Origin and release year: South Korea (2021)

Starring: Yoon Shi Yoon, Ahn Hee Yeon (EXID’s Hani), Park Ki Woong, Kim Seol Jin, Choi Dae Hoon, Seo Jung Yeon

You Raise Me Up is definitely a new concept of K-Drama. It covers a topic that I never would’ve imagined seeing on a K-Drama screen.

Yoon Shi Yoon‘s character, Do Yong Shik, has erectile dysfunction and he goes to the doctor to get it treated. However, his urologist turns out to be his first love Lee Ru Da (played by Ahn Hee Yeon aka EXID’s Hani).

Considering the taboo nature of such topics I was a little taken aback by the synopsis but the drama ended up being pretty interesting.

Yoon Shi Yoon’s acting was exceptional. He portrayed his insecurities with such vulnerability that you’d think they were real. He did a great job of owning the idiosyncrasies written into his character, such as his obsession with the colour pink, too.

I wasn’t a fan of Ahn Hee Yeon’s character but that tells you that she pulled off the role well. I thought she was a bit self-important and her entire motive for helping him was self-centered. Her boyfriend/ex-boyfriend made matters worse with his cocky attitude. However, Lee Ru Da’s character arc showed her redeeming qualities really well and had me rooting for her to get back together with Do Yong Shik.

The drama had a lot of good tension-filled moments. Some were heartbreaking and some were comical, but it was a good balance of both.

Of course, they ended up together and Do Yong Shik overcame his insecurities and other problems. It was a typical relationship progression over the course of the drama, which makes it a feel-good watch. If you’re into that kind of topic.

What I really enjoyed about this drama was its realistic portrayal of trial and error when it comes to life. It showed that sometimes despite desiring something and working hard for it, things just don’t work out. This is a stark reminder that we often don’t get because it’s an uncomfortable conversation. I enjoyed that this drama was willing to deal with so many uncomfortable topics.

What did you think of You Raise Me Up?