K-drama “Way Back Love” Tugs at Heartstrings: When 1st Love Returns as the Grim Reaper
Kicking off April’s K-drama lineup, “Way Back Love” has quickly won viewers over with its emotionally rich storytelling and a touch of fantasy. Adapted from a novel by Seo Eun Chae, this six-episode drama has stirred interest with its poetic portrayal of love, loss, and second chances.
The story begins quietly but hauntingly: Jung Hee Wan (played by Kim Min Ha) hears a persistent knock at her door. When she opens it, she finds a stranger except he’s not a stranger at all. It’s Kim Ram Woo (Gong Myung), her long-lost first love, smiling and playfully calling her by his name and introducing himself using Hee Wan’s own name.
The quirky callback to an “April Fool’s Day” prank from their school days instantly flips the mood from eerie to nostalgic. Back in their youth, Hee Wan was a mischievous and energetic girl, and Ram Woo was the quiet transfer student she loved to tease. A class prank had them swap name tags for a day—an innocent game that unknowingly marked the start of a deeply felt connection.
Fast forward to the present: Hee Wan is no longer the lively girl from school. She’s a shell of her former self, withdrawn and joyless. The twist? Ram Woo died four years ago. Now, he stands before her as a Grim Reaper, sent to tell her she has only seven days left to live.
Rather than drag her into despair, Ram Woo offers to spend her final days helping her complete her unresolved dreams ensuring she leaves without regrets. What follows is a journey that bridges past and present, life and death, and heartbreak and healing.
Despite the premise, “Way Back Love” is not a tearjerker for the sake of tears. The narrative delicately balances sorrow with sweetness. The past is portrayed in vibrant colors and lighthearted mischief, capturing the innocence of schoolyard romance and the slow blooming of first love.
The present-day sequences are more muted, reflecting Hee Wan’s emotional state, but the warmth in Ram Woo’s return brings subtle healing. His role reversal now more upbeat and proactive adds an intriguing layer, as he gently nudges the reserved Hee Wan to embrace life once more.
“Way Back Love” doesn’t rely on flashy effects or melodramatic twists. Instead, it uses a simple concept—seven days, one last chance to unpack universal emotions. The mystery of how Ram Woo became a Reaper, and what drove Hee Wan to give up on life, slowly unfolds in parallel with moments of laughter and reflection.
The first two episodes have received praise for their heartfelt writing, effective use of flashbacks, and the surprising chemistry between the leads. The show encourages viewers to cherish the beauty of fleeting moments because knowing something won’t last forever only makes it more precious.
For those interested, you can check out this K-drama, which is streaming on TVING, Viki, and Viu, in selected regions!
