Climax Episode 8 just pulled the biggest twist of the entire series. Bang Tae-seop (Ju Ji-hoon) finally takes down his election rival — only for Lee Yang-mi (Cha Joo-young) to drop a bomb that makes his victory meaningless. A sex tape featuring his wife Chu Sang-ah (Ha Ji-won) and Hwang Jeong-won (Nana) goes viral on election night.
Episode 8 aired Tuesday, April 7 at 10:00 PM KST on ENA. On Disney+, Climax remains No. 1 in South Korea. Only 2 episodes left.
Missed Episode 7? Read our Climax Episode 7 Recap first.
Climax Episode 8 Recap — Full Spoilers
Tae-Seop Takes Down His Rival
Tae-seop is riding high. With Yang-mi’s support locked in, he shifts focus to destroying Son, his competitor in the election. He digs up dirt on Son’s past and leaks the evidence to a journalist. The plan is simple — wait for election day, then let the story drop at the worst possible moment.
It works. The journalist publishes the exposé. On top of that, multiple videos confirming Son’s crimes surface simultaneously. Son’s campaign collapses. For a brief moment, Tae-seop looks like he’s won.
Sang-Ah and Jeong-Won On Set
Meanwhile, Sang-ah and Jeong-won are both cast in Yang-mi’s tentpole film. The tension between them is immediate. Sang-ah feels threatened by how easily Jeong-won landed the role and confronts her about her relationship with the director.
Jeong-won fires back — she calls out Sang-ah’s manipulative behavior and compares it to how Sang-ah used her former bodyguard Park Jae-sang. During filming, a scene requires them to kiss. But Jeong-won takes it further, making it look like she’s actually trying to strangle Sang-ah. Yang-mi watches from the sidelines.
After the shoot, Jeong-won invites Sang-ah to dinner. The two meet at a hotel. Jeong-won confesses that she went to kill Jae-sang — but he was already dead when she arrived. While leaving the hotel, Sang-ah is captured by Yang-mi’s men. The show strongly hints that Sang-ah and Jeong-won hooked up that night.
The Blackmail Behind Jeong-Won
Tae-seop gets an anonymous call revealing that Jeong-won is being blackmailed into doing everything she’s doing. She’s not going rogue by choice — someone is pulling her strings. Jeong-won’s handler tells Tae-seop to help her, but Tae-seop is too deep in election mode to act.
Yang-Mi’s Nuclear Option
Yang-mi promised she’d make Tae-seop crawl to her on his knees. On election night — the exact moment Tae-seop’s rival falls — she makes good on that promise. A video drops online. It’s a sex tape of Sang-ah and Jeong-won. The timing is surgical: Tae-seop wins the battle but loses the war.
The episode ends in chaos. Tae-seop’s campaign is in freefall. His wife is exposed. And Yang-mi is the only one still standing.
Ratings & Streaming
Episode 8 ratings are pending (airs tonight April 7). Episode 7 scored 3.1% nationwide. The series rating trend: Ep 1 2.9% → Ep 2 3.8% → Ep 3 3.9% (peak) → Ep 4 3.5% → Ep 5 3.2% → Ep 6 3.5% → Ep 7 3.1%. On Disney+, Climax has been No. 1 in South Korea since premiere and remains in the Top 5 across six Asian markets.
Episode 9 Preview — What’s Next
Episode 9 airs Monday, April 13 at 10:00 PM KST. Based on the Nate article preview: Tae-seop begins his counterattack. The evidence he holds could shift the election outcome, and the “shadow” figure’s choices shake the Son Guk-won / Yang-mi alliance. With only 2 episodes remaining, every character is cornered.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the sex tape twist in Climax Episode 8?
Yang-mi releases a sex tape of Sang-ah and Jeong-won on election night to destroy Tae-seop’s political career just as he wins.
Is Jeong-won being blackmailed in Climax?
Yes. Episode 8 reveals through an anonymous call that Jeong-won is being coerced into her actions. She didn’t go rogue willingly.
How many episodes of Climax are left?
2 episodes. Episode 9 airs April 13, finale Episode 10 airs April 14.
Where can I watch Climax?
ENA (Korea, Mon-Tue 10 PM), Disney+ (international), Rakuten Viki, and Viu.