KBS's 'Love: Track' Kicks Off with Warm Healing Romances: 'Onion Soup' and 'First Love Earphones' Capture Hearts

The 2025 KBS 2TV one-act drama project, 'Love: Track,' has made a successful debut with its first two installments, 'Onion Soup After Work' and 'First Love Earphones,' delivering warm comfort and touching emotions through tales of love.

'Onion Soup After Work,' which aired on the 14th, presented a gentle healing romance centered around Park Moo-an (played by Lee Dong-hwi), a pharmaceutical sales representative just getting by, and Han Da-jeong (played by Bang Hyo-rin), a chef running a French home-style restaurant. Moo-an found solace in a bowl of onion soup at his regular eatery after enduring a tough day. However, when the soup vanished from the menu, Moo-an sought out Da-jeong to understand why. Da-jeong's explanation led to a shared experience of grocery shopping in the early morning market and preparing the dish together, allowing them to naturally weave into each other's lives.

Da-jeong shared that the key ingredient to the soup was 'waiting,' a revelation that made Moo-an realize the care and effort behind the dish he had previously taken for granted. She confessed she removed the soup from the menu because waiting for Moo-an, who only ordered it on difficult days, felt like waiting for his unhappiness. Hearing her sincerity, Moo-an felt comforted, realizing he wasn't alone. They concluded with a happy ending, promising to share meals during both joyful and sad times, marking the beginning of a new relationship.

Following this, 'First Love Earphones' transported viewers back to 2010, showcasing the tender first love between Han Yeong-seo (played by Han Ji-hyun) and Ki Hyun-ha (played by Ong Seong-wu). Yeong-seo, the top student burdened by academic pressure, suppressed her emotions. She grew closer to Hyun-ha, who introduced her to classical music through an MP3 player and earphones. This musical escape allowed Yeong-seo a brief respite from the world's noise.

Sharing a single pair of earphones, they gradually connected through music, which became a medium to convey emotions words could not. This experience helped Yeong-seo confront her inner voice, which she had long ignored. As the college entrance exams loomed, Yeong-seo felt lost amidst anxiety and academic pressure. Hyun-ha offered support, encouraging her to 'build your own world,' knowing her dream of becoming a lyricist. Despite their deep connection, reality intervened, and Hyun-ha's departure for overseas studies left their first love as a lingering dream. Years later, Yeong-seo finally pursued her dreams, inspired by Hyun-ha. Fifteen years on, they meet again as adults, realizing they had been each other's driving force, even if their first love remained unfulfilled. The drama left a gentle, lingering resonance.

Viewers responded enthusiastically, commenting, 'Both dramas have great direction, acting, and chemistry,' 'I discovered the charm of one-act dramas through 'Love: Track',' and 'Lee Dong-hwi is perfectly cast, and Bang Hyo-rin is adorable.' They also praised Ong Seong-wu and Han Ji-hyun's chemistry, and the warm, heartwarming direction, vowing to tune in next week. 'Love: Track' continues with 'Love Hotel' and 'The Night the Wolf Disappeared' on the 17th.

Netizens have expressed strong positive reactions, with comments like 'KBS's one-act dramas are the best! Always trust them,' 'Lee Dong-hwi's acting is insane,' and 'I want to see Ong Seong-wu's heart-fluttering first love acting again!' showing their affection for the series.