“What Comes After Love” ~ Based on a Bestselling Novel

“What Comes After Love” is a 2024 Korean drama series, based on a bestselling joint novel titled “Things that Come After Love” by Korean writer Gong Ji Young and Japanese writer Tsuji Hitonari. The K-drama is currently streaming Only on Viki, with 6 episodes, and can be categorized as Romance.

SUMMARY: In “What Comes After Love”, although it was not intentional, two ex-lovers reunite. This is a cross-cultural romance between a Korean woman and a Japanese man. They say love conquers all. Is that true? If so, then it must be love that comes after love.

♦ Will the Flame Be Rekindled Because It’s Fate?

In “What Comes After Love”, Choi Hong has moved on with her life after breaking up with Jungo Aoki. It has been 5 years and moving on has been “easy” to accomplish because … “out of sight, out of mind”. But what happens when you see your old flame once again via an unintentional reunion. Will moving on still be “easy”? Perhaps? Do you believe in everlasting love or fate? If so, perhaps this unintentional reunion was “fate”

• Choi Hong was not so sure. But Jungo Aoki? He believed.

Everlasting love must be true because … after 5 years of effort to move on, along with Hong’s family practically insisting that she will marry a Korean man whom they already call an “in-law”, Hong and Jungo crossed paths again. The irony is that her father who was already getting in good with the prospective son-in-law asked his daughter to serve as an interpreter for a Japanese writer. She agrees thinking nothing of it. It’s her father’s publishing company and she is just helping out because she spoke Japanese. The Japanese writer is none other Jungo Aoki, who is now a successful writer and is visiting South Korea to promote his new book. His book is about their relationship from 5 years ago. Awkward? OR … maybe it’s fate.

Fate? Uuumm … define fate.

• “Fate is a key belief enduring across cultures and generations. What is fate? Generally speaking, fate is thought of as a power or agency determining events and destinies, acting beyond our control.” (Quote Source: What is fate? And how can it both limit and liberate us? | The Conversation)

OK! So the question is: Will these two ex-lovers reunite because they truly have everlasting love for each other OR because they have no control over whether or not they love each other?

If it’s fate, then the Korean guy who is hoping to win Hong’s heart and the Japanese woman who once had Jungo’s heart, better give up on having an everlasting relationship. Ya think?

Main Characters:

• Choi Hong (played by Lee Se-Young, “The Red Sleeve”, “The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract”, “Memorist”, “Kairos”)
• Jungo Aoki (played by Kentaro Sakaguchi)

Where to Watch? Only on Viki

Viewership and Rating:

• IMDb: 9.2 out of 10 stars
• MyDramaList: (no ratings yet) out of 10 stars
• Dramabeans: 9.4 out of 10 stars
• Viki viewers rated this series 9.8 out of 10 stars

My personal rating is 9 out of 10 stars.

“What Comes After Love” is an interesting title and question. It’s a question I never thought to ask because I always believed that everything began and ended with love. There’s something that comes after it? (O.o)  This series is not an intense “you and me against the world” vibe.  But I love a good love story where lovers find each other again and this time they are determined that nothing can keep them separated.   Because … what is life?  Life is short, and if you can find true love and happiness, grab it!  There’s no point being miserable when you don’t have to be.

(NOTE: Surprisingly, as of September 28, 2024, there is a high rating on IMDb based on 15 viewers. Not sure if this will change as others weigh in.)

LINKS OF INTEREST:

Lee Se Young And Sakaguchi Kentaro Feel The Passage Of Time In “What Comes After Love” | Soompi

Yearning and cross-cultural romance in What Comes After Love | Dramabeans

Lee Se Young and Kentaro Sakaguchi Have Fateful Reunion in ‘What Comes After Love’ Teaser | ZAPZEE – Premier Korean Entertainment Magazine

11+ New K-Dramas To Watch In September 2024 | Soompi

TRAILERS/TEASERS:

LoveBreak _Official. “What Comes after Love | Official Trailer | Lee Se Young | Sakaguchi Kentaro {ENG SUB}.” YouTube Video. YouTube, September 27, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ut5SQVav7qg.

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