Episode 1 of "Dear Hyeri" kicks off with a nostalgic glimpse into the eight-year-entwined journey of Joo Eun-ho and Jung Hyun-oh, a bond now frayed by the passage of time. Flashing forward to the present, Eun-ho finds herself a somewhat obscure announcer, her 14 years of experience marred by a challenging demeanor, while her former love, Hyun-oh, shines brightly as a star announcer within the same broadcasting firm's constellation.
Reluctantly at first, Eun-ho digs her heels in, refusing to relinquish her morning show post for a 4 PM slot. But fate, or rather her partner's last-minute cancellation, thrusts her into a head-on collision with Hyun-oh, as they are unexpectedly paired together. The reunion is fraught with tension, Eun-ho even jabbing at Hyun-oh, accusing him of harboring unspoken affections.
Enter Moon Ji-on, Eun-ho's affable colleague whose admiration for her is as plain as day. In a bid to win her over, he propositions a date, only for Eun-ho to seize upon an unconventional revenge plan: she decides to don a seductive attire for their upcoming weather segment. However, just as she's poised to deliver her closing salvo, Hyun-oh unexpectedly swoops in, stealing her thunder. Enraged, Eun-ho confronts him later, only to realize that her skirt had torn, and Hyun-oh's intervention was a chivalrous attempt to spare her embarrassment.
Unbeknownst to Eun-ho, Hyun-oh's ears had picked up on her casual agreement to a date with Ji-on. His heart still tethered to her, Hyun-oh orchestrates a scheme to send Ji-on away on a weekend assignment, hoping to thwart their plans. But Eun-ho's curiosity is piqued by the very story Ji-on is to cover, driven by a desire to break her 14-year-long curse of never exceeding 14 minutes of screen time.
Fate intertwines once more as both Eun-ho and Hyun-oh find themselves working tirelessly on the same story, Hyun-oh secretly striving to wrap things up before nightfall, lest their work force an unwanted overnight stay together. The stage is set for a rekindling of old flames, against the backdrop of a thrilling news pursuit.
After enduring a relentless day drenched in rain, Ji-on tenderly escorts Eun-ho to the threshold of her home. As they part, Eun-ho struggles to articulate her lingering sentiments for Hyun-oh, confessing that his reluctance to tie the knot was a pivotal factor in their separation. Ji-on, with gentle persuasion, dispels her doubts and seals their moment with a kiss, igniting a new spark.
The narrative then seamlessly transitions to Eun-ho's alter ego, Hye-ri, seated in a psychiatrist's office, where she professes a mysterious affliction of memory loss and harbors dreams of becoming a renowned announcer. In stark contrast to Eun-ho's demeanor, Hye-ri shines with a timid yet radiant cheerfulness as a parking attendant, secretly admiring the charismatic Kang Joo-yeon. She diligently ensures his parking spot is always available, yet whenever he's in proximity, she mysteriously vanishes.
Meanwhile, Joo-yeon grapples with familial tensions, exacerbated by his mother's misidentification of him as his brother. His professional life is also fraught with challenges, as he faces backlash from stakeholders for his unwavering coverage of a controversial issue.
Fate intertwines on a pivotal day when a protester lunges at Joo-yeon at the station. Without hesitation, Hye-ri springs to his defense, orchestrating their escape. In the heat of the moment, she impulsively presses her lips to his, then vanishes into the shadows. Returning home, she's met with a shocking revelation: Hyun-oh awaits her, addressing her by the name Eun-ho—the woman who haunts her dreams.
It transpires that Hye-ri's visit to the psychiatrist follows these tumultuous events. As the doctor addresses her as "Eun-ho," it becomes clear that Eun-ho has been attending these sessions for two months. Hye-ri attempts to correct the misunderstanding, only to be stunned by the revelation that Eun-ho and Hye-ri are but facets of the same complex soul.
