Light Shop – K-drama Episode 1 Recap & Review

Strangers

Episode 1 of Light Shop begins with a woman standing at a brightly lit light shop, the only illuminated spot in an otherwise dark alley. The scene shifts to Kim Hyun-min, a man returning home from work.

On his way, he repeatedly notices a woman, Lee Ji-young, sitting at a bus stop with her luggage. One rainy evening, she’s there again, and this time, Hyun-min approaches her. Ji-young insists on seeking shelter at his place, and though hesitant, Hyun-min agrees to let her stay.

Meanwhile, at an ICU ward, Kwon Young-ji, a nurse recovering from her own traumatic accident that once left her in the ICU, notices a strange man wandering in the ward asking for directions to the morgue. Shortly after, a critically ill patient begins to relapse, with the nurses discovering his oxygen mask undone. Despite their efforts, the doctors tell the family that the patient’s survival now depends solely on his “will.”

Elsewhere, Kang Byung-jin, a man plagued by a relentless chill, struggles to keep warm. The mysterious man Young-ji saw earlier visits the Light Shop owned by Jung Won-young but leaves without making a purchase. Many others pass through the shop, buying bulbs and lanterns, while some are turned away by Won-young, including Park Hye-won, a woman in red heels, and Kang Byung-jin.

At a school, Joo Hyun-ju studies with her friends while they discuss the rumor of a ghost haunting their campus. Waving to a strange girl outside, Hyun-ju later parts ways with her friends and heads into the dark alley to buy a light bulb for her mother. There, she meets Won-young, a familiar figure in her life. Hyun-ju reveals her ability to see people others cannot.

Won-young warns her to be cautious of those who seem slightly “off” but blend in with ordinary people. He advises her to treat them as if they’re normal, even if she notices their differences. Before sending her off, he hands her a manual flashlight and urges her to return home quickly.

The episode ends at Kim Hyun-min’s apartment, where he notices something unnerving about Ji-young: her fingernails are bizarrely located on her palms. As Ji-young opens her luggage to reveal tools, the scene cuts to Hyun-ju arriving home. She sees Ji-young leaving Hyun-min’s apartment, blood dripping from her suitcase.

The Episode Review

The premiere episode of Light Shop introduces its eerie, supernatural world with a masterful blend of mystery and unsettling horror. While it leans more toward creating a sense of unease than outright scares, the haunting atmosphere and cinematic visuals are captivating and enhance the underlying dread.

The show’s narrative is intentionally non-linear, weaving between various characters and subplots with abrupt cuts. This fragmented storytelling adds to the intrigue and leaves the audience guessing about the connections between the characters and their respective mysteries.

While the multiple plotlines may seem disjointed at first, they contribute to the show’s unpredictability, making it impossible to foresee where the story is headed. With its unsettling atmosphere, layered storytelling, and ominous hints of horror, Light Shop sets the stage for a thrilling supernatural journey.