The premiere of "Second Shot at Love" kicks off with Dr. Seo Ui-joon delivering a captivating seminar on the Prevention and Treatment of Alcoholism. He lambasts South Korea's permissive attitude towards alcoholism, emphasizing that anyone, regardless of intelligence or work ethic, can fall prey to this addiction.
The scene transitions to Han Geum-ju, a brilliant senior engineer at an auto repair shop, who harbors a secret battle with alcoholism. One fateful night, she embarrasses herself publicly in a drunken stupor. The following morning, her fiancé, Ju-yeop, presents her with an ultimatum. In a heart-wrenching decision, Geum-ju chooses the bottle over him, leading to their engagement's dissolution. Her mother, Gwang-ok, reproaches her severely, but Geum-ju counters that Ju-yeop initially pursued her for her partying spirit, only to start criticizing once marriage was on the horizon. She defends social drinking as a necessary evil to nurture workplace relationships.
However, the consequences of her addiction soon catch up with her. She loses her job and struggles to make ends meet, ultimately defaulting on her rent. Gwang-ok reluctantly takes her back home, spinning a tale to their hometown of Bochun that the engagement was broken due to an overbearing mother-in-law.
As they journey back, they cross paths with Ui-joon, who is on his way to attend to his elderly patients. His demeanor is marked by patience and warmth; he goes above and beyond to ensure the elders' well-being. Ui-joon even performs chores for an elderly woman and engages the other ladies in cheerful conversation. His natural farming skills come to light, revealing that he honed these abilities while assisting his grandmother.
Back at the Hans' residence, Geum-ju arrives to find her father, Jeong-su, and her divorced older sister, Hyeon-ju, indulging in daytime drinking. Gwang-ok scolds them, revealing that they were the ones who introduced Geum-ju to alcohol and normalized excessive drinking. With a stern resolve, Gwang-ok declares an end to their drinking habits, marking a turning point in the family's journey towards healing and recovery.
Hyeon-ju's twins, adoring Geum-ju, accompany her to the bustling town park, where amidst their playful antics, she pours her heart out to a friend about Ju-yeop. Unbeknownst to her, a nearby gossipmonger catches wind of her cancelled engagement, and soon, the truth spreads with the velocity of wildfire. While some offer their sympathy, many cast aspersions on her. By chance, she encounters an old acquaintance, Seon-wook, who also reproaches her. They then visit Young-woong, a mechanic buddy grappling with a problematic car. Geum-ju, ever the innovator, thinks on her feet and repairs it—only to be discouraged upon discovering it belongs to Ui-joon. Flashbacks reveal that they were once close, but a rift emerged between them. Ui-joon, a highly esteemed doctor in Seoul, made a splashy debut in Bochun with his clinic.
Back in 2007, Geum-ju happens upon Ui-joon, a new transfer student whose bike has broken down. She promptly offers to mend it, her chatterbox nature revealing her as the town's prodigy. He, shy but captivated, watches her with admiration. In the present, their paths cross again. Ui-joon extends a warm greeting, but Geum-ju lashes out. Her grocery bag rips, yet she steadily declines his assistance. He plays along, pretending to leave, further irritating her. As he turns away, his expression darkens with sadness.
Elsewhere, Gwang-ok eavesdrops on her friends gleefully discussing her daughters' tumultuous lives. Returning home to find her husband and daughters clandestinely indulging in a drink, her frustration deepens. She labels Geum-ju as selfish, and Geum-ju, heartbroken, laments that no one understands her plight. Flashbacks illustrate Ju-yeop's betrayal, his affair with a pregnant mistress prompting him to dissolve their engagement. This is the reason Geum-ju starts the episode inebriated, choosing to end the engagement first—a desperate bid for control and dignity.
The following morning, Gwang-ok insisted on taking Geum-ju on a hike to a serene temple, hoping to donate a sum of one million won in a bid to curb her daughter's alcohol addiction. Distressed by the gesture, Geum-ju, in a fit of anger, snatched her mother's phone and dashed away. Ui-joon, chance upon the scene, witnessed Gwang-ok chasing after her daughter in distress. When she pleaded for his assistance, Ui-joon reasoned that acknowledging the problem was the first crucial step towards recovery.
Later that evening, Seon-wook and Young-woong orchestrated a surprise reunion for Ui-joon and Geum-ju. Ui-joon arrived first, and the trio delved into a conversation about Geum-ju's battle with alcoholism. Ui-joon had harbored the hope that their reunion would mark a significant improvement in her life. Unfortunately, Geum-ju, having just arrived and overhearing their conversation, fled once more. She sought solace in alcohol, wishing she could be a better person.
Back at home, the family gathered for her grandfather's memorial service. The extended family was present, and Gwang-ok refused to serve alcohol, blaming them for contributing to Geum-ju's downfall. Despite this, she maintained unwavering faith in Geum-ju's ability to come to her senses.
However, Geum-ju arrived intoxicated, causing a scene that embarrassed everyone. A bottle of makgeolli shattered at Gwang-ok's feet, inciting her rage. She lunged at Geum-ju, intent on disciplining her, while the others struggled to intervene.
The next morning, Geum-ju awoke to find Ui-joon standing over her, her shirt missing, leaving her mortified. He beseeched her to quit drinking for good.
In the epilogue of Second Shot at Love Episode 1, Geum-ju vowed to repair Ui-joon's bicycle in just three minutes. As night fell, Ui-joon teased her playfully. She pouted, and he gently wiped the grease from her face. Both were flustered, and he tried to persuade her to leave. She refused, determined to prove herself. After much effort, she succeeded in fixing the bike, only for her scooter to run out of power. Ui-joon, without hesitation, offered to take her home on his bicycle, the night air filled with unspoken emotions.
