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| yna@yna.co.kr 2025-01-08 09:22:24
SEOUL, Jan. 8 (Yonhap) -- The small screen is brimming with romance as the new year kicks off, offering a variety of love stories to captivate viewers.
From romantic comedies featuring bickering protagonists to intense historical melodramas, these dramas are set to paint living rooms pink with their unique settings and heartfelt tales.
Leading the buzz is tvN's "When the Stars Gossip," marking the return of romantic comedy queen Gong Hyo-jin. Premiering on January 4, the drama tells the story of a top astronaut and an unexpected visitor on a zero-gravity space station. Gong Hyo-jin stars as Eve Kim, Korea’s finest astronaut, while Lee Min-ho plays Kong Ryong, a wealthy tourist who pays 70 billion won to visit the station where she works.
The drama reunites writer Seo Sook-hyang and director Park Shin-woo, known for their hit series Pasta, adding to the anticipation. While praised for its fresh "space office" setting, the drama has polarized viewers with its comedic narration and exaggerated CGI. Premiering with a 3.3% viewership rating, it edged slightly higher in its second episode, hitting 3.9%.
SBS's "Love Scout" also jumped on the romantic comedy bandwagon, starring Han Ji-min and Lee Jun-hyuk. The series started strong, with its first two episodes earning 5.2% and 6.5% viewership ratings, respectively.
Love Scout flips the usual romantic comedy trope by reversing the roles of the leads. Han Ji-min plays Kang Ji-yoon, a sharp but clumsy CEO of a headhunting firm, while Lee Jun-hyuk portrays Yoo Eun-ho, her warm-hearted and resourceful secretary. The drama’s "enemies-to-lovers" dynamic, where two characters with opposing values slowly develop a romantic bond, is a major highlight.
Kang Ji-yoon is a workaholic who prioritizes efficiency and financial worth, while Yoo Eun-ho believes in living for things beyond monetary value. As their clashing perspectives evolve into romance, viewers are eager to see how their chemistry unfolds.
While romantic comedies dominate, tvN's "The Queen Who Crowns" delves into a heavier narrative. This historical melodrama, which premiered on January 6, offers a fresh perspective on the relationship between King Taejong and Queen Wongyeong, known for their political alliance. The story unfolds from Queen Wongyeong's viewpoint, highlighting their transformation from united partners during turbulent times, such as the Strife of Princes, to adversaries as they rise to the throne.
Despite its palace intrigue elements, the drama focuses on the complicated and evolving romance between the couple. Director Kim Sang-ho emphasized during a press conference that the series explores how their love deepens over time, even as political conflicts drive them apart. The debut episode skillfully portrayed Taejong's insecurities about his reliance on his wife’s family for power and Queen Wongyeong’s feelings of betrayal as his demeanor shifts post-coronation. The series began with a solid 4.9% viewership rating.
For those seeking a more tender romance, MBC’s "Motel California," set to premiere on January 10, promises a heartwarming story of first love and second chances. Adapted from Sim Yoon-seo’s novel Home, Bitter Home, the drama revolves around Ji Kang-hee (Lee Se-young), a woman who grew up in a rural motel, and her encounter with her first love, Chun Yeon-soo (Na In-woo), 12 years after fleeing her hometown.
While specific details remain under wraps, Lee Se-young teased that the story centers on finding solace in another person.
Lee noted, "For Kang-hee, Yeon-soo is that one person who listens and gives her strength to keep going." The drama aims to comfort viewers by showcasing how imperfect characters support and cherish each other as they overcome life’s challenges.
[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]