Highlighted Moments from Korean Drama “Tomorrow”
In 2022 we were graced with an incredibly good looking cast, Rowoon, Lee Soo Hyuk, Kim Hee Sun, and Yun Ji On, in the Korean drama Tomorrow. The premise of the show is unique, in my opinion it has a fresh look at Grim Reapers and the meaning behind living.
Tomorrow was a show that demonstrated why some stories are worth telling and the importance of addressing stories of hope in a tunnel of despair. That being said, here are some moments that should be highlighted from Tomorrow, these will be episodes that made an impression in my opinion. Please feel free to share your favorites too :)
SPOILERS AHEAD
Episodes 2 (Fallen Flower) & 3 (Forest of Times)
Fallen Flower
This episode focuses on Noh Eun Bi, a TV writer who is tormented when her high school bully, Kim Chae Eun, a webtoon novelist appears again to be interviewed about her latest novel. In an ironic twist the novel Chae Eun published centers around school bullying and vengeance, triggering the past memories that Eun Bi has from high school. The episode begins with a problem when Joon Woong (Rowoon) breaks the Key of Memory, which unlocks memories of humans. Through the journey of Eun Bi’s memories both Joon Woong and Goo Ryeon notice the events that led to the violence and terrorizing by Chae Eun.
What makes this a highlight episode?
The episode is a two part, the first part focuses a bit on Eun Bi but also on the transition that Joon Woong is going through (think of it as his first day). But its in the second episode where you dive into the memories of Eub Bi that you realize how much pain and trauma she still has from the crusade of Chae Eun and her friends — it broke me to see her go from being a happy student to someone who couldn’t physically and emotionally smile without feeling terrified.
With each memory being unlocked you notice the hardships that Eun Bi went through but like Joon Woong noticed there were times when she smiled genuinely, like watching her favorite comedian and show. The biggest moment in this episode is watching Eun Bi admit to Goo Ryeon that she wants to live. After realizing how much she loved her job and how happy she was already at this point in her life — to the point where she was smiling and laughing in her everyday life without feeling any pain. But the true highlight of this episode is Joon Woong convincing TV character from “Jung Jun-Ha Comes to Work” an actor/comedian to meet Eun Bi, so that she can remember to laugh again like she did before. Joon Woong then comforts Eun Bi with a hug and some words of encouragement by saying,
“Thank you. For hanging in there.
For not giving up.”
Forest of Times
Personally, I will admit this episode almost broke me emotionally — from the beginning of the show we knew that Joon Woong was already going through a rough patch trying to be employed, and this episode(s) focus on the similar situation but from the POV of his close friend, Namgoong Jae Soo, who is having his own trouble. Jae Soo has been studying for the Police Academy Exam for the last 3 years.
The episode first uses comedy to share the history of Jae Soo and Joon Woong friendship. One of the biggest moments in their friendship is the unexpected pairing of both of them. Jae Soo and Joon Woong grew up together but never really aquatinted with each other until unwillingly Joon Woong meddled into the conflict between Jae Soo and his school bullies. We also get an insight into both characters, we learn the hardships that Jae Soo’s family went through during a financial crisis in the country, and in the present time we see Joon Woong’s lingering feelings of not living up to what he thinks his father would have wanted for him, like providing for their family.
What makes this a highlight episode?
I found that this episode centered on family but some portion of it focused on the feeling of being lost. After Joon Woong runs after Jae Soo, outside of the convince store Jae Soo is drunk and although at first he sees the face/body assigned to him by the Risk Management Team, Jae Soo starts seeing Joon Woong who suddenly express his disappointment of seeing his best friend in a defeated state. Joon Woong then shares the similar feeling of being lost he says,
“It feels like everyone’s moving ahead and I’m the only one who’s lost my way…Like I’m the only loser. Like I’m the only one standing still.”
To its core the episode focused on the hardships like Jae Soo’s present where he feels like a failure, but Joon Woong can not accept that his friend is not finding a reason to move forward. The idea of going back in time to find the fried chicken that Jae Soo loved as a kid just to cheer him up was the perfect portrayal of the friendship between Joon Woong and Jae Soo — not to mention adding the moment Jae Soo tastes the fried chicken and ends up crying because it was so bad. These last moments showed the love that both these characters have for each other, the love that Joon Woong has for his friend to hang in there even when things are not going his way. This episode really showed the reality that many young people feel about the future.
