KevinToronto

Given that the company's name is being pronounced like "grape" is a big hint. Also, the fact that Samsung and Apple are huge competitors in the IT hardware sector, I would be inclined to believe that Greip is "closer" to Apple than to Google. Having said that, it seems to being portrayed as a relatively generic U.S. high tech company.

I definitely noticed the "tension" between Hye-sook and her new boss. My initial thoughts were that either something happened during an assignment or that he used connections to get the job when she should have got it. Does she secretly want to stay in Korea and somehow re-connect with her husband and son?

As for Chris, it is obvious that he had become one of the Greip family, while Seok-ryu was very much the outsider. While there might be a legitimate case for harrassment, far too often, Human Resources (and a company) will take the easy way out by getting rid of the "trouble-maker". Does anyone believe that the other team members would support Seok-ryu over Chris?

Mmm, her English is way better than my Korean. :-)

For the record, I was born in London and subtitles would have been fabulous when listening to some people from parts of Somerset or Yorkshire, or from Glasgow.

If this were a 16-episode show, then we could have had the luxury of the getting together back story. However, this is only 10 episodes.

I actually liked that they started at the "forced break up" stage because now the underlying story thread will show how the strength of their relationship overcomes the maternal disapproval.

I am also intrigued to see if there is any growth in Si Won, and if there will be a reconciliation with his wife.

How is she toying with his feelings? She told him up front that they were breaking up. He was the one who decided to fight this, and had his office located where he could see (torment) her during the day.

What should she have done? Resigned from the company? This is from the synopsis above "When she was younger, she took her younger brother and left her family because of domestic violence." She has to work to support herself and her brother, as @S1234 says.

You are perfectly entitled to skip this show, even if just based on a single clip.

I think you might be right, as I got the feeling that the girl might be his daughter. It could explain why Dan ho did not want to explain where he had lived before.

As for the stigma against single parents, single fathers especially, the plot of One Spring Night is all about it.

This episode covered so many "issues", including some that I have noticed in other programmes. However, I have never seen an episode that "addresses" so many issues, and so well.

First, it is clear that this not just a ML and FL rom-com. The families are intertwined. It is the mothers who tie everyone together from their high school friendship. Everything that follows is a result of that friendship and social status/career success is secondary.

Second, even the fathers have created their own bonds. The two fathers having dinner and getting plastered was precious, as was the picking of the roses. Such a simple thing but a huge gesture. [It is often the simple things that make a difference.]

Third, did anyone else get the sexual harassment vibe from the interaction between Seung Hyo's mother and the new vice-minister?

Fourth, I got the sense that Seung Hyo's mother is conflicted about going overseas again. I could be wrong but my sense was that she realises that she is on the precipice of losing her family.

Fifth, was Seung Hyo's parents marriage based on love or "arrangement"? His father seems to accept that his marriage is "paper only", but I am not certain that his mother feels the same.

Sixth, sadly/tragically/depressingly, over the work career, many of us will experience that colleague who is able to transfer other people's hard work into their success because they present a good business case and "fit the mould". If you are a visible minority female (whose English skills are not perfect), then it is even worse. [Note: even I, a white male immigrant from the U.K. via Hong Kong, have had negative responses, especially about not having the necessary Canadian experience!]

Seventh, the empathy shown by Seung Hyo was amazing. Regardless of how they end up, having someone who stops, listens, and accepts is critical.

Eighth, did anyone else get the feeling that the young girl is actually the daughter of Dan Ho (the journalist?). Echoes of One Spring Night?

I am sure that more will things will come to mind but I will end here, for now.

Wow, where to start? I have watched many kdramas, like most of us here, and I am not certain that there has been a single episode that has been so impactful in its content and issues discussed, for me. I am going to put my thoughts and comments in a "spoiler" post to this.

That is a very interesting and insightful theory. Given her admission that she had no life goal during high school (except being the best and being praised) and her structured, highly-managed job, did the pressure and stress become too much?

I do not believe that the 1-year work break had anything to do with the engagement ending.

There are 13 more episodes, so the second leads will get their screentime. But for now, the task of the show is to lay the ground work for primary couple.

I had a good laugh at that scene. Having worked as a project manager for 11 years, I know the drive to plan your time.

We will not have to wait too long before finding out whether it an former colleague or here ex. The reason I thought ex is because he was supposed to be an "international" lawyer, Korean, and based in the U.S. It would be logical for a company looking to expand into Korea to hire such a lawyer for their team.

I noticed that as well. In an earlier comment, I did say that I hope it was not because she got pregnant and had a baby. I wonder if we will find out in episode 4 (reason for Seung Hyo to angry at her ex?).

I would prefer that they say she had to take time off to shoot Alchemy of Souls. 😉

I will admit to being a little disappointed that they used a car accident as the reason for his swimming career ending. It would have added to the story if his dream had been ended because of a sports injury, such as a ruptured Achilles tendon or torn ACL.

When I saw the scene, my fear was/is that the fact he was looking at the towel from Seok Ryu will be used as a reason for an argument/break-up in a later episode.

I am "old enough and ugly enough" to know that people only bicker like that with the people they truly care for.

I really enjoyed the first two episodes, but today's took it to a higher level. I loved the pathos of Seung Hyo missing out on his dream of a swimming career and Seok Ryu not having a dream for her life after high school. I hope that part of the romance side of things involves the two of them opening up and healing each other.

One thing that caught my attention was that Seok Ryu took a year off while working at Greip. Why? I sincerely hope that it was not because she became pregnant and then gave the child up for adoption. [Is the scene between Seung Hyo and her ex because the ex said something about that "year"?]

My impression was that it was her ex and that he said something rude and/or demeaning towards or about Seok Ryu.

I am going to reply to your comment here, even though you made an almost identical comment to my comment made further down the comments.

I do not disagree with the basic premise that Welcome to Samdal-ri and Love Next Door have the same basic story line: two very long-time friends finding romance together, eventually.

However, with all due respect, you should re-watch Welcome to Samdal-ri because some of your first paragraph does not fit that story.
First, both Sam-dal and Yong-pil went to Seoul, along with Kyung-tae and Eun-woo. Only Sam-dal stayed in Seoul.
Second, Sam-dal and Yong-pil started a relationship when they were in Seoul. They broke up because of Yong-pil's father, Sang-tae.
Third, both Sam-dal and Yong-pil still loved each other, so Yong-pil did not have try to win Sam-dal's love.
Four, the three sisters did not hide from their parents; although Sam-dal tried not to tell her mother the reason why she/they came back.

I am curious what exactly is the base plot you are referring to?
-- Two people who knew each other as children re-uniting as adults and finding love? [If this, then you can add Healer, Like Flowers in Sand, and When the Weather is Fine to your list.]
-- Or, two people who were in a relationship, broke up and and then re-connected after several years? [If this, Our Beloved Summer and Emergency Couple are obvious additions; even Ghost Doctor has this a plot line.

Bottom line: There are only so many base plot lines to be used in dramas. How the overall story is presented is what makes a drama fresh and unique.