Park Jin-young and Kim Min-ju Reunite After 10 Years Apart from Their First Love; Series Premieres on March 6

JTBC’s new Friday series “Shining” brings back memories of first love. Starring Park Jin-young and Kim Min-ju, this drama intricately portrays the emotional dynamics of a couple reuniting over a span of 10 years, from age 19 to 30. It will premiere at 8:50 p.m. on March 6, with episodes one and two airing back-to-back.

Yeon Tae-seo (played by Park Jin-young) and Mo Eun-ah (played by Kim Min-ju) share a special bond that begins with their first meeting in the countryside. Their time together—studying side by side in class and riding bicycles home—is described through narration as a period “when all one could give was their heart.” Laughter that fills every glorious moment of their youth, along with vows to “stay together forever,” represent the peak of their first love.

However, cracks eventually appear in any relationship. As Yeon Tae-seo admits, “Parting is kind of terrifying for me,” while Mo Eun-ah suggests, “Let’s not force our schedules to match.” These conflicting feelings lead the two to go their separate ways.

Ten years later, Yeon Tae-seo and Mo Eun-ah meet again. Despite the long gap, their eye contact still carries deep meaning. In particular, Yeon Tae-seo’s confession—“It’s the person I liked 10 years ago, and those feelings remain exactly the same”—hints that the frozen clock has begun to move again. The question, “Can we still shine on each other as we once did, when we were everything to one another?” evokes both the brilliance of the past and the tenderness of the present.

Lee Suk-yeon, who wrote the script, and director Kim Yoon-jin meticulously crafted the storyline. Director Kim Yoon-jin is known for her stunning visual aesthetics and sensitive direction through previous works such as “That Year, We Were” and “Tell Me You Love Me.” Regarding Park Jin-young, she said, “He conveys many emotions through his eyes. He is someone who can hold countless stories within silence while remaining quietly present,” adding that she is “extremely grateful” that Park Jin-young chose to participate in this project. About Kim Min-ju, she noted, “She gave a powerful impression different from what viewers saw in other works. One could also see the concerns of a 30-year-old Mo Eun-ah through her performance.”

Notably, the series is structured so that 10 years of change does not affect all characters equally. Some remain largely unchanged, while others have transformed significantly as they navigate life today. This setup aims to visually represent how each person endures time with distinct emotions and tones. The cinematographer adjusted color tones and contrasts based on different eras, locations, and emotions, with every member of the production team—from actors to costume designers, makeup artists, hairstylists, set designers, and prop creators—contributing to this level of detail.