I have only one qn. How does she run every morning with her hair down all the time? Sure, it looks photogenic et al, but it would be so bothersome (from personal experience)

Thanks for the recap Dramaddictally :).
I really enjoy the show, the way the mood and tone are reflected visually is nice. 
The meeting in the park where Benny saw but ran straight past Junho was beautifully shot.
 I do wish they had made the time gap smaller (a year or two) before reconnecting.
 Five years is a bit of a stretch to be so hung up on this 'love' when Junho wasn't very communicative or demonstrative as pointed out in this episode and they were only together for such a short time. 
I'm more in love with the two leads who look stunning together. 
Sakaguchi Kentaro has that certain something that you just can't look away from, he is mesmerizing. 
Here is an interview with GQ Korea with eng subs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcmKoQfe_J8
Those dimples are a lethal weapon.

I was never in the "get back together" team, but now I'm totally against it.

Jungo rant:
Saying that he's bad at communicating is just an excuse. A very lame one.
This guy's real problem is his little to none consideration for other people's feelings. In this case, his girlfriend's.

Why didn't he give Hong a proper answer when she asked about weddings in Japan? He thought that was a dumb question that wasn't worth it of his time? He thought she should do her own research? He really thought weddings are all the same? He just couldn't be bother? What was it?

Let's say he really thought weddings are all the same. Okay. But then when Hong told him that her friend pointed out some differences, he should've said something. He should've tried to help her not embarrass herself or do something rude there. If he took ONE second to think from her perspective, he would've said something.
But he said nothing, and then had the audacity to say "that makes me look bad". Ha. Of course now he knows exactly what to say. Because it involves him. She made him look rude. Yada yada yada. Well, bro. You are.

Not taking your girlfriend's calls or at least calling her back, or sending a catdamn text to let her know you won't go there? You literally ignored her because you couldn't be bother, and then you didn't even apologized?
I hate how he never apologizes. He just gives her some lame excuse. It's like he plans what to say in his way home. He's never wrong, all she needs is to do listen and understand him. Right?

I guess that's the same in the present timeline. He's expecting her to read the book with all his excuses and come back to him. Does he even care if she's happy now? Does he even care if she loves this other guy? It's like he expected her to sit there for five years so they could randomly meet in that airport.
But, Idk, if he really was planning in getting back with her, why was he working on this book with the ex girlfriend that's clinging to him? How is he going to explain that to Hong?

That's just another thing that makes me think he doesn't really care about her.
And like some beanie said (it was Blue, I think), in the past, he didn't even care about her relationships with others or her loneliness.
They said Japanese weddings are only for close friends and relatives, right? But she was invited, so, doesn't that mean they're close? But he didn't seem to know (or care) about it. And he didn't consider that going to the wedding with Hong would be an important gesture to her.

Sigh. Jungo wouldn't tell her how to do things, or even help her do those things but he was ready to criticize her. Dude, I wouldn't be surprised if Hong stopped going anywhere because he would be like "omo, you did that wrong in Japanese". He didn't care to help her adapt there and he wouldn't support the new bonds she created either.

Anyone can talk about weddings and stars. Yada yada yada. But there's more than...

I enjoyed another of Dongju Jun's poems featured in this episode. It's called "ONE NIGHT I COUNT THE STARS" from his poetry book, Sky Wind and Stars.

For one star, a memory;
for one star, love;
for one star loneliness;
for one star, longing;
for one star, a poem;
for one star, Mother.

Hong doesn't quote the whole poem, only the portion that came to mind while she was lying on his lap, looking up at the stars. They both recite the exact words, but they may relate and interpret them differently.
They may initially have a strong romantic attraction but lack a genuine emotional connection and understanding of each other's needs. It's like being in love with romance instead of each other.

I am very curious about the letter. I think I'd appreciate it more if it was an apology, goodbye, and wish you well letter. Cause if he really wanted her back you got to put in the face time or at least start calling.

I am not excusing him, because I do think hw was a horrible bf from what we have seen, but I do wonder if he just had this idea (not shared with Hong) that his single minded focus on his goals would be to the benefit to both of them. That he was making a good life for them. And honestly at this point of his life if he wanted to be a successful writer then he did need to do the work, it's just Hong deserved some words.

