Dynamite Kiss episodes 1-2 recap: Dar-im and Ji-hyeok’s drunken hug spirals into fake dating chaos and an unexpected first kiss

The South Korean romantic comedy Dynamite Kiss debuted on SBS TV on November 12, 2025. The series is co-written by Ha Yoon-ah and Tae Kyung-min, and directed by Kim Jae-hyun, featuring Jang Ki-yong and Ahn Eun-jin in the lead roles.

The story of Dynamite Kiss centers on Ko Da-rim, a single woman who pretends to be a mother in order to make a living, and Kong Ji-hyeok, her composed and sharp team leader. Their lives take an unexpected turn when Da-rim impulsively kisses him, only for Ji-hyeok to later discover that she has joined his team.

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Dynamite Kiss episodes 1 & 2 recap: Jeju misadventures, fake fiancées and a new romance

Still from Dynamite Kiss (Image via Instagram/@sbsdrama.official)

The episode 1 of Dynamite Kiss begins with Ko Da-rim who is a 30-year-old woman trapped in the cycle of long-term unemployment. Though she consistently passes the written rounds for civil service exams, she repeatedly fails at interviews and supporting herself with a part-time job at a convenience store.

Da-rim’s sister is preparing for her wedding. Excited to attend, Da-rim buys a new outfit with her savings, only to learn that her sister does not want Da-rim at the wedding as she is of unemployed and has told her fiancé she lives in America and. Instead, her sister gives her a flight ticket to Jeju Island and covers her stay at a luxury hotel. Initially hurt, Da-rim consoles herself for her mother’s sake and thanks her sister, setting off for the trip.

On the other hand, Kong Ji-hyeok, a keen and ambitious businessman of a major company, lands a rare, high-stakes business deal. However, the agreement requires the participation of a particular developer, Kim Jeong-ghawn. Kim is Da-rim's ex and is currently vacationing in Jeju with his wife. Determined to secure the deal, Ji-hyeok travels to Jeju to track him down.

In Jeju, Da-rim struggles to enjoy the expensive experiences tourists have. She eats at a cheap restaurant, walks to her hotel instead of taking transport, and gets drunk. While roaming Jeju, Da-rim runs into an old schoolmate, who introduces her to her husband, Kim Jeong-ghawn, Da-rim’s ex.

Memories of their painful breakup, including humiliating comments about her appearance, resurface. The schoolmate invites Da-rim to join them for lunch, but she declines, flustered by Kim’s presence. To save face, she pretends to have a boyfriend when the schoolmate asks, claiming she is not alone in Jeju.

Still from Dynamite Kiss (Image via Instagram/@sbsdrama.official)

Later, near a cliff, she recalls her past struggles, including a failed suicide attempt following repeated interview failures. Suddenly, she spots Kong Ji-hyeok at the edge of a nearby cliff. Thinking he is about to commit suicide, she rushes to save him. Ji-hyeok is surprised and tries to shake her off.

During the commotion, Da-rim nearly falls and would hit a rock, but Ji-hyeok catches her, injuring his hand in doing so. Both end up in the hospital. Ji-hyeok puts the blame on Da-rim, claiming she must pay for all medical bills. Reluctantly, she covers the expenses and heads to her hotel.

The next morning at the hotel breakfast buffet, Da-rim encounters Kong Ji-hyeok, who is staying at the same hotel, and confronts him about the hospital bill she had to pay. While they argue, her ex-schoolmate and her ex, Kim Jeong-ghawn, arrive.

The schoolmate calls out Da-rim's name, and both she and Kim Jeong-ghawn assume Kong Ji-hyeok is Da-rim's boyfriend. To save face in front of the ex who once humiliated her, Da-rim goes along with the misunderstanding, pretending Kong Ji-hyeok is her boyfriend. Seeing an opportunity to approach Kim Jeong-ghawn Ji-hyeok goes along with it.

During breakfast, Ji-hyeok realizes Kim Jeong-ghawn's relationship with Da-rim’s and invites Kim and his wife to a party he is hosting that evening. Da-rim is shocked by the plan. Later, Ji-hyeok explains to Da-rim that he is trying to recruit Kim Jeong-ghawn as a developer for a once-in-a-lifetime project and needs her to pretend to be his girlfriend, just as she did at breakfast. In exchange, he promises to pay ten times the hospital bill she covered, and Da-rim agrees.