(bonus highlight — click on photo)
Episodes 4 & 5 (Tree)
Tree 1 & 2
Arguably, these episodes could stand alone as its own show. They have, a compelling love story, pertinacious parents, and a tragic ending (somewhat). The love story of Heo Na Young and Kang Woo Jin starts off by first introducing us to her fateful ending when Na Young’s life has officially ended in the World of The Living. After suffering a car accident Na Young is announced dead while Woo Jin is left surviving with a few injuries, one including his hand. The backstory of their love story starts with Na Young’s ankle injury, she was a promising ballet dancer but after her injury she suddenly feels lost without a purpose now that dancing was off the table.
Na Young begins to fall in a state of despair when suddenly she meets Woo Jin on a rainy day, covering her form the rain intentionally says:
“It looks like a passing shower. It’s going to pass soon. So don’t stand in the rain all by yourself.”
While Na Young is recalling this memory she says that for some reason Woo Jin’s words made her emotional but also she remembered thinking, “maybe I wasn’t quite done with this world yet.” This later leads to the recovery of Na Young who cuoisidently meets Woo Jin again who was performing while she was passing by in the plaza. After Na Young meets Woo Jin again she is convinced that they are destined, she starts falling him and finding ways to approach him like stopping by his job — where one day she notices he is sick. After taking care of him over night, feelings start brewing between them, their loves story begins with a cute montage of their dates, and milestones as a couple.
What makes this a highlight episode?
The highlight of this episode crosses between both storylines — the one of Na Young and Woojin along with the main characters storyline of Park Joon Gil and Goo Ryeon. Not only are we introduced to their love story, but we also get more context of the red thread around Goo Ryeon. The meaning behind the red thread revolves around destiny, she tells Joon Woong that,
“People who are destined to be with each other are connected by a red thread beyond their souls…”
Unfortunately if one of them cuts that thread by ending their lives they will no longer be connected, its a harsh price to pay for cutting ties with your destiny. After Woo Jin tries to cut his own ties, Na Young runs away to find the Risk Management Team before she is taken by the Escort Team to Jumadeung. Na Young saves Woo Jin by promising to meet again soon, but for now both need to wait. Even though Na Young and Woo Jin would no longer be together in the world of the living they will eventually be together again because they are connected by the red thread. Finally the episode ends with Goo Ryeon talking to Joon Woong — along with an emphasis on what this show’s theme:
“I believe you must love and care for those who are around you during your short stay in the land of the living as someone who has a tomorrow to live.”
Episode 6 (A Soul Becomes a Star)
A Soul Becomes a Star
This storyline is focused on one person, Mr. Lee Young Chun who is on the verge of passing the World of The Living, he is visited by the Risk Management Team because he was planning on taking his own life. He first meets Joon Woong, who helps Mr. Lee Young Chun with his paper waste collection, not realizing that he is the next client. Of course when Ryeon introduces themselves she says they are the Grim Reapers, something that up until the pervious episodes they would have never mention to a human straight up. Knowing this Ryeon has a private talk with Mr. Lee Young Chun, she tells him that they are here to save him from taking his own life, and tells him there is no need since he will die tomorrow. Even through Ryeon insist that for one day he can do whatever he wanted and the RM team will do anything to help, but Mr. Lee Young Chun says he rather live this day like all his other days.
Throughout the episode we see his everyday life, from picking up paper waste through the neighborhood to selling it before sunset. Where we see Mr. Lee Young Chun’s kindness overflow, sharing his earnings with the man who buys his paper waste. There is also a moment that gives us a small glimpse into his world — he talks about recognizing the end is near and accepting the life he was given, but like many humans also seeing the regrets he stills holds.
What makes this a highlight episode?
When recounting his past Mr. Lee Young Chun talks about the choice that he made “back then,” referring to the moment he volunteered to fight during the Korean War — he was a kid back then making a choice to leave his mother and home to fight a war. At a young age he saw many people die in seconds, he learned to not get attached to anyone, until a few years later he meets Dong Chil a younger soldier who was just as scared as when Mr. Lee Young Chun volunteered when he was younger. Both had hopes of returning home, until one day on the battle field Mr. Lee Young Chun is left with the choice to help Dong Chil who was struck and wounded. Mr. Lee Young Chun decided to save Dong Chil life even though the wounds he endured left Dong Chil without a leg.
