There’s just something about ‘right person, wrong time’ romance plots that tug at our heartstrings. The film, Past Lives, and Netflix’s One Day prove that love stories can be beautiful, despite the heartbreak.
If you enjoy ‘tormenting’ yourself with such heartwrenching shows just like we do, tune into What Comes After Love. Starring Lee Se-Young and Sakaguchi Kentaro, here’s what you should know about the drama’s plot, cast, and more.
What Comes After Love plot: From best-selling novel to drama
Will this couple find their way back into love? ‘What Comes After Love’ is a romance drama that stars Lee Se-young and Sakaguchi Kentaro. (Photo from: @coupangplay)
What Comes After Love is based on the bestselling novel of the same name and is co-written by Korean writer Gong Ji Young and Japanese writer Tsuji Hitonari. Also referred to as Things That Come After Love, the novel tells the story of a Korean woman and a Japanese man who fall in love after meeting each other in Tokyo.
The couple eventually break up as they face misunderstandings and challenges in their relationship. However, in a twist of fate, the two reunite in Korea five years later. Will the couple have the chance to find their way back into love and rekindle their romance? Or will this end in heartbreak, once again?
There’s no telling how their story will unfold in the drama, so stay tuned and consider checking out the novel (available in translated versions, including Chinese) for more clues.
What Comes After Love recap: Episodes 1 to 6
From wide-eyed young lovers to tragic exes. (Photos from: Viu Singapore)
Choi Hong meets Aoki Jungo in Japan
The series portrayed a sweet, whirlwind romance between Choi Hong (Lee Se-young) and Aoki Jungo (Sakaguchi Kentaro). The two experience serendipitous encounters at the train station when Hong first arrived in Japan and when they were both looking for part-time work.
They get to know each other and fall madly in love. Jungo introduces Hong to his father, and the kind elderly man assures her that he will be on her side. Hong moves into Jungo’s apartment, but she gradually begins to feel the weight of living in a foreign country without knowing anybody. Her best friend — the one who encouraged her to come to the country — returned to Korea and Jungo spent less time with her. He was juggling multiple part-time jobs while studying, and when Hong decided to leave, he didn’t stop her.
Choi Hong and Aoki Jungo reunite in Korea
Five years later, Hong now works at her father’s publishing company and is engaged to her long-time friend Min Jun (Hong Jong Hyun). In another series of fateful events, she becomes the translator for the now-famous author Jungo. Memories and old feelings resurface, and viewers can only guess how the series will wrap up.
The book reportedly presents readers with an open ending. In this drama, our main leads finally have the closure they both need and the strength to begin again.
Let’s now dive into our thoughts on the show.
What Comes After Love review: a poignant and sentimental series
1. Each episode feels like a cinematic short film
i love how what comes after love utilizes color symbolism as a visual storytelling to convey the emotions and character relationships between choi hong and aoki jungo pic.twitter.com/9VtzNfZlt3
— 🀨 (@4sonee) September 27, 2024
The story is told in a non-linear manner so it expertly guides the audience through its visual cues. The bright, springtime hues of Japan offered the perfect backdrop for the couple’s blossoming romance in the past. In contrast, when we see mostly greys and gloomy skies and feel a sombre atmosphere, we easily get the signal that we are back to the main characters’ present predicament.
The series' evocative score further enhances the immersive experience, making it impossible not to become invested in the story.
2. What Comes After Love realistically portrays how relationships break
You know it's really over when #LeeSeYoung starts speaking Korean. 😞#WhatComesAfterLove #KentaroSakaguchi pic.twitter.com/x1xWN1pkdP
— Viu Philippines (@Viu_PH) October 24, 2024
In the series, Choi Hong says in hindsight, “Loneliness can make a person feel anxious. Solitude makes love weaker. And… when youth is added to the mix, everything becomes precarious.”
