In the previous episode, after finally confessing their feelings and sharing a night of tenderness, their happiness is shattered when Ju-yeon is abruptly dismissed—a cold move orchestrated by his grandmother, the Chairwoman, who disapproves of their relationship. Su-jeong, transferred to a grueling hardware department, faces workplace humiliation but refuses to back down, defending Ju-yeon’s worth with fiery conviction.
Meanwhile, Ha-jin’s painful past resurfaces, and Sin-won steps up as her protector, melting her mother’s skepticism. The episode crescendos with Ju-yeon’s dramatic return as Director, reclaiming his position in a triumphant moment that leaves the company—and Su-jeong—breathless.
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My Dearest Nemesis Ep 11 Runtime
60 minutes
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My Dearest Nemesis Kdrama Cast
Mun Ka-young, Choi Hyun-wook, Lim Se-mi, Kwak Si-yang, Ban Hyo-jung, Kim Young-ah
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My Dearest Nemesis Director
Lee Soo-hyun
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AKA
그놈은 흑염룡
– Contains Spoilers –
My Dearest Nemesis Episode 11 Recap
The episode kicks off with a dramatic flashback—Ju-yeon, armed with undeniable proof, lays out Park Ji-cheol’s scam to his grandma, making it crystal clear why the man is unfit to be the director. Cut to the present, where Ju-yeon steps into the press meet, not just as the prodigal grandson but as the new director. Grandma may not be thrilled, but even she knows he’s the only one who can handle this. However, there’s a catch—he must make the renewal project a roaring success. If he fails? He loses everything—his job, his name, his assets, and he’s got to leave the country. No pressure, right?
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The press meet goes smoothly, and Ju-yeon meets Su-jeong afterward. He keeps the more dramatic aspects of his grandma’s ultimatum to himself but does share that they both need this project to succeed unless they want to be job-hunting together. The next day at work, the strategy team is overjoyed to have their fearless leader Su-jeong back and express their gratitude. They also have one burning question—what’s the deal with her and Ju-yeon? To get some juicy details, they suggest taking Ju-yeon out for lunch. He agrees—but being Ju-yeon, he takes them to an ultra-fancy steakhouse. The result? Major awkwardness. His team isn’t exactly used to dining in five-star luxury.
As they dig into their expensive meals, Ju-yeon and Su-jeong start getting comfortable—until they notice their colleagues watching them like hawks. Post-lunch, later that night, Ju-yeon thanks Su-jeong for adding the cartoon character “Pirate King” to their renewal project’s pop-up store. Given his undying love for the franchise, he’s over the moon. Seeing him this happy makes Su-jeong happy, too.
The following day, the team gets into full swing preparing for the department store opening and the grand event. Their next big move? Arranging a visit from the Pirate King author himself. Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Sin-won is nursing his heartbreak over Ha-jin. He can’t stop thinking about her—and also, weirdly enough, his left cheek hurts. Coincidence? Maybe not. Ha-jin is missing him, too, but she doesn’t reach out.
That night, Ju-yeon works late, and Su-jeong, sensing something is up, digs for answers. Thanks to Secretary Kwon, she learns the truth—Ju-yeon is fighting tooth and nail because if this project fails, he loses everything. When she confronts him about it, he simply says, “I can give up on everything, but not you.” And just like that, they share a tender moment by the piano, reminiscing about the time Su-jeong wanted to learn how to play during their gaming sessions. A soft kiss seals the moment.
But of course, smooth sailing never lasts long. A twisted rumor spreads like wildfire, damaging Ju-yeon’s image. What really happened: he saved a high school girl from falling when a child accidentally ran into her. What the media says happened: Ju-yeon rudely pushed a kid. The company scrambles to control the damage, but social media has already done its worst. As a result, the Pirate King author pulls out of the pop-up store event.
Ju-yeon refuses to give up and manages to set up a meeting with the author through a mysterious connection from his online gaming days. When they meet, Ju-yeon makes his case, but the real surprise comes when the author reveals that Su-jeong had already spoken to him beforehand, vouching for Ju-yeon as a passionate fan and a good person. Impressed by both of them, the author agrees to the collaboration. That night, Ju-yeon visits Su-jeong, hugs her tightly, and thanks her for always standing by him.
He admits that he wanted to be her rock, but he feels like he keeps failing. Su-jeong, in turn, reminds him of all the times he’s been there for her, and that reassurance helps him breathe easier.
Later that night, as Su-jeong sleeps, Ju-yeon stumbles upon a text from Kim Hee-jeong, the founder of Big Forest, the largest mall in the U.S. It turns out Hee-jeong had previously offered Su-jeong a position in the States, saying Yongsung isn’t the right place for her to grow. Su-jeong hadn’t given an answer yet—but now, Hee-jeong’s text is a gentle nudge for her to consider it. Seeing this, Ju-yeon falls into deep thought.
The next day, Ju-yeon shares big news with the team: not only is the Pirate King author back on board, but they’ve also secured a signing event! The office erupts in celebration. Meanwhile, Ha-jin and Sin-won meet again. Ha-jin apologizes, admitting that she was scared of where things were going. Sin-won, fresh from a dentist visit where he learned about his wisdom tooth issues, gives her an unexpected answer. He tells her that if they continue, he fears falling even harder for her, only to be pushed away again. So, he makes a heartbreaking choice—it’s best if they end things now.
Days pass, and the department store finally opens. The grand event is a smashing success. Ju-yeon even takes the mic and boldly proclaims his love for Pirate King to the world—much to his grandma’s dismay. Afterward, he meets with her and drops a bombshell: he no longer wants to be the company’s successor. He’s tired of pretending to be someone he’s not. His grandma is visibly shaken, but her pride stops her from showing it.
As Ju-yeon leaves, he sees Su-jeong getting hounded by reporters. They bombard her with questions about dating a rich successor. News of Ju-yeon standing up for Su-jeong spreads fast, making her father anxious. Su-jeong assures him that she’s fine, but deep down, the whole situation stings.
That night, Ju-yeon shows up at Su-jeong’s place and asks her to go for a walk. As they stroll through the city, enjoying the dazzling Christmas decorations, he apologizes for everything she’s going through. She assures him that none of this is his fault. But then, Ju-yeon suddenly stops, looks at her seriously, and drops another bombshell. He tells her that if she truly wants to chase her dreams in the U.S., she should go. The words hang in the air as Su-jeong freezes, her mind racing with a thousand thoughts about her career, her dreams, and—most importantly—her heart.
My Dearest Nemesis Episode 11 Review
Just when you think Ju-yeon can’t get any more swoon-worthy, he goes full fanboy mode over Pirate King, proving even CEOs have their adorable quirks. Meanwhile, Su-jeong continues to be the show’s secret weapon – her quiet determination in the face of workplace adversity and her selfless support of Ju-yeon make her one of the most compelling female leads in recent K-drama history.
The writers brilliantly contrast the high-stakes business drama with moments of pure, unfiltered joy (that steakhouse scene lives rent-free in my mind), creating a viewing experience that’s as satisfying as it is unpredictable. And let’s talk about that ending – Ju-yeon’s selfless offer to let Su-jeong pursue her American dream is the kind of mature, heart-wrenching romance we rarely see, setting up what promises to be an emotionally charged finale.
My Dearest Nemesis is streaming on Viki.
Also read: All My Dearest Nemesis Reviews
