Wait, is this a hot take?!

I mean, I do think it’s a bit more complex than that—he has been given the tools to make changes in his life, and he’s finally open to doing so. His final scene was definitely him making a big step in his own journey to liberation, but sobriety is a life-long process. As Mi-jeong says, sometimes the best we can do is build up a few seconds of happiness at a time every day, and Gu has started to build up his, starting with abandoning that one bottle of alcohol. But in keeping with the theme of the show, no matter what Gu decides to do next, he will always have another opportunity to start taking more steps towards his liberation even if he does fall. I loved that the ending was hopeful while also being uncertain. We don’t know where exactly these characters will end up after we leave them, but the paths before them all are full of hope. And I think that’s the best we can ask for in life.

That scene puzzles me a lot….

For a coin to fall standstill on the grate is one in a thousand chance, let alone the flying bird side up. I’d call that a light bulb moment especially for a guy who’s already wavering for an unknown future. There could be many interpretations of that scene. Mine would be Gu taking the 50% (head of the coin) chance to walk away from his present to a MJ future.

Nothing is guaranteed of course but his leaving the alcohol by the road side is a (baby) step and hopeful one. I like it that the drama is not painting a rosie picture but not without hope. Like the broken rose in a soy dish - not perfect but a beautiful rose nonetheless from someone who cares you.

Think he felt like like crap when the coin dropped. But the 500 won coin didn't fall through and was facing heads up - a crane. It probably is reminding him that he deserves a second chance. The flying crane signifies freedom I'd guess.

I think the coin didn't fall through the sewer when the possibility of falling is bigger than just stay there balancing on the grate mean he stroke a fortune when stopping on the wrong station of Sanpo and meeting Mi-jeong. He thinks he should use it well who know when he will be this lucky again, by leaving alcohol and his gangster life.
Though Mi jeong is perfect as a wife of a gangster 😄

I read it as him seeing it as a sign that, the way that very unlikely event happened, he could also avoid falling into that dark pitch and die as an alcoholist. A part from that one time he cleaned up his room, he's never actually made any gesture that would indicate he wants to get over his alcohlism. Willingness to make a change is the very first time towards resolution, so even if it's unlikely he could change that easily the fact he left the bottle is a first step, that may lead to something more. For me it's a good enough ending for his charachter, I'm less satisfied with MJ's love of life declaration at the end. Seemed too rushed.

I'm sure it had a deeper meaning, but I saw it as him leaving alcohol for the homeless man, so I wondered why he didn't toss his coin too in his panhandling container.

For me it meant that the coin gave him the seconds of happiness he needed to go through the day so he didn't need the soju anymore.

For me all those scenes with him recollecting his seconds of happiness meant hope. The possibility of change.

I hope that with those Seconds of H and Mi Jeong's free therapy he gets a little of motivation to get better.

I think it was a Warning.
And then a Sign of Mercy/Blessing.

Warning that the Coin Representation of Gu is about to fall into Darkness from where he will not be able to get out and where in he will loose his worth and purpose.
And that this might be his last chance.

Sign of Love (Mercy) that he deserves to be happy.

And Gu understood and made the important first step - the inner decision to stop drinking.

He’s decided to not let alcohol control his life at least. He decided to let the voices of his past stay with him and meet them head on, like Mi-Jeong told him to do. He sees himself in that one coin. He believes he’s just one coin pour of billions. And since the coin didn’t fall into the sewer, he’s also not going to fall into the oblivion either. That’s how I saw it.

once I read in twitter someone mention that Gu once said “I felt like I couldn’t even take 5 steps back, so I didn’t go back for my umbrella and walked in the train, coz those 5 steps were too difficult..” but in these scene he took 5 steps just to pick up a 500 won coin, so I think this is another of change from Gu beside the 5 minutes of happiness in a day, and I agree the falling coin is the sign for second change that Gu has been realize in the end of his journey. and for the viewer that scene give a hope that Gu will make his liberation , step by step in the future.

How likely is it that a coin balances on the grate, rather than roll directly down into the deep abyss of the gutter?
:
The Coin signifies positivity, while also leaving it to open-ended interpretation. A coin has 2 sides. Balancing rather than falling into the dark depths is a positive sign. Life has Choices - whether right or wrong. Life has ups and downs, negatives and positives, half-cup empty or full. More diligent observations show that the coin is balanced right side up, with a soaring bird in flight or flying. All good.

Yet reality also reminds that ruthless consistent and reliable trusted 'tool/head honcho-debt collector' to Chairman Shin has erred.
Soft-hearted Gu chose instead to deliver an ultimatum to a gambler subordinate-buddy? rather than brutally close down the club so there would be no opportunity for escalation, warranting all the gore.

Chalking up his first 7 sec of blessings and happiness has jump started the day's practice ... and laying down the bottle signifies (we can hope) a first step to permanently going off the bottle.

After Gu decided on his new chapter, he was like he will turning into a preacher, or a minister, or even a priest someday. He then now involving any religious activities that totally and truly ended with all of the miracles and all of the blessings. He prayed and thanked God for giving up an alcohol and even ended his association with a ganglife and he was now a heavenbound survivor afterwards.

A memorable series all the way up to episode 15. I liked the Liberation Club getting back together but the highlight was seeing Chang Hee decide to become a funeral director. Those were the hot points about the ending for me because they were both turning points resulting in pro-active decisions . From my bewildered perspective, Mi-Jeong and Gu will see each other but there's something still ominous about their relationship as they stand in their 5 minutes of bliss at the ending. I did like them both in this drama, but never got to LOVE them. Same with Lee El's character, the loud, 'say- what-I-want-without-considering-others' sister. I felt sorry Tae Hoon, the passive Dad with two strong female siblings who will always be dancing to someone else's will, either his dauhter's, the dominating sisters or his new wife (if they ever marry before she's fifty). I never shipped them. No, the story that drew my attention from the start was Chang-hee's growth. Lee Min Ki gave him such passionate force and heart. While I understood Mi-Jeong's need for Liberation, I felt Chang-Hee's desperation even more and rejoiced in his success at liberating himself into maturity without loosing his charm. The ending was indeed to short and felt rushed, which unfortunately made it somewhat forgettable now, in spite of all the actor's who showed such dynamism and commitment to their characters. Wish I had taken away more....

Wow! That was my first reaction to that scene. It's impossible even in probability, a rarity.

My hot take. That coin is his lucky coin. If he ever thinks he can't make the change he needs to make in his life which is for his obvious benefit because he is stubborn, deems himself irredeemable, and is extremely scared of a normal life, think of that impossible thing the coin did and keep on trudging.
Remember the coin and know that you can do same - actualize the impossible you convinced yourself you can never achieve.
Another hot take is Hope. Hope is an anchor that keys us into what we want, the kind of future we want. He should have hope that he'll do what needs to be done. Redemption is not a destination, it's a journey. A journey he has not been willing to take. But with hope inspired by the coin's balance, he could see this journey to the end, through the many thorns and thistles with little roses. Besides he has both an anchor and a guide in front of him - Mi-jung. So if he falls off, hope will give him the needed boost to rise again.