Hong had a thrilling romance with Jungo but as days passed, he spent less and less time with her and left her alone most of the time in their apartment. He was making ends meet and was most likely saving up for the future — especially after seeing Hong try on a wedding dress! But only we, the audience, know that. He left Se-young in the dark, wondering why he was never there whenever she needed him.
Because of the couple’s immaturity and inability to communicate, it sadly made sense that they had to go through the breakup. They avoided what was wrong in their relationship and let the little things snowball until Hong could no longer endure it.
3. The series conveys the message that not all love stories have a happy ending, but they teach us to grow and love better
#HongJongHyun calls out #KentaroSakaguchi for writing about his fiancée, #LeeSeYoung in his book and tells him to leave her alone. 😱However, the ex-boyfriend ask a favour instead? 👀Find out in #WhatComesAfterLove on Viu. pic.twitter.com/TiH5G5RPtI
— viusg (@ViuSG) October 22, 2024
The characters displayed growth in dealing with their feelings and relationships. They learnt their lessons the hard way.
Jungo finally knows what went wrong
In Korea, when Min Jun confronts Jungo about his relationship with Hong and tells him to stay away from her, Jungo finally lets go of his pride. He simply asks the fiancé not to leave Hong alone.
Hong decides to be truthful about her feelings
For Hong, it must have hurt her fiancé when she rejected him, but it made sense for her to say no. She might have initially entered into a relationship with Min Jun because he was constantly present in her life, but she couldn’t truly love him since she left her heart in Japan. Along with the proposal to marry him came the invitation to move to another country and start a new life there. She must have had flashbacks about her experiences in the past.
Should you watch this series?
With just six episodes, it’s able to create a masterpiece that will leave you pondering about your own relationships. So yes, if you’re looking for something different from the usual fairytale romance dramas, check out this emotional rollercoaster. We do recommend taking a breather between episodes as it may feel too exhausting while watching it all at once.
When and where to catch What Comes After Love
All six episodes of the series are now available on Viu Singapore.
Up for a walk down memory lane? Let’s ‘rewind’ to why this series generated a lot of fanfare when it was first announced.
Look: Lee Se-young and Sakaguchi Kentaro lock eyes in the drama's official posters
Coupang Play, the show's streaming service, teased fans by dropping three posters of the main couple on 18 July. The posters depict Lee Se-young and Sakaguchi Kentaro in a moment of tearful embrace. The scene feels heartbreaking and gives us a good taste of what to expect when the drama officially drops on 27 September.
Keep reading to learn more about the main cast.
Lead actors Lee Se-Young and Sakaguchi Kentaro test their chemistry in a table read
Look forward to witnessing Lee Se-Young and Sakaguchi Kentaro’s romantic chemistry in ‘What Comes After Love’. (Photos from: @seyoung_10 and @sakaguchikentaro)
Lee Se-Young is a 31-year-old South Korean actress whom we’d consider a ‘princess’ of romance dramas. Her recent work opposite Bae In-Hyuk for The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract concluded on an encouraging note. Plus, we were blown away by her acting chops as she coupled up with 2PM’s Lee Jun-Ho in the award-winning series, The Red Sleeve.
Starring opposite Lee Se-Young is Sakaguchi Kentaro, who plays Jungo.
With What Comes After Love, we’ll get to see Se-Young as the female lead named Hong, with Japanese model-turned-actor Sakaguchi Kentaro, who will play the male lead, Jungo. ICDYK, 32-year-old Kentaro has a pretty extensive acting portfolio too, having starred in theatrical roles and various TV series.
The series will also star actors Hong Jong Hyun and Nakamura Anne. Jong-Hyun will play the role of Hong’s friend, who’s had feelings for her for many years, while Anne will take on the role of Jungo’s former girlfriend.
Check out the drama’s table read below.
(Cover photos from: Viu Singapore)
This article was first published on 8 March 2023. Last updated: 25 October 2024.
Looking for a K-drama that weaves in themes of romance and revenge? This one starring Park Min-Young is worth binge-watching.
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