror. Dam continues searching for the mushroom farm and later realizes that Mechuri works there and may be the person she needs. However, she assumes he is only a worker and does not know he is actually the owner. Dam tries to speak with Mechuri, but he shuts the door in her face. Mechuri scolds his employee, Park, for not working properly. Dam’s feet hurt because of her high heels, so she borrows old footwear from Mechuri. Later, she mistakes him for a thief when she sees him carrying bags of mushrooms outside. She then notices that her car mirror has indeed been damaged. Mechuri continues helping the villagers as usual, giving them rides on the tractor.

Dam is stranded and begs him for help because she cannot drive back to Seoul with the broken window. The villagers, already riding with Mechuri, ask him to help her. He picks her up but remains cold and refuses to do more. The villagers eventually drop Dam at the bus station so she can return to Seoul. Before the bus leaves, Mechuri blocks it because it is departing early. He then helps the villagers board comfortably. Dam, though irritated, is impressed by the considerate act. Dam reports the farm situation to Eric, who asks Cha to run a background check on her. Cha doubts Dam’s ability to succeed as the promoter for L’Étoile and also shows Eric evidence of the cream-related protests from the past. Hyun-ki, the director of HIT, talks to Song, who tells him not to encourage Dam’s ambitions.

The Haunting Memories of the Past Trouble Dam

We then see a flashback showing Dam and Song promoting the cream product together years ago. The cream caused burns on children’s faces, and the scandal forced Song to retire from acting. Dam returns to Seoul and attends a meeting with Hwang and Eom. She learns that Eric’s mother is the wife of the chairman of the Desruets Group, owners of L’Étoile. It is also revealed that Eric’s stepsister, Michelle, is the company’s VP. Dam is selected as the promoter and marketer for L’Étoile’s main product, “La Fin Essence,” making Ji jealous. However, Dam is hesitant because the cream incident still haunts her. Eric remembers asking Dam out a few years earlier, but she never showed up for the date. Dam, however, does not seem to remember it now.

In the village, Mechuri spots Dam on TV while a villager named Yang Sang-geum watches the shopping show. Yang asks Mechuri to order a product for her. Since she has no ID, he uses his own details. Dam is shocked to see that Mechuri has ordered from her show and has also won a special bathtub through the promotion. Dam personally goes to the village to make the delivery and meets Mechuri again. She still does not realize he owns the farm and assumes he is merely a worker, or perhaps the owner’s son. Mechuri remains unwelcoming, while Yang offers Dam a place to stay for the night. Yang’s chicken runs away, and Dam chases it.

Mechuri Receives an Unexpected Call

After a chaotic pursuit, she ends up near Mechuri’s house, but the chicken is still missing. Mechuri wrongly assumes she is stealing and calls the police. The officers leave after realizing that Dam has done nothing wrong. Mechuri agrees to pay for the damage caused to Dam’s car. Kang meets Mechuri and discusses the mushroom supply contract. Kang has no interest in supplying to L’Étoile. Dam visits Mechuri’s farm again, hoping to find the owner. She is impressed by the beauty and quality of the mushrooms.

Dam finally accepts the L’Étoile marketing assignment, while Mechuri ignores repeated calls from Kang, who wants him to supply the mushrooms on a larger scale. Dam struggles to sleep at Yang’s house because of the loud insect sounds and realizes she does not have enough pills left. That night, Mechuri receives a call from an unknown number. It is Dam calling him, but she mistakenly believes she is speaking to her mother and complains about why the call was not answered quickly.