First Love, Again: Episode 1 Recap - First Love

First Love, Again is a heart-fluttering reality dating show reuniting first loves who have parted ways for various reasons. The 4 pairs will live together at the 'First Love Sharehouse' to see how they now feel about each other. Can they love once again? Or will they find a new love?

MCs: Kim Shin Young, Kim Yoon Ju, Jung Hyuk, Jinyea (LABOUM)

My Dear First Love

The show begins with the story of four men and women who have summoned their first love. Who are the people they want to meet again? Let's meet the cast of First Love, Again!

Seo Ji An → First Love Lee Je Seok

The first story is Jian who summoned her unrequited love Jeseok as her first love. They met 2 years ago at a video shoot for a YouTube channel, which left quite a big impression on her. This is a second chance to meet him again and confess her feelings.

The first loves are not given any information on who summoned them. Will Jeseok remember her? Jian waits nervously at the meeting location for his arrival...

"It's you! This is crazy! Jian-ah~" he responds brightly with a warm smile upon seeing her. As he predicted! She did not expect him to guess it was her and cannot stop smiling after seeing him. They sweetly exchange compliments. "You got prettier!" and "You look more handsome, too!"

Turns out they did exchange phone numbers 2 years ago and talked a few times. They were interested in each other back then, but the timing was not right. She was given a new career opportunity and chose to prioritize work over love at the time...

First love without a start... Will love finally bloom between Jian and Jeseok?

Kim Young Bae → First Love Lee Han Seul

For Youngbae, it was love at first sight when he met Hanseul at a mutual friend's party. But it became a long-distance relationship when she returned to Germany for her studies and then naturally ended in a breakup. He wants to talk to clear up misunderstandings, and make new memories in place of the promises he failed to keep.

Hearing the footsteps approaching from behind, he is too shy to turn around. Hanseul is able to recognize Youngbae from just seeing his back. Facing his first love again, an unstoppable smile. He greets her with a handshake. Although it has been a long time, she still remembers his daily life patterns as they catch up.

He realizes that what she remembers him by are only words describing his daily patterns. "It made me think about how I didn't care about her much and only cared about myself when we dated. It also made me think I should become more empathetic and caring about her."

Hanseul's feelings for him were deep, but she does not recall many memories together...

A story of affectionate first love that ended with regrets. Can Youngbae and Hanseul rekindle the love?

Kang Han Byeol → First Love Jung Yeon Ju

Hanbyeol met Yeonju on a blind date and thought she was perfect as soon as she walked in. There are regrets that he never got to show himself fully when they dated, and wished things could have gone differently. He wants to meet her again as a prouder man.

Yeonju arrives at the meeting place surprised to see him. She really had no idea and reveals in the interview how she felt sorry towards him for many reasons.

The reunion is full of awkward laughter. She jokingly says, "So awkward! Help me!" Yet there is still this friendly vibe between the two. After a moment of silence... He suddenly asks, "Did you even love me?" A funny look of shock... "I wouldn't have dated you if I didn't," she says.

Their relationship ended in a breakup because she was preparing for the Miss Korea contest back then. He felt they never got to enjoy a proper relationship because of her hectic practice schedule, which made him feel lonely. While she was disappointed he did not understand nor appreciate her efforts in trying to make time for him whenever possible.

First love where each other's feelings went unnoticed... What will happen between Hanbyeol and Yeonju?

Um Hee Ram → First Love Hong Ji Myung

Heeram has not been in a serious relationship since her breakup with Jimyung. Her definition of 'First Love' is "Someone who I wish I could've done better with." She wants to know if what she feels is simply regret of if it is lingering feelings...

Not knowing how Jimyung feels about her now, Heeram waits with anxiousness and fear. He did not expect it to be her at all, and is flustered upon seeing her again. There is an awkward silence between them. Uncomfortable... They cannot even look at each other in the eyes...

Unlike the other couples, a very different atmosphere... In the interview, she reveals how she was not completely honest with him. Broken trust that resulted in a bad breakup.

Jimyung reveals how he had a really hard time after the breakup. While he does not feel very happy about this, he does not hate it either. Although confused, he wants to do his best.

First love with confused emotions... Can Heeram and Jimyung mend their relationship?

'First Love Sharehouse' Move In

After the nerve-racking reunion, the four couples will now stand behind a new starting line to see what story unfolds. The 8 will live together at the 'First Love Sharehouse' for 9 days and 8 nights. Each with have individual rooms, but there is a communal space for everyone.

Rules for Using the Sharehouse:

1. Each of the 8 people will use a single room.
2. Do not disclose personal information (job, age) or reveal who your first love is.
3. Submit a story every day to the 'First Love, Again Radio.'

One by one, each cast member moves into the sharehouse. After unpacking, they head into the living room for the first meeting. First love couples are trying to pretend to not know one another, but some are able to pick up obvious clues.

After introducing themselves, they prepare dinner together. A chance to get closer. However, Jimyung feels uneasy around Heeram and looks so out of place...

Then another awkward moment arises when it is time to choose a seat. Everyone is hesitant to sit down. Hanbyeol takes a seat first, and Yeonju naturally sits down beside him. After Jian sits down, Jeseok also chooses to sit beside her. Then Jimyung chooses to avoid sitting next to Heeram, which made her feel a bit upset...

Over dinner, they start guessing who might have dated who... Yeonju who claims to be pretty quick at reading the room matches up everyone except for herself and Hanbyeol. She cracks up asking, "Am I stupid?" She inadvertently exposed them, LOL!

<First Love, Again> Radio Open

Each day, they write down their feelings on a postcard to submit a story to their first love. The stories are read over the radio. They listen attentively with fluttering hearts.

"Everyone is someone's first love," says DJ Yoonju. The first story sent to 'First Love, Again Radio' is read. "She looked different to me the more we met. Unlike her elegant appearance, her easygoing and honest personality was charming in an unexpected way."

As soon as they heard 'elegant,' they all looked at Hanseul. They can tell right away it was a story for her. Realizing it is words from Youngbae, she is unable to control her emotions and eventually burst into tears.

Hanseul says, "I was reminded of the hard times we went through." While Youngbae is sorry and sad to see the woman he likes cry because of him.

Because of the long-distance relationship, they both had a hard time and felt lonely... Like DJ Yoonju says, "You must've loved each other with all your hearts in those 6 weeks you had."

Shinyoung wraps up the episode with a saying, "First love is more sorrowful because it never leads to anything." Posing the question, "Will any of these couples prove that saying wrong?" Let's wait and see!

So curious to learn more of each person's untold story... Then on the next episode of First Love, Again, the four first love couples who have met again will go on a date! How will their relationships develop? 💓