What Comes After Love Cast: Where the Stars of the K-Drama Are Now

You know that specific ache after finishing a really good K-drama? It’s that "what do I do with my life now" feeling. For many, the 2024 series What Comes After Love—or Sarang Hue Onun Gotdeul—hit that exact spot. It was moody, it was gorgeous, and it felt like a long, rainy afternoon in Tokyo and Seoul. But once the credits rolled on the final episode, the conversation shifted from the heartbreaking "Red" and "Jungo" to the actual actors. People started obsessing over the What Comes After Love cast and where they were headed next.

Honestly, the chemistry between Lee Se-young and Sakaguchi Kentaro was so electric that it felt like they’d been working together for decades. They hadn't. In fact, this was a massive cross-border gamble that paid off.

The show wasn't just another romance. It was a joint production between South Korea’s Coupang Play and Japan, based on the 2005 novel co-written by Gong Ji-young and Hitonari Tsuji. Because it was such a high-profile collaboration, the industry was watching the leads like hawks.

Lee Se-young: From Child Star to Melodrama Royalty

If you’ve followed Hallyu for more than five minutes, you know Lee Se-young isn’t some newcomer. She’s been in front of cameras since she was a literal child. But What Comes After Love felt like a pivot. She played Choi Hong (Beni) with this quiet, simmering resentment that eventually gave way to vulnerability. It was a masterclass in "acting with your eyes."

So, what’s she doing now?

Lee Se-young has always been a workaholic. After the heavy emotional toll of playing Hong, she didn't exactly take a three-year hiatus. She has been eyeing projects that continue to push her away from the "damsel" trope. Her track record with The Red Sleeve and The Story of Park's Marriage Contract proved she can carry a show on her back. Rumors in the Seoul production circuits suggest she is looking into more thriller-leaning scripts to balance out her portfolio. She’s currently a top-tier brand ambassador, appearing in high-fashion spreads that lean into that sophisticated, melancholic aesthetic she perfected in the show.

She’s also been incredibly vocal about the difficulty of learning Japanese for the role. Fans loved that. It made her feel human. In her recent interviews, she’s mentioned that the experience changed how she approaches script reading, making her more interested in international collaborations.

Sakaguchi Kentaro and the Japanese Wave

Then we have Sakaguchi Kentaro. In Japan, he’s a massive deal. In Korea, before this show, he was "that handsome guy from The Last 10 Years." After the What Comes After Love cast announcement, his popularity in Korea exploded.

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Jungo was a difficult character. He was stoic, often frustratingly silent, yet Kentaro managed to make him sympathetic. Since the show wrapped, Kentaro has been busy bridging the gap between Tokyo and Seoul. He’s become a fixture at Korean fan meetings—something that wasn't as common for Japanese actors a decade ago.

His next moves are heavily centered in the Japanese domestic market, but the "Kentaro Fever" in Korea hasn't died down. He’s been linked to several upcoming film projects in Japan, including the continuation of his work with high-profile directors who specialize in "human drama." He’s also been a face for Prada, often popping up at fashion weeks where he inevitably runs into his former K-drama colleagues.

Why this pairing worked (and why it matters)

Let’s be real for a second. Cross-border romances often fail. They feel clunky. The language barrier usually feels like a gimmick. But these two? They practiced. A lot.

• They had shared meals to build rapport.
• Kentaro learned basic Korean phrases to joke around on set.
• Se-young spent months Drilling Japanese dialogue so it didn't sound phonetic.

This level of dedication is why the What Comes After Love cast is still being talked about months after the finale. It set a new standard for how "Co-Pros" should look.

Hong Jong-hyun: The Second Lead Syndrome Returns

We have to talk about Min-jun. Played by Hong Jong-hyun, he was the guy everyone felt sorry for (or yelled at the screen about). Hong Jong-hyun has always been a reliable hand in the industry. He’s got that model-turned-actor polish.

After What Comes After Love, Jong-hyun has been leaning back into his roots. He’s been seen more in the fashion circuit lately, but his acting slate is filling up with supporting roles in major cable dramas. He’s in that sweet spot where he can choose roles that aren't just "the nice guy who loses the girl." Industry insiders suggest he’s looking at a streaming-original series that might cast him in a more antagonistic light.

