Grief affects everyone differently. Experiencing its five stages – denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and finally, acceptance – offers a clear way to cope with loss.
In Light Shop, these characters are pulled into a mysterious realm between life and death. Their journeys through these stages are both raw and relatable, showing how they confront their past, with some unexpected help from the dead.
Join us as we explore how each character embodies these stages, highlighting the emotional growth and character development that make their journey unforgettable.
#1 Hyun Min - Denial
Denial is often easier to embrace than the truth, and for Hyun Min, it becomes his sanctuary. His journey begins on a rainy evening when he meets a girl at a bus stop, drenched yet refusing to move. Her face seems familiar, but he can’t seem to place her. Out of sympathy, he offers her shelter, unaware of the connection they once shared.
What starts as a simple gesture soon spirals into something unexpected. The girl brings him to revisit places that stir forgotten memories, but Hyun Min can’t understand their significance.
When the truth finally comes to light—that he is on the brink of death—he refuses to accept it. As he faces new revelation at every stop, his journey through denial reflects the painful first stage in the grieving process.
#2 Ji Young - Anger
After exploring Hyun Min's journey through denial, we now shift our focus to Ji Young, the girl he met at the bus stop, where anger takes centre stage. Ji Young wasn’t at the bus stop by coincidence—she had been waiting for him.
Aware that Hyun Min is on the verge of death and has lost all his memories, Ji Young desperately attempts to help him remember who he was to her by revisiting familiar places. However, his inability to remember anything only intensifies her anger and frustration.
Caught in an emotional storm, Ji Young must confront her rage. Is it directed at Hyun Min or rooted in her grief and longing for hope?
#3 Yu Hee - Bargaining
A mother’s love knows no bounds – Yu Hee’s story exemplifies this. One day, during her usual routine of walking her daughter home from school, an unimaginable tragedy strikes, leaving them both trapped in a limbo between life and death.
Devastated by her daughter's coma, Yu Hee’s sorrow turns into desperate bargaining. Determined to save her daughter’s life, she embarks on a journey that leads her to a mysterious Light Shop.
Yu Hee finds herself bargaining for the chance to rewrite her daughter’s destiny at the shop. On the brink of death herself, her journey through this stage of grief highlights her maternal sacrifice, love, and hope.
#4 Hyun Ju - Depression
Many young students spend their days frolicking in carefree fun, but for Hyun Ju, what starts as an ordinary day—hanging out with friends and attending school—takes an eerie turn. She suddenly realises she has become invisible, unnoticed by everyone around her.
Overwhelmed by this revelation, Hyun Ju spirals into despair, questioning why she ended up in this invisible state. Struggling to comprehend her new reality, she is consumed by hopelessness, bearing the crushing weight of her untimely demise.
To her, all hope seems lost—until the arrival of her loving mother, who offers a glimmer of light in her darkness.
#5 Sun Hae - Acceptance
Acceptance is about realising a truth that can no longer be denied, and that is the final stage of Sun Hae’s journey. She begins her adulthood with a simple and peaceful life in her new home until strange, unexplainable events unfold.
At first, she wonders if the house is haunted. But when an unexpected guest appears and reveals the shocking truth—Sun Hae is filled with confusion and disbelief. Will she be able to accept her fate, or will she remain trapped in an endless cycle of grief, unable to find peace?
Being trapped in the limbo between life and death is a gruelling, painful process, and that’s what makes Light Shop so special—every character explores the human condition of grief.
These characters endure the ultimate test of perseverance through grief, demonstrating their will to live. Disney+ Hotstar has more great stories for you, so let’s see where fate takes you next!
