'To First, For Love' depicts various shapes of first love.
Set to premiere on Aug. 4 (Mon), the new tvN Monday-Tuesday drama 'To First, For Love' (directed by Yoo Je-won, written by Seong Woo-jin, planned and produced by Studio Dragon and Showrunners) unveiled a teaser on the 17th showcasing the first love stories of four characters: Lee Ji-an (Yum Jung-ah), Ryu Jeong-seok (Park Hae-joon), Lee Hyori (Choi Yun-ji), and Ryu Bo-hyeon (Kim Min-kyu), which are intriguing due to their differences.
'To First, For Love' tells the story of a single mother who unexpectedly faces a second chapter in life and her medical student daughter who decide to live for today's happiness rather than tomorrow, exploring the narrative of first love that does not end. The story is sometimes delightful and heartwarming, and at other times brings tears, capturing the audience with gift-like tales filled with laughter, fun, emotion, and empathy. Directed by Yoo Je-won, known for his warm and delicate direction in works like 'Mother's Friend's Son', 'One Hit Scandal', and 'Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha,' along with the solid and innovative writing of Seong Woo-jin, another healing drama is expected to be completed.
As the veil is lifted, anticipation and interest are mounting, with the phrase 'first love in different shapes' accompanying the teaser. Ryu Bo-hyeon's remark, 'The two really seem like first loves,' adds depth to the poignant relationship between mother Lee Ji-an and daughter Lee Hyori. The realistic laughter and empathy evoke as Lee Ji-an, who yells and smacks her daughter in response to Lee Hyori's sudden declaration of running away from home, illustrates the ordinary yet familiar relationship, now awkward and unskilled as everything is new. However, as Lee Hyori says, 'This relationship won't end as long as neither one gives up,' the anticipation builds for how their story of first and eternal love, reaching out to each other again, will unfold.
The nostalgic memories of a tender first love are evoked in the contrasting themes of 'excessive affection' from adults and 'excessive excitement' from youth. Lee Ji-an, who was a tough woman in front of her daughter, awakens her childish side upon meeting her first love, Ryu Jeong-seok, who sparked her first feelings of excitement. After their reunion, reminiscent of fireworks illuminating a dark night sky, the anticipation grows for how Ryu Jeong-seok will reignite the calm exhilaration in Lee Ji-an's heart.
Here, two youths, dazzling as the sunshine and refreshing as the sea, promise a perfectly thrilling encounter. In this place where they set off in search of 'today's happiness,' the youth romance between Lee Hyori and Ryu Bo-hyeon intensifies the excitement. Ryu Bo-hyeon's seemingly indifferent yet kind encouragement to Lee Hyori, 'All you’re going to get is wet feet, right?' conveys his true feelings.
Amid the performances of the actors writing the story of 'first love' that belongs to all of us, expectations are high. Yum Jung-ah plays the role of 'Lee Ji-an,' a single mother who has lived firmly with confidence. Park Hae-joon portrays 'Ryu Jeong-seok,' an irritable architectural designer and Lee Ji-an's first love. He is a single father living with his son Ryu Bo-hyeon, who appears cold and composed but is disarmed around Lee Ji-an.
Choi Yun-ji transforms from a disciplined medical student into the rebellious youth 'Lee Hyori.' Although she has endured a challenging life, she unexpectedly embarks on the greatest deviation of her life, traveling to a quiet seaside town where she encounters unexpected connections. Kim Min-kyu plays 'Ryu Bo-hyeon,' the son of Ryu Jeong-seok and a young farmer full of certainty. Despite being a veteran who has never nurtured a flower in his floral farm, he begins to blossom feelings he has never experienced before due to Lee Hyori's sudden appearance.
Meanwhile, the new tvN Monday-Tuesday drama 'To First, For Love' will premiere on Aug. 4 (Mon) at 8:50 p.m.