Still from Dynamite Kiss (Image via Instagram/@sbsdrama.official)

At the party, Da-rim and Ji-hyeok arrive posing as fiancées planning to marry next spring. Da-rim is elegantly dressed in an outfit Ji-hyeok bought her, with hair and makeup done. Kim and his wife are surprised, with Kim visibly shocked to see Da-rim. During the evening, Ji-hyeok tries to discuss recruiting Kim, but Kim initially shows no interest until Da-rim intervenes, praising Ji-hyeok’s work, drawing Kim’s attention.

Later, Kim privately questions Da-rim if she is being paid to act as Ji-hyeok’s girlfriend to persue him. But she dismisses him, insisting their meeting is coincidental and taunts him for being arrogant. Kim continues to probe Ji-hyeok about Da-rim’s personal life, but Da-rim feigns feeling feverish and takes him away, warning him that Kim is becoming suspicious.

As Da-rim and Kong Ji-hyeok plan how to dodge Kim’s growing suspicion, the other party guests including Kim and his wife step outside to watch the fireworks. Seeing them coming, on impulse, Da-rim kisses Ji-hyeok. Shocked, Kim leaves with his wife. Then, Da-rim tries to pull away, but Ji-hyeok stops her and asks for permission to kiss her properly. As they share a kiss, episode 1 of Dynamite Kiss ends.

Episode 2 of Dynamite Kiss opens immediately after the fireworks kiss. Da-rim is flustered and quickly walks away from Ji-hyeok. Soon, they returns to the party, and are summoned to dance together while Kim and his wife watch.

After the dance, Kim once more confronts Da-rim outside, accusing her of faking the relationship and trying to coerce her into being with him to approve Ji-hyeok’s proposal. As Kim pressures her further despite her refusal, Ji-hyeok intervenes. He punches Kim and firmly declares he will never work with someone like him.

Still from Dynamite Kiss (Image via Instagram/@sbsdrama.official)

Later on this episode of Dynamite Kiss, Da-rim takes care of Ji-hyeok and apologizes for the failed deal. Ji-hyeok dismisses her apology and realizing he is developing feelings for her, asks her out on a date the next day. As she agrees excitedly, the next day, Da-rim and Ji-hyeok enjoy their date together.

Meanwhile, back home, Da-rim’s sister is getting married. Her husband-to-be has taken a loan he cannot repay, and the lender arrives at the wedding. In face of this the couple flee the venue, and the lender confronts Da-rim’s mother, who suffers a heart attack from the shock.

Back in Jeju, during their date, Da-rim receives a phone call from her neighbor Kim Seon-u informing her of her mother’s condition. Overcome with worry, she immediately leaves Ji-hyeok, without informing him and rushes back to Seoul.

Confused and concerned about Da-rim abruptly leaving him behind, Kong Ji-hyeok searches for her in Jeju but comes up empty-handed. Undeterred, he returns to Seoul and continues his search throughout the city, determined to find her.

Meanwhile, Ji-hyeok learns that his mother, Kim In-ae, is being used by his father, Kong Chang-ho, purely for business purposes, with no genuine care for her well-being. Ji-hyeok asks for a divorce for his mother from Chang-ho. His father agrees but only if Ji-hyeok leaves his current job and joins the family business of baby products, which Ji-hyeok accepts.

Kong Chang-ho informs his eldest daughter, Kong Ji-hye, about the deal with Kong Ji-hyeok. Ambitious and eager to assert control over the company, Ji-hye devises a scheme to undermine her brother. She orders the hiring of inexperienced or unqualified employees, specifically mothers with children under six to make a Tf team and appoints Ji-hyeok as their team leader.

Meanwhile, Da-rim takes out a loan to cover her mother’s hospital expenses. Realizing the urgency, she decides to put her civil service exam plans on hold and focuses on finding a steady job. During her search, she comes across a job advertisement from Kong Ji-hyeok’s company, which seeks mothers with little to no work experience or formal qualifications.

Da-rim, being single and without children remembers her neighbor and friend, Kim Seon-u, a single father with a child under six. Inspired, she devises a plan: to use Seon-u and his child to meet the job’s criteria. Though she spends time debating the ethics of the idea, she ultimately decides to apply for the position

The interview and Da-rim goes to the company for her scheduled interview. Kong Ji-hyeok is on the interview panel. As Da-rim enters the room, she respectfully bows to the panel and looks up, locking eyes with Ji-hyeok. The episode 2 of Dynamite Kiss ends on this note.

Also read: What to expect in the upcoming episode of Dynamite Kiss

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Both released episodes of Dynamite Kiss are available for streaming on Netflix. It airs twice a week, every Wednesday and Thursday at 9:00 pm KST, with episodes 3 and 4 of Dynamite Kiss set to release on November 19 and 20.

Edited by Adrija Chakraborty