What Comes After Love- Episode 1
The curtain rises on Episode 1 with Hong, a young woman with a sense of quiet determination, leaving a mysterious letter on her desk and walking out of her house. Her footsteps echo down a tranquil Japanese street, leading her to a closed railway station—an emotional crossroads. A flashback to 2019 reveals her journey to Tokyo, a city brimming with promise. Hong, yearning for independence, left her home to stay with her friend Ji Hui.
On her first day in Tokyo, a chance encounter sets the stage for a fateful connection. As Hong fumbles with her belongings outside a train station, a kind-hearted young man comes to her aid. Later, Ji Hui picks her up, and the same man unexpectedly takes a photo of the two friends—a snapshot of new beginnings. At Ji Hui’s house, Hong confesses she hasn’t told her mother she’s in Japan, setting up the tension between freedom and family expectations.
The next day, fate intervenes again. Hong crosses paths with the young man while job hunting. Their paths converge at a local store where they compete for the same part-time job. Sparks fly, but not the romantic kind—yet. When a rude customer berates Hong for being a foreigner, the man defends her with a quiet yet powerful stance. Though Hong wins the job, he lands one at a food truck across the street, tethering their lives just a little closer.
As Hong starts her new job, she can’t help but steal glances at the food truck. Her coworkers take notice, playfully sending her over to buy hot dogs. Meanwhile, her life back home looms over her. A frantic call from her mother accusing her of running away brings Hong to tears. Witnessing her distress, the man offers solace in the form of an after-work drink. Over shared stories and philosophies on love, Hong learns his name—Aoki Jungo.
Their bond deepens with small, meaningful moments. Jungo surprises Hong with a toy she failed to win, a gesture that ignites a spark of belief in fate. As spring blossoms, so does their budding romance, a season of warmth and connection.
But the story takes a dramatic leap to 2024, five years later. Hong is back in Seoul, and her life seems to have taken a sharp turn. Now a rising star at Sodan Books, she’s dating Min Jun, a steadfast presence in her life and her family’s favorite. Yet, remnants of her past resurface when she reluctantly agrees to be an interpreter for her father’s business meeting. At the airport, Hong comes face-to-face with none other than Jungo, who has arrived in Seoul as a guest writer. The shock in her eyes tells us this chapter of her life is far from over.
The episode leaves us hanging on the brink of a love triangle, torn between past and present, with the question: What comes after love?
DramaZen's Opinion
OMG, What Comes After Love Episode 1 had me hooked from the very first scene! The way it opens with Hong leaving that letter and stepping out into the quiet streets of Japan—it’s so mysterious and emotional, I could feel her struggle to break free from her past. And can we talk about Aoki Jungo? He’s such a swoon-worthy male lead—kind, supportive, and with just the right amount of mystery. The way he stood up for Hong at the store and then went out of his way to win that toy for her? My heart couldn’t handle it! 🥹
I also loved the portrayal of Hong’s character—she’s so relatable, trying to find her independence while being pulled back by family expectations. The chemistry between her and Jungo was so natural and sweet, especially when they started bonding over literature. But then the time skip hit me like a truck. FIVE YEARS LATER and she’s with Min Jun?! I didn’t see that coming. And the way Jungo just walked out of the airport at the end—I was literally screaming at my screen. How is she supposed to handle seeing him again? How am I supposed to handle this emotional rollercoaster?
This drama is already shaping up to be such a beautiful blend of romance, heartbreak, and fate. I can’t wait to see where it goes next! 💕
