A Sobering K-Drama About Heartbreak and Healing Hits No.1 in Just 3 Episodes

The new K-drama ‘Second Shot at Love’ (Korean title: 금주를 부탁해, lit. Please Quit Drinking) is quickly becoming a breakout hit. Just three episodes in, the tvN Monday–Tuesday drama—starring Choi Soo-young and Gong Myung—has claimed the No.1 spot across all cable and general programming channels in its time slot.

Episode 3, which aired on May 19, recorded 3.7% average viewership in Seoul (peaking at 5%) and 3.2% nationwide (peaking at 4.1%), continuing its steady rise in ratings.

■ A Romance Born from Sobriety—and Secrets

Second Shot at Love follows Han Geum-joo (Choi Soo-young), a no-nonsense auto mechanic who proudly calls herself a “reasonable drinker,” until she reunites with her sober, emotionally distant first love Seo Eui-jun (Gong Myung)—a psychiatrist. As they reconnect, she attempts sobriety for the first time, leading to a romance laced with unresolved history and emotional tension.

The drama has already reversed the network’s Monday–Tuesday ratings slump, a major feat after its predecessor The Divorce Insurance saw ratings dip from 3.2% in episode 1 to just 1.1% by its finale. Second Shot at Love opened with a strong 3.4% debut, setting a new tone for the time slot.

■ A Painful Past Comes Back

Episode 3 intensifies as Han Geum-joo takes Seo Eui-jun on a test drive to Seoul in a car she repaired herself. Her sudden splurge at a department store raises Eui-jun’s suspicions—especially since she recently claimed to be broke. Geum-joo casually reveals she got a refund on her canceled wedding venue, but Eui-jun’s sharp response—“You sound like the one who got dumped”—hints at buried resentment.

The moment brings back memories of his college confession to Geum-joo, made when she was drunk—only to be brushed off the next day, leaving a lasting scar.

Later, Geum-joo is sent to a remote sobriety camp by her grandmother, where she’s cut off from the outside world. During a brief phone check, she’s hit with devastating news: the wedding refund she bragged about actually came from her ex-fiancé Ju-yeop (Yoo Ui-tae), who is now going through with the wedding—just with a different bride.

As Geum-joo breaks down, Eui-jun rushes to her side after spotting Ju-yeop with a pregnant woman at the hospital. He finds Geum-joo alone in the mountains, trying to appear strong. But when she finally cracks and sobs, “I’m not okay. It hurts so much,” he silently sits beside her, offering quiet comfort. The raw, tearful scene deeply resonated with viewers, raising anticipation for the next episode.

■ The Cast Speaks on Emotional Depth

At a recent press conference, Choi Soo-young spoke about the challenges of portraying a functioning alcoholic:

“We discussed a lot about how to show the degree of addiction. Some people don’t appear addicted at all but really are. Geum-joo works extremely hard to survive in a male-dominated industry, and that’s what leads her into dependency. The story is about her healing through love and family.”

Gong Myung added, “Seo Eui-jun doesn’t show his emotions easily, so I focused a lot on tone and facial expressions to convey depth.”

Director Jang Yoo-jung noted:

“It’s a light-hearted drama, but at its core, it’s about dependence, healing, and recovery—whether from alcohol, love, or loneliness. It’s also about reconnecting with family and significant others.”

■ What’s Next?

Episode 4 airs tonight (May 20) at 8:50 PM KST. Viewers are eager to see how Han Geum-joo processes the pain of betrayal and whether she and Seo Eui-jun will finally begin to bridge the emotional gap rooted in their shared past.

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