During his last meal Mr. Lee Young Chun starts rethinking the decisions he made in the past, after noticing how much time has passed. He never married or started a family because of the aftermaths of the war — he lost his mother and not being mentally or physically stabled to live a decent life. Goo Ryeon listens to Mr. Lee Young Chun, knowing this she takes him to a place where you can see all of Seoul. Reyon tells Mr. Lee Young Chun that the decisions he made are not worthless and his decision of fighting a war where not in vain saying,
“The life you have lived is by no means meaningless or worthless. Take in this sight. It’s the country you protected.”
Showing even more of Mr. Lee Young Chil’s worthiness, Joon Woong uses his SNS skills to find Dong Chil, eventually he finds his grandson who says that Mr. Lee Young Chun changed his life and his words on the battle field has stayed with him — knowing this Mr. Lee Young Chun is overwhelmed with happiness knowing that Dong Chil lived a good life. Mr. Lee Young Chun’s story ends with all the Grim Reapers escorting him to Jumadeung. Earlier it was mentioned that Grim Reapers went through a lot too, escorting thousands everyday during the Korean war. In his last moments in the Land of The Living Jade Emperor tells him:
“The choice you made in your youth was honorable. You have lost so much. Yet you have protected many lives and brought about the world of today”
If you needed any conformation about the this episode being a highlight on IMBD “A Soul Becomes a Star” is the top rated episode for Tomorrow, personally I think this episode is deserving of that title. The storytelling and the theme of the episode not only share the message of the show but also bring light an important social issue regarding veterans.
Episode 9 (Someday, because of you)
Someday, because of you
The RM team receive an atypical case, when an animal appears on the red light radar — a small dog named Kong runs into traffic attempting to die. At first the team is confused as to how they can help Kong, they can’t talk to him and ask Kong directly. So, it only leaves them with tracing back Kong’s owner and life. While asking vet clinics the team find out that Kong is very sick, now the team suspect that Kong was left by their owner, but Kong himself lets them know their owner is not a bad person. This is when Ryeon tells Joon Woong to visit the Editing Team, who have already been preparing for Kong’s departure. The Editing Team give Joon Woong a file of flashbacks, they are in charge are giving one last gift before departing the Land of the Living.
What makes this a highlight episode?
Kong’s story shed light on a relatable story, many have pets that they consider as part of their family. It’s only natural to feel heartbroken or even sad when you have to say goodbye. The episode touched on a few subjects like the way some people approach how they see pets, for example when Kong’s owner, Kim Hoon, is upset over the disappearance of Kong, his co-worker makes a remark of animals are just animals and that there is no need to feel sad about them disappearing. But seeing how noticeably upset Kim Hoon is about that comment shows that pets are not just animals they are love ones like any other member of your family or friends.
Later when Joon Woong reviews the file there is a montage of Kong’s memories through his POV — we not only see the connection he shares with his owner but we also see how much Kong loves his family especially Kim Hoon. A big highlight in the episode is the guilt/regret that Kong feels towards the accident that led to Kim Hoon’s scar. Like many of the pervious Tomorrow characters, there is a lot of depth in the guest star’s personality and characteristics, for example because of the scar Kim Hoon gets a tattoo over the scar. Another highlight is seeing the farewell message of Kim Hoon to Kong in his final moments:
“When we meet again, I’ll play with you everyday. I’ll never make you feel lonely. So the day we meet again…”
Finally when the RM team is witnessing the last moments of Kong, Reyon tells the team:
“Its amazing. How our pets always wait for us when human relationships are never absolute, not even between parents and children.” — Ryeon
“Because they are pure” — Joon Woong’s response
Final Thoughts
I was captivated by the stories that Tomorrow showcased, the show’s message was seen through every episode. Even though Joon Woong goes back to the Land of The Living and forgets about his RM team, for the amount of time he was there you could see how much he grew. I think rarely in life do we learn to appreciate how precious life is, we also forget how some hard life can be for others. It is important not to forget how even the smallest act of kindness can enact a change in someone’s life.
If you or anyone you know is going through a hard time, know you are not alone. Resources are available, take the first step.
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