Dr Lee’s True Identity Exposed in Nine Puzzles Episode 10 Recap

Nine Puzzles Episode 10 recap begins with Kwon’s sudden death. I-na and Han-saem retrieve the latest puzzle piece and uncover that Yang had visited The One City shortly after Yoon-su’s murder, hinting the killer may live or work inside the complex.

I-na visits the hospital and concludes that Yang isn’t an accomplice. In fact, the killer tried to save Yang, sparing Kwon instead. Kwon’s cause of death—poison delivered through an IV—suggests medical expertise. I-na grows suspicious of Dr Hwang and sneaks into his apartment after swiping his keys. There, she finds several illustrations, all signed with an “H”—the same signature found on the puzzle piece.

Clues Point to Dr Lee

While Hwang is identified from CCTV footage and taken in, he reveals that Dr Lee requested the drawing but defends her innocence. I-na recalls that only Dr Hwang and Dr Lee knew about her obsession with Dong-hoon’s puzzle, and Dr Lee knew her best. I-na rushes to Lee’s home and finds it filled with eerie objects like toys and masks—and another puzzle piece: a king surrounded by insects.

Uncovering the Past

Hwang explains he remained silent out of loyalty—Lee had once protected his secret about his sexuality. He also mentions that ten years ago, Lee took a year off school after speaking with a police officer. She had no friends except I-na, and only one other person—Sergeant Nam Na-ri—knew her. Nam recalls Lee once saying her mother had abandoned her at an amusement park and that she would kill her if they ever met again.

I-na and Han-saem track down a missing child poster for 7-year-old Lee Seol—Dr Lee’s real name. She disappeared at Dream Land. Her mother, Lee Nam-suk, used to run Seo-jin Diner at Shindonga Market, the same place Yang worked. A major incident during the market’s demolition made headlines years ago.

Flashback: The Tragedy Behind the Murders

In a flashback, Shindonga Market is marked for redevelopment to build The One City. Lee Nam-suk leads a group of residents refusing to move out. Mi-young, who supported the project, tries to sway her. Her boyfriend Chi-mok is a subcontractor under pressure from Yoon-su to speed up the demolition.

One night, Chi-mok leads a violent raid, throwing Molotov cocktails and physically assaulting residents. Among those attacked are Yang and Nam-suk. When a beam falls on her during the chaos, Chi-mok abandons her. Behind the cover-up are multiple figures: Dong-hoon, who silences police investigation; Assemblyman Kim, who funded the project for political gain; Kwon, who dismisses the case; and Reporter Lee, who tarnishes Nam-suk’s image in the media.

As the episode ends, I-na returns home—only to find Dr Lee standing ominously behind her. For more of recaps, do check out the link below.

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