Maybe it's not healthy, idk, but I kind of respect Hong for packing that part of her life away when he didn't come to reconcile. Sending her stuff seemed like a shut door and so she moved on. I just wish we could see her a little happier even if more "mature".
I think with this drama it is one of those times I won't mind if there is not a HEA. I feel like at this moment that I want to trust that Hong will choose what is best for her and I'll support that decision, lol.

ah, of course there is a pathetically needy ex-girlfriend...
*rolls eyes*

Thanks @dramaddictally for your thoughtful recap! Even I am unsure as to what kind of ending for this show I would find satisfying. Maybe the show is about how love is never really enough for things to work. I often wonder about how people with lesser resources often also wind up with unfulfilling relations (romantic or otherwise- maybe even parent-child). Jungo needed to work that hard in that phase of his life. He did not have the luxury to say no to work offers, which he develops later when he cancels his day and heads off in search of Beni. On the other hand, Beni's loneliness was genuine and so were her needs. They were both bound by their genetic toolkit also- his inability to say things, her need to be assured. Its just two young and inherently decent people navigating love in a harsh world.

“We were blind to the harsh realities of the world when we were at the peak of happiness.”

This is a poignant and sad revelation that too many of us have experienced as we age.

Where have something like this resonated with me before?

Hmm.

I think it was something like this:

“Back then, I believed I could have everything. There were so many things I wanted to have. I had thought love and friendship were mine to have for a brief moment.”
Na Hee-do of 25-21

Carefree youth… I wish I could go back to that moment in time.

Just how many jobs does this guy have? How does he even have the time to date? It seems like Jungo is ashamed of taking handouts. Like when he got mad at Hong for accepting the offer to stay the night at her dad's first love's house, and now for accepting the thank you gifts from her boss' wedding. I think he didn't want to go to the wedding because he didn't want to give congratulatory money. Which is strange because Jungo's family doesn't look poor.

When Min-jun went to Jungo's book signing, I said, "No, leave him alone. Why confront her ex-boyfriend? He'll go back to Japan on his own." Hong bought a card, but I hope she gets Jungo his favorite "spaghetti" cake for his birthday.

I started the episode and then just decided I didn't want to do this anymore.
I'm not interested in these people, this relationship, this plot...
I thought it'd be ok because it's a short drama, but it's no fun keeping on when you don't want to.

Completely Team 'Don't get back with him' at this point. Min Jun is looking like a much better prospect. A known quantity with a good job. Also been around enough to be comfortable. Sure, comfortable does not give you an adrenaline kick. But nobody really loves the adrenaline kicks you get when your partner has no regard for basic politeness, like ' My apologies, I can't make it to this important event'
Sadly, I am fearful the KDrama gods have ordained that there Must Be a romantic reunion.

I'm in the team you should talk! If Hong was looking happy in her job and in her relationship, Jungo could go back to Japan. But she doesn't look happy, she acts like a robot. Clearly, they both need closure .

Imagine living her life with Jungo. In a foreign land, speaking a foreign tongue, in a different culture AND living with a non committal (‘I will think about going to the wedding’) and unresponsive (not answering her phone call knowing she would be embarrassed) boyfriend.

Honestly I would too not bother about opening my luggage and run past him like the Queen she is! What did he even do for her? Clearly he had her home address and yet just let her be? He is ranking quite high in my a*%# category.

Thanks for the recap @dramaddictally

I made the rookie error of writing an essay directly on the site and it is still not showing. I waited in vain for it to miraculously appear but alas it is lost for ever in the ether. So this is a summary in case it either appears or this is deleted as a duplicate.

Random thoughts:
If you write a book that explains everything but then publish it with a pen name and don’t send a signed copy to the last known address of the person you most want to read the story in the whole wide world, does that make it a mindfullness exercise?
If you want to talk to someone and they shut you down the first time you get them alone with a variation on the ‘No one cares’ statement; ‘I am getting married now, so whatever you say is irrelevant’ how low must your Emotional intelligence be to think it is worth a second try?
Is a perfectly executed run by when someone randomly turns up in your local park the equivalent of throwing a bucket of ice cold dirty water over their head? I loved it👏🏾. It was also so typical that it was followed by a stumble and fall🫤 which it looks like he didn’t notice, thankfully.
Any bets the letter is a confession that the hard work was to buy the engagement ring and deposit for the marital home? Because he wanted to be married asap and it was going to be a surprise he couldn’t explain why he kept getting more jobs even though it was taking up every minute of his day. It was also to say if she responded with a yes he would get the next plane to put the already bought and hidden ring on her finger and meet her family to start the process because he now realised that the only outcome of the best kept secret was a broken heart.

That is really a tough choice. It really boils down to what Hong wants. Is it closure or for them to start over? If its the latter, I will feel so bad for Min Jun. I sure hope the four main leads will find their own happiness.