What Comes After Love begins with Hong leaving a letter on a desk before quietly exiting her house. She walks through the serene streets of Japan, eventually stopping at a closed railway station. A flashback to 2019 reveals Hong’s journey to Tokyo, where she sought independence by staying with her friend Ji Hui.
Upon arriving at a train station, Hong’s bag spills over, and a young Japanese man helps her gather her belongings. Ji Hui arrives, and the man snaps a photo of them before they head home. There, Hong confides in Ji Hui that her mother doesn’t know she’s in Japan.
The next day, the same man spots Hong on a bus. Meanwhile, she searches for a part-time job, and at the last store she visits, she meets the man again. They both apply for the same position, agreeing to a one-day trial to determine who will be hired.
During the trial, a customer rudely confronts Hong for being a foreigner, but the man defends her, causing the customer to leave. At the end of the day, Hong wins the job, while the man secures a position at a food truck nearby. Later, Ji Hui mentions that Min Jun, a friend back home, might have romantic feelings for Hong.
At work, Hong often glances at the food truck, catching the attention of her colleagues, who send her there to buy hot dogs. The following day, both Hong and the man are assigned to clean the shopping district. During the task, Hong receives a frantic call from her mother, who accuses her of running away from responsibilities. The man notices her distress and invites her for a drink after work, where they bond over their shared passion for literature. The man finally introduces himself as Aoki Jungo.
As they walk home, Hong is upset about a toy she failed to win from a game. Jungo mentions the toy’s symbolism of everlasting love, and when asked if he believes in it, he says it must exist somewhere. A drunk Hong runs home, overwhelmed by the conversation.
The next morning, Hong feels embarrassed about how much money she spent on the toy machine. While jogging in the park, she bumps into Jungo again, who presents her with the missing toy piece he won for her. This act makes Hong start to believe in fate, and soon the two begin a relationship, spending a joyful spring together.
The scene shifts forward five years to 2024 in Seoul, where Hong has returned after breaking up with Jungo. She now works at a publishing house called Sodan Books. Min Jun, her boyfriend, arrives with cake to celebrate her mother’s lunar birthday, and it’s clear that Min Jun is seen as the future son-in-law by her family.
Hong’s father asks her to fill in as an interpreter for a Japanese writer, Sasae Hikari, the following day. To Hong’s shock, when she goes to the airport, Jungo is the writer who arrives at the end of Episode 1.
Episode 2 opens with Jungo in Japan, finding the note Hong left behind, explaining that she couldn’t find everlasting love and had returned home. He searches for her but can’t find her. A flashback shows a happier time when Hong gave Jungo a poetry book. Now, on his flight to South Korea, he reflects on fate and their past together.
When Jungo and Hong meet again, she formally introduces herself as his interpreter. Another flashback reveals the moment Jungo asked Hong out while they were running in the park, telling her he wanted to search for everlasting love with her. They spent the night together and translated each other’s names—Jungo becoming Yu-no, and Hong becoming Beni.
Back in the present, the two are awkward and distant. Jungo goes to his hotel room, where he still keeps the keychain toy they won together. A flashback shows Hong moving in with Jungo, and the early days of their relationship, when he introduced her to his father, a musician. He briefly mentions an ex-girlfriend, explaining that she left him because he struggled to express his feelings.
In the present, Jungo receives a call from a woman. During his interview, Hong is asked to fix his collar, bringing them close together. As she translates for him, Jungo hints that Hong inspired his novel. When asked why he chose Kyoto as the setting, Jungo recalls a trip they took to the city in the past. They biked around, visited the grave of Hong’s favorite poet, and met Ms. Shizuko, an old friend of Hong’s father. Shizuko revealed that she had been Hong’s father’s first love, and Hong shared that her grandfather had opposed the relationship. Jungo promised they would never drift apart.
Back in the present, Jungo claims Kyoto was chosen randomly. The interviewer then asks if he still believes in everlasting love and if he still has feelings for the person who inspired his novel. Jungo admits he hasn’t forgotten her over the last five years. However, Hong struggles to translate his words and requests a break.
At the end of the day, Hong informs Jungo that a new interpreter will take over the next day. As he returns to his hotel, he recalls their breakup and regrets not saying anything at the time. In a rush of emotion, Jungo runs in front of Hong’s car, determined to see her again, marking the end of Episode 2.
What Comes After Love delivers a poignant exploration of love, fate, and lost connections. The first two episodes skillfully weave together past and present, showcasing the deep bond between Hong and Jungo while highlighting their emotional struggles. The show’s slow-burn narrative, filled with flashbacks and subtle tension, keeps viewers invested in whether these two will reconcile. The performances are heartfelt, and the use of both Japan and Korea as backdrops adds depth to their story. While a bit slow-paced, the series sets up an engaging emotional journey that promises more revelations about love and regret.