Character Relationship Map: Herb

Characters

• Cha Sang-eun (played by Kang Hye-jung) — protagonist

  Sang-eun is a warm-hearted 20-year-old with the intelligence of a seven-year-old and an exceptional talent for folding paper figures. She reads fairy tales and dreams of meeting her prince. After mist...

• Kim Hyeon-suk (played by Bae Jong-ok) — supporting

  Kim Hyeon-suk is Sang-eun's loving mother. After returning from a hospital appointment, she is crying, and Sang-eun becomes afraid that her mother may soon go away, as her friend's grandmother did. He...

• Lee Jong-bom (played by Jung Kyung-ho) — supporting

  Jong-bom is a traffic officer who is attracted to beautiful women. He approaches Sang-eun after mistakenly believing she is a lawyer, but leaves when he realizes she is mentally challenged. Sang-eun b...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Cha Sang-eun → Lee Jong-bom (Romantic Interest) — Sang-eun imagines Jong-bom as her prince, while Jong-bom develops affection for her; their closeness is challenged by Hyeon-suk's fear that Sang-eun will be hurt.

  Sang-eun decides the police officer she meets is a prince, and the plot says she grows close to Jong-bom through small adventures and learning new thi...

• Kim Hyeon-suk → Cha Sang-eun (Family Mother And Daughter) — Hyeon-suk devotes herself to helping Sang-eun learn and live as independently as possible, then becomes deeply worried about who will care for her when Hyeon-suk is gone.

  The plot identifies Hyeon-suk as Sang-eun's mother and describes her teaching, protecting, and caring for her.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Kim Hyeon-suk → Lee Jong-bom (Conflict Protective Opposition) — Hyeon-suk tries to end their relationship to protect Sang-eun from future pain, while Jong-bom expresses his continuing affection.

  Hyeon-suk asks Jong-bom to leave Sang-eun, explaining that she fears her daughter is vulnerable and will suffer after her mother's death. Jong-bom rep...

Story Analysis

A devoted mother's efforts to prepare her daughter for independence are tested by illness, while the daughter continues to seek joy and connection.

Plot Progression

1. Lessons and a Prince — Hyeon-suk teaches Sang-eun and hopes she can live as independently as possible. After meeting traffic officer Jong-bom, Sang-eun imagines he may be the prince from her dreams.
2. Growing Closer — Sang-eun and Jong-bom share small adventures and learning experiences. Hyeon-suk becomes wary and tries to protect her daughter from possible hurt.
3. A Mother's Fear — Hyeon-suk becomes ill and worries about cancer, money, and Sang-eun's future care. She learns that her cancer is progressive and cannot be treated with surgery.
4. Preparing for Separation — At the hospital, Sang-eun is named her mother's guardian, reversing their usual roles. Hyeon-suk asks Jong-bom to leave, but he explains that he likes Sang-eun despite their differences; the birthday...