Origin and release year: Love To Hate You (South Korea – 2023)
Korean title: 연애대전
Starring: Kim Ok Vin, Yoo Teo, Kim Ji Hoon, Go Won Hee, Lee Ju Bin, Kim Sung Ryung, Choi Yoon So, Jung Kyu Soo, Han Seo Joon, Song Ji Woo, Kim Ye Ryung, Choi Dae Sung, Kim Kang Hyun, Baek Sung Chul, Jeon Shin Hwan, Lee Chul Min, Im Sung Kyun, Jo Seung Hee, Eugene, Woo Tae Ha
Director: Kim Jung Kwon
Screenwriter: Choi Soo Young
Synopsis: For an attorney who despises losing to men and an A-list actor who distrusts women, love means nothing – until they’re forced to date each other. (IMDb)
This was one of this writer’s favorite K-dramas in a while. There was just something so wholesome about the entertaining viewing experience that reminded you about the charm of K-dramas in general.
Yoo Teo… His character was suuuuuuch a red flag in the beginning. It’s almost ridiculous how bright the red of his flag was… Granted he had trauma and a panic disorder and what not but he was the kind of guy you should avoid in the beginning. But once he had his character arc and turned around, he turned out to be the sweetest and most enchanting male lead ever. He was giving handsome, suave, and, caring.
Kim Ok Vin was such a gem in this drama, too. We love a no-nonsense female character who stands her ground and is all definitions of cool. She was the epitome of a girls girl and a career woman who most girls would look up to, as well. Her personality might rub some people the wrong way but that was part of her charm.
Whilst both of the leads were somewhat unlikeable at first… It was refreshing to see a mature love story onscreen that had all of the real-life makings of a romance. It was heartwarming but sexy and realistic at the same time.
Whilst some may argue that the fake relationship and enemies-to-lovers tropes have been over done to death in K-dramas (which they have), this drama made both of these tropes shine. You were hooked in both tropes and in the narrative as a whole.
We also need to give a shoutout to the supporting cast because they really made the drama as good as it was.
It was also great how the drama stayed true to its genre. It seems more and more K-dramas are trying to do all genres in one show and sometimes it really offsets the story, but this drama was just a feel-good funny and sweet romantic story that kept you captivated throughout. In fact, this drama could easily be in a top 20 list of the best rom-com K-dramas out there – it just makes you happy to watch it.
What did you think of Love To Hate You? Let us know in the comments.