Exploring What Comes After Love: Season 2 Renewal Insights and Ending Explained

The storyline centers around Hong, portrayed by Lee Se-young, a South Korean student who relocates to Japan to pursue her education. While there, she encounters Jungo, played by Sakaguchi Kentaro, an ambitious Japanese writer. Despite their initial romance, the pair undergo a painful separation. After five years, they reunite in South Korea, but by this time, Hong has moved on with her life, leaving Jungo to grapple with his lingering feelings.

In the series finale, Jungo articulates the concept behind his book, What Comes After Love, during an interview. He reveals that it is through the experience of love that one truly learns its significance. He reflects on the bittersweet reality that love often leaves individuals with regrets; the more profound the love, the deeper the sorrow. Ultimately, despite their past difficulties, Hong and Jungo find reconciliation, culminating in a joyful conclusion.

Ending Explained: Hong Encourages Jungo to Release Regrets and Shares Her Appreciation

In the concluding episode of What Comes After Love, Hong visits Jungo at his hotel, only to find him in the company of Kanna (Anne Nakamura) and mistakenly believes they are in a relationship.

After witnessing Hong, Kanna informs Jungo, prompting him to rush outside, but he arrives too late. The following day, Kanna pushes him to openly share his feelings with Hong and set the record straight before she departs for Japan.

Jungo pays a visit to the office where Hong is employed, bids farewell to her colleagues, and leaves behind a Pippo keychain on her desk. Upon discovering the keychain, Hong begins to reread What Comes After Love, reflecting on their past love.

The day prior to his flight to Japan, Jungo retrieves Hong’s contact information from an interpreter, and as he saves her number, she calls him. In the call, she expresses gratitude for the keychain, and Jungo clarifies that Kanna merely served as a coworker.

He then suggests that Pippo and Dai Nee—named after the couple keychain they purchased before beginning their relationship five years prior—should still remain linked. Jungo asks her to meet him to resolve misunderstandings.

During their meeting, Hong tells Jungo that she wishes to thank him for everything he offered her in their past. She questions why he didn’t stop her or acknowledge her tears back then, realizing through reading his book that their cherished moments were what truly mattered. It’s noted that Jungo did follow her at one point, but she had already left.

Jungo expresses deep regret for his past actions, admitting that he failed to recognize her struggles and loneliness. He acknowledges his feelings of inadequacy, which prompted him to write the book.

In response, Hong encourages him to let go of the past regrets, recalling his own words about love being a gift. Jungo expresses his appreciation for her engagement with his book, while Hong thanks him for capturing their love story on paper.

As Hong prepares to depart, Jungo wishes for her happiness, to which she responds affirmatively with a smile—her first genuine smile since their reunion. She reciprocates his wish for happiness.

Once in her car, Hong succumbs to tears, and the next day, Jungo receives a bouquet left by Hong at the hotel on his birthday, along with a note.

“I’m sorry about earlier, Happy Birthday!” read the note.

Exploring Season 2 Possibilities for What Comes After Love

The finale of What Comes After Love features Song Min-jun (Hong Jong-hyun) in a hospital, and Kanna moving forward with an author, indicating character growth. Meanwhile, Hong goes for her routine jog and sees Jungo matching her pace.

They run together until Jungo admits he has stopped jogging, and as they pause, he acknowledges why Hong jogs longer—to combat her feelings of loneliness. Hong responds, reflecting on how, after their breakup, she could run away as he suggested in his book.

Hong confesses to regretting her past actions, acknowledging how she often complained without attempting to empathize with his emotions. They share apologies, and as Hong sheds tears, Jungo tenderly wipes away her tears, coinciding with his own emotions. They hold hands as snow begins to fall, while the narration states:

“SPRING BLOSSOMS ARE THE ANSWER TO THE SNOWFLAKES OF WINTER.”

The series concludes with Hong and Jungo seen jogging by a lake in the spring, leading to speculation regarding a second season, although the production team has not yet confirmed any plans.

All episodes of What Comes After Love can be streamed on Coupang Play and Rakuten Viki.

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