He’s also an avid biker and outdoor enthusiast. If you check his socials, he’s been spending a lot of time away from the glitz of Seoul, which is a classic move for actors coming off a heavy melodrama.

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Anne Nakamura and the Complexity of Kanna

Anne Nakamura played Kanna, Jungo’s ex, and she brought a layer of "grown-up" reality to the show. In Japan, Anne is known for her athleticism and her "cool girl" persona.

Her role in the What Comes After Love cast was pivotal because she represented the "what if" of Jungo's life in Japan. Since the series ended, she has returned to her busy schedule of Japanese television dramas and variety appearances. She’s also a huge fitness icon in Japan, recently launching partnerships with wellness brands.

Her performance was a reminder that Japanese actors are finding a huge, hungry audience in the Korean streaming market. Expect to see her in more "Global" versions of Japanese content on platforms like Netflix or Disney+.

The "Director Moon" Effect

While not part of the "cast" you see on screen, director Moon Hyun-sung is the reason the cast looked so good. He treated the show like a film. The lighting, the pacing—it was all very cinematic.

Because of the success of the What Comes After Love cast chemistry, Moon has become a go-to director for platforms looking to produce high-end, "expensive-feeling" romance. He’s reportedly in talks for another project that involves international filming locations.

What Most People Get Wrong About the Show's Ending

There’s a lot of debate online about whether the ending was "satisfying." Some people wanted more fireworks. Others loved the quietness.

But if you look at the interviews from the What Comes After Love cast, they all say the same thing: the show wasn't about the destination. It was about the five years of silence. Lee Se-young mentioned in a wrap-up interview that she viewed the ending as a beginning, not a finale. This nuance is why the show has such high re-watch value.

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Real-world impact of the series

The show actually boosted tourism. No, seriously.

1. Inokashira Park (Tokyo): Fans have been flocking here to find the exact spots where Jungo and Hong ran.
2. Seoul’s Bukchon Hanok Village: Certain alleyways used in the "present-day" scenes saw a spike in foot traffic.
3. Language Apps: There was a documented "bump" in Korean users learning Japanese and vice versa following the show’s peak.

The Cultural Shift in K-Dramaland

The What Comes After Love cast represents a bigger shift. We are moving past the era where K-dramas are strictly "Korean."

We’re seeing more Japanese, Chinese, and Thai actors integrated into the main storylines, not just as cameos. This is driven by the streamers. Coupang Play, Netflix, and Disney+ don't care about borders; they care about minutes watched. By pairing a Hallyu queen like Lee Se-young with a Japanese darling like Sakaguchi Kentaro, they guaranteed a massive audience in two of the world's biggest media markets.

Actionable Insights for Fans and Aspiring Creators

If you’re a fan of the What Comes After Love cast, or if you’re a creator looking at why this worked, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Follow the Agency Accounts: To see what Lee Se-young or Sakaguchi Kentaro are doing next, skip the gossip sites. Follow Prain TPC (for Se-young) or Kentaro’s official Japanese fan club site. That’s where the real "next project" news breaks first.
• Watch the Source Material: If you haven't read the book Sarang Hue Onun Gotdeul, do it. It’s fascinating to see how the two authors—one Korean, one Japanese—wrote the male and female perspectives separately. It gives you a deeper appreciation for the actors' choices.
• Support the Official Streams: The success of this show determines if we get more like it. If the numbers stay high on Coupang Play or Viki, producers will greenlight more cross-cultural dramas.
• Look for "The Blue" and "The Red": The book had two versions. One told from the man's side, one from the woman's. If you want to understand the "Cast" better, try to find translated excerpts of both. It explains the internal monologues that the actors had to portray without speaking.

The legacy of the What Comes After Love cast isn't just a 6-episode limited series. It’s the proof that a story about two people talking (or not talking) in a park can be just as gripping as a high-stakes thriller. It’s about the lingering silence. And honestly? We’re all just waiting to see who these actors decide to fall in love with next—on screen, of course.

The most important thing to do now is watch the behind-the-scenes footage available on Coupang Play’s social media. You’ll see the language barrier disappearing in real-time, which is perhaps more moving than the actual script. It shows the real work behind the "magic" of the chemistry. Keep an eye on the 2026 award season; expect this ensemble to sweep the "Best Couple" or "Best International Collaboration" categories across Asia.