A routine news story leads to a deeply personal conflict in the premiere of JTBC’s new weekend drama. Lee Kyeong-do, a reporter, publishes a blockbuster article about a scandal only to find his own past at the center of it. The show, starring Park Seo-joon and Won Ji-an, uses emotional flashbacks to explore how a first love from 2007 complicates a present-day reunion in 2025.
The episode blends the warmth of youthful memories with the complicated feelings of adulthood, setting up a story about unfinished business and second chances. The series premiered on December 6, 2025, on JTBC and is available for streaming on Prime Video in select regions.
The Present: A Professional Scoop with Personal Consequences
The episode opens in the newsroom of the Dongwoon Daily. Lee Kyeong-do has just broken a major story exposing an affair between businessman Cho Jin-eon and actress Ahn Da-hye, a scandal that also involves allegations of drug use. While his colleagues celebrate the article’s success, Kyeong-do is filled with dread.
His distress has a very specific source: Cho Jin-eon’s wife is Seo Ji-woo, Kyeong-do’s ex-girlfriend and first love. He accidentally dragged the woman from his past into a public scandal. His friends try to comfort him but also note that he seems to be letting his history control his present. Kyeong-do avoids Ji-woo’s attempts to contact him, turning off his phone when a mutual friend says she wants to talk.
Their eventual meeting is tense. Ji-woo, waiting for him after work, reveals the fallout from his article. She thanks him, stating that the scandal has given her a reason to leave her unhappy marriage. However, she explains that her husband is now blaming the marriage’s failure on her struggles with depression and anxiety. In a painful twist, she then asks Kyeong-do to write a follow-up article about her divorce, treating their deeply personal history as just another news story. A hurt Kyeong-do tells her to never see him again and walks away.
Seo Ji-woo tells Kyeong-do: “Write about my divorce. An exclusive.”
The Past: A Playful and Unexpected Beginning in 2007
The present-day conflict is contrasted with bright, humorous flashbacks to 2007, showing how Kyeong-do and Ji-woo first met. Ji-woo, having recently returned from New York, notices a frantic Kyeong-do on a university campus. He is desperately searching for a lost 500-won coin to buy banana milk.
Ji-woo finds his dramatic despair amusing. After spotting the coin, she buys the milk herself, drinks it in front of him, and teasingly pretends to be his senior. This playful, antagonistic encounter defines their early interactions. She constantly teases him for looking older than he is, and he reacts with flustered annoyance, which only encourages her more.
Their first day together involves a spontaneous drinking challenge, leading to a day of laughter and a quick, unexpected connection. Ji-woo disappears suddenly, but reappears the next day to drag him out of his classroom. Their dynamic is established: she is bold, mischievous, and from a wealthy family, while he is more reserved, sincere, and easily flustered.
A Connection Deepens Amidst Personal Struggles
The flashbacks show that Ji-woo’s playful exterior hides personal pain. During one of their early meetings, she receives a harsh phone call from her mother, who criticizes her for being in Seoul and demands she return to the U.S. The call visibly upsets her.
Later that night, Kyeong-do finds Ji-woo sitting alone outside, clearly distressed. He initially walks past but comes back out of concern. They ride the bus home together, sharing earphones and listening to music, a quiet moment where their feelings begin to deepen. Ji-woo asks for his number, marking the official start of their relationship.
Another key flashback shows them at a poetry event. Ji-woo is bored, but is moved when Kyeong-do later recites his favorite poem to her in a subway station, bringing her to tears. The episode’s final flashback reveals their first kiss, which happened after Ji-woo, upset by another call from her demanding mother, sought comfort in Kyeong-do’s arms.
Viewer Reactions to the Premiere’s Style
The premiere episode generated immediate discussion online, though not solely for its story. Many viewers focused on the show’s visual editing, particularly in the flashback scenes.
A noticeable blur or soft-focus filter was applied to scenes featuring Park Seo-joon as his younger 20-year-old self. This stylistic choice led to a wave of humorous comments from viewers on social media and online forums.
Some viewers compared the visual effect to looking through a foggy lens or being inside a steamer. Comments included jokes like “What is this, a dream?” and “I see the world like this when I’m wearing my glasses and a mask”. Others questioned the decision, suggesting the production should have cast a younger actor for those brief scenes instead.
Release Schedule and How to Watch
Surely Tomorrow airs with two episodes each weekend. The series is scheduled for a total of 12 episodes, running from December 2025 into January 2026.
New episodes air on the South Korean network JTBC every Saturday and Sunday at 22:40 (KST). For international audiences, the series is available for streaming on Prime Video in select territories. New episodes are added to the platform on the same day, with English subtitles available upon release.
Below is the release schedule for the first four episodes:
| Episode | Release Date (KST) | International Release (GMT) |
|---|---|---|
| Episode 1 | Saturday, December 6, 2025 | Saturday, December 6, 4:00 PM |
| Episode 2 | Sunday, December 7, 2025 | Sunday, December 7, 4:00 PM |
| Episode 3 | Saturday, December 13, 2025 | Saturday, December 13, 3:00 PM |
| Episode 4 | Sunday, December 14, 2025 | Sunday, December 14, 3:00 PM |
The premiere episode achieved a nationwide viewership rating of 2.721% according to Nielsen Korea, placing first in its time slot.
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