What Comes After Love- Episode 3
Episode 3 begins with a collision—both literal and emotional. As Hong drives away from her tense reunion with Jungo, Min-jun calls her, but their conversation is cut short when Jungo runs in front of her car. He gets in, desperate for a chance to speak with her. Jungo struggles to find the right words but insists he doesn’t want to let this moment slip away. Hong, however, drops a bombshell—she’s getting married soon—and abruptly ends their conversation, leaving both their emotions unresolved.
Later, exhausted from the day’s events, Hong finds herself haunted by Jungo’s lingering presence in her heart. At home, her sister Rok hands her Jungo’s book, What Comes After Love, calling it a compelling read—a poignant reminder of the connection she’s trying to bury.
The episode continues weaving through the past and present. Flashbacks show Hong returning to South Korea from Japan to find her father in the hospital, where Min-jun, the ever-reliable doctor, has been caring for him. Their bond grows stronger as Hong starts helping with her father’s company and spending more time with Min-jun—a stark contrast to her tumultuous relationship with Jungo.
In the present, Jungo resumes his interview with a new interpreter but can’t focus. His longing for Hong leads him to request her phone number, only to be told no. However, he learns she lives near a lake, a detail that clearly stirs something in him. As he navigates his emotions, Kanna, his ex-girlfriend, arrives in Seoul as a representative of his publishing house, bringing even more complications to his already chaotic heart.
Hong, meanwhile, finds herself equally unsettled. Wedding preparations with Min-jun evoke bittersweet memories of trying on a wedding dress with Jungo back in Japan. Unable to shake her melancholy, Ji Hui takes her for a night out and bluntly confronts her sadness. Hong finally admits that Jungo is back in town, a confession that only deepens her inner turmoil.
More flashbacks reveal cracks in Hong and Jungo’s relationship. Hong struggles with Jungo’s constant work commitments and his failure to prioritize her. A terrifying night when she is injured and unable to reach him becomes a breaking point, as she realizes she has no one else to lean on. Her vulnerability and Jungo’s emotional unavailability create a chasm between them, hinting at why their love unraveled.
In the present, Hong gets drunk with Ji Hui, who reassures her that Jungo won’t disrupt her life again. At a bar, Min-jun shares how he fell for her after she returned from Japan, but his comment about feelings changing over time leaves her introspective—and him curious enough to search for Jungo’s book online.
Meanwhile, Jungo and Kanna share dinner. She senses his distraction and confronts him, revealing she’s been waiting for him to rekindle their romance for five years. Her suspicions are confirmed when she realizes he’s met Hong. Later, at Jungo’s hotel, Kanna appears at his door, hugging him and making a bold plea: “Marry me.”
The episode leaves us on edge, tangled in the web of unresolved love, missed opportunities, and complicated choices. With emotions at a breaking point, it’s impossible not to wonder: can the past truly be left behind, or will it shape what comes after love?
DramaZen's Opinion
Episode 3 of What Comes After Love had me emotionally wrecked! From the moment Jungo ran in front of Hong’s car, I knew this episode was going to be intense. His desperation to talk to her and her calm, almost cold response about her upcoming wedding—it was heart-wrenching. You can feel how much history is still between them, and it’s clear neither of them has fully moved on.
The flashbacks added so much depth to their relationship. I loved seeing the sweet moments like translating each other’s names and trying on a wedding dress, but the cracks in their love were painfully real. Hong’s struggles with feeling unsupported and Jungo’s inability to prioritize her hit so close to home. It’s such a relatable portrayal of how even the strongest connections can falter.
And can we talk about the tension in the present? Between Jungo asking for Hong’s phone number and learning where she lives, and Kanna showing up and dropping her own five-year bombshell, my nerves are shot! Kanna’s bold move to ask Jungo to marry her after realizing he’s seen Hong again? That was chef’s kiss drama, and I don’t even know how to feel about it.
Meanwhile, Hong’s quiet turmoil as she shops for her wedding with Min-jun is so telling. The way her mind keeps wandering back to Jungo—it’s clear she’s torn, even if she’s trying to hide it. Ji Hui calling her out on her sadness was such a good moment, and Min-jun’s comment about feelings changing hit me hard. I can’t help but feel bad for him too.
This episode was an emotional rollercoaster, packed with tension, heartbreak, and so many questions. Can Jungo and Hong find closure—or maybe even a second chance? I’m obsessed, and I NEED to see what happens next! 💔🔥
