Tune in for Love (2019) Plot Summary & Timeline

In 1994, we meet Hyun-woo, who has just stepped out of the confines of prison life and is in search of a fresh start. He takes on a part-time job at Mi-soo’s bakery, a quaint little place that becomes a pivotal point of connection for him, Mi-soo, and her mother, Eun-ja. As they bond over shared experiences and laughter, Hyun-woo begins to open up about his past, sharing moments of vulnerability with Eun-ja.

However, as Christmas nears, the serene atmosphere of the bakery is disrupted by the arrival of Hyun-woo’s old friends, who come to visit amid construction for new apartment buildings in the area. This reunion stirs up tension, leading to an uncomfortable confrontation when Eun-ja ultimately insists they leave. Just as Hyun-woo prepares to follow them out, he pauses to ask Mi-soo if he can receive his wages in advance, leaving both women pondering whether he will ever return to their lives. That very night, while reminiscing about their late friend Jyeong-hyeop at a local soju bar, their gathering turns chaotic as a brawl ignites.

Fast forward to 1997, and the bakery that once served as their cozy retreat has closed its doors. Mi-soo has transitioned into the role of a newspaper editor, while Eun-ja now manages a noodle shop. Hyun-woo, meanwhile, is making his living as a furniture mover. One day, after work, a coworker requests Hyun-woo to escort his elderly mother home. Strangely, on their path, Hyun-woo spots Mi-soo outside the old bakery, igniting memories that lead them to share intimate moments in her apartment. Mi-soo candidly reveals that she waited in vain for him to return on the day he left, while Hyun-woo confesses that he yearned to come back but was thwarted by a setback during his probation due to the fight at the bar.

As the sun rises, Mi-soo, motivated by a desire to stay connected, sets up an email account for Hyun-woo and urges him to write to her while he embarks on his military service. Little does she realize that in the flurry of goodbyes, she forgotten to disclose the password—her apartment code—effectively locking him out of their communication.

By 2000, the once-bustling bakery has morphed into a real estate agency, and new apartments have taken over the landscape. Mi-soo feels trapped in her unfulfilling editor job, while Hyun-woo finally completes his military service and begins his quest to find Mi-soo, only to uncover that she has relocated. Undeterred, he decides to take up residence in her former apartment. As fate would have it, he stumbles upon her old apartment code and gains access to his email, igniting a flicker of hope. Ecstatic, Mi-soo reaches out to him, requesting his number for a potential reunion. However, a sudden upheaval occurs when Hyun-woo’s workplace is invaded by an angry mob, resulting in a shattered phone.

That very next day, Mi-soo sends him an email expressing that perhaps it’s for the best they didn’t meet, as she isn’t in the right frame of mind to reconnect and pretend that everything is fine.

Five years later, we find Mi-soo thriving as a successful author, while Hyun-woo has established himself as a video editor. Their paths converge once more, and they rekindle their relationship. During one particularly passionate evening, Hyun-woo inquires if she still harbors the fears that once held her back in their youth. With an affirmative shake of her head, the moment escalates into a heartfelt embrace.

The couple decides to visit Eun-ja, who has found love and now juggles her obligations as a stepmother. Mi-soo surprises Hyun-woo with her photograph, highlighting her affection for him while endorsing him as a video editor for Yoo Yeol’s new visual radio show.

However, tension rides on the winds of the past as Hyun-woo encounters old friends during a comic book return. They remind him that it is the tenth anniversary of Jyeong-hyeop’s death—an event that casts a long shadow over Hyun-woo’s life, as he was wrongfully implicated in the tragedy. The group decides to honor their departed friend by visiting his old home, where they attempt to offer support to his sister, who coldly rebuffs their gesture. Hyun-woo, desperate to exonerate himself, tries to explain his innocence, but his words fall on deaf ears. Amidst the turmoil, he accidentally leaves his phone behind, leading to a crucial call from Mi-soo, where she unexpectedly learns about Hyun-woo’s past tumult.

The next series of events sees Mi-soo confronting Hyun-woo with the new revelations, asking if their relationship can withstand the weight of the truth. Devastated by her inquiry, Hyun-woo realizes he had prayed for her ignorance so he could live unburdened by his past. In a heart-wrenching exchange, Mi-soo pleads with him to stay, yet he feels compelled to walk away. A confrontation ensues between him and the friend who spilled his secrets, reflecting the inner turmoil that Hyun-woo faces daily.

Upon returning to his old workplace, hoping to reclaim Mi-soo’s photograph, he discovers it has changed hands, now owned by her boss, who disdainfully informs him that she deserves someone better. Ruled by emotion, Hyun-woo desperately seeks Mi-soo, trailing her boss’s car in hopes of spotting her. As Mi-soo is picked up, she notices Hyun-woo’s frantic pursuit and exits the vehicle. In a moment of raw honesty, he confesses his enduring love, but she disheartens him with a plea to stop chasing.

As he crumbles under the weight of his heartache, Mi-soo drives away, leaving Hyun-woo to confront the overwhelming sadness of unresolved emotions.

A few days later, Mi-soo visits Eun-ja, reminiscing about the past and recalling how Hyun-woo had visited her. She learns from Eun-ja how grateful he had been for her trust, while the world around him seems to have turned its back due to judgment and misunderstanding. Meanwhile, Hyun-woo embarks on a new chapter as a video editor for Yoo Yeol’s show, during which he’s asked if he wishes to make a special acknowledgment on air. In an emotionally charged decision, he dedicates a shoutout to Mi-soo, never fully grasping the significance this note will carry.

When Mi-soo tunes in and hears Hyun-woo’s heartfelt shoutout, she feels a rush of emotions, prompting her to hurry over to the studio. Upon arrival, she finds him packing up, and in a fleeting yet poignant moment, their eyes connect. Hyun-woo captures her radiant smile as she beams at him, signifying that beneath the layer of pain, there remains a glimmer of hope for their love to blossom once more.