# What Comes After Love

What Comes After Love (Korean: 사랑 후에 오는 것들) is a 2024 South Korean romance melodrama television series based on the novel Things that Come After Love by Gong Ji-yeong and Hitonari Tsuji, and depicts a love beyond national boundaries, between a Korean woman and a Japanese man. The series was written by Jung Hae-sim, directed by Moon Hyun-sung, and starring Lee Se-young and Kentaro Sakaguchi. It was released on Coupang Play and first shown from September 27 to October 25, 2024, every Friday at 20:00 (KST). It is also available for streaming on Viu and Viki in selected regions.

## Synopsis

A fateful love unfolds when a young Korean woman named Hong meets a Japanese man named Jungo while she is studying and working in Japan. The narrative goes back and forth in time between present-day Korea and Japan five years previously. In the present day, Jungo has become a novelist, with the pseudonym Sasae Hikari, and is having his novel "What Comes After Love?" published in Korean translation, and travels there to publicize it. Unbeknownst to him and Hong, the book has been published by the publishing company owned by Hong's father, where she also works in a senior position. She is asked to step in at the last minute to act as interpreter when he arrives at the airport, and she is horrified to discover who the author is. Hong keeps her distance from Jungo while he is in Korea, even though he attempts to get her attention with the aim of getting them to talk things through. She then discovers that his novel is based on the story of their relationship, where he was dismissive of her when she was in Korea, leaving her alone while he busied himself working, which drove her to escape him.

## Cast and characters

* Lee Se-young as Choi Hong
    A Korean woman who has tried to put her Japanese love behind her.
* Kentaro Sakaguchi as Aoki Jungo/Sasae Hikari
    A Japanese man full of regret, who can't forget his Korean love.
* Hong Jong-hyun as Song Min-jun
    A Korean man who only has eyes for Hong.
* Anne Nakamura as Kobayashi Kanna
    Jungo's clingy ex-girlfriend who hasn't moved on from their relationship.
* Lee So-hee as Choi Rok
    Hong's younger sister.

## Production
### Development

Director Moon Sung-hyun, who directed the films The King's Case Note (2017) and Seoul Vibe (2022), took the megaphone for his small screen directorial debut. Jung Hae-sim and Moon Hyun-sung served as the writers of the series. Silver Lining Studio with Contents Seven managed the production.

### Casting

Lee Se-young and Kentaro Sakaguchi were reportedly cast to play the main characters of the series in July 2023 and officially confirmed in December 2023.
Hong Jong-hyun was reportedly cast to play as one of the lead characters for the series in January 2024 and officially confirmed in March 2024.

### Filming

Principal photography began in early 2024 between South Korea and Japan.

## Release

Coupang Play announced that What Comes After Love would be released in 2024. On July 18, 2024, Coupang Play confirmed that the series would premiere on September 27, 2024. It will also be available to stream on Viu and Viki.

## Accolades
### Listicles

Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement :
| Publisher | Year | Listicle | Placement | Ref. |
| NME | 2024 | The 10 best Korean dramas of 2024 | 10th place | |