2 Best Movies to Watch by Kim Ye-won

Romantic melodramas are expected in plenty of Korean shows, but Call It Love still feels surprisingly unexpected. The premise feels like a modern day Cinderella story, except the leading lady here, Shim Woo-joo (Lee Sung-kyung), takes nothing from nobody, not without planning corporate revenge. That being said, the show doesn’t unfold into a corporate sitcom, a crime thriller, or romcom. Instead, the series takes on a more melancholy slice-of-life approach, as it turns out the intended target Han Dong-jin (Kim Young-hwang) is just as hurt and lonely as she is. And as they get to know each other despite the cold, empty frames they inhabit, and despite the pain they’ve both been through, it’s amazing how surprising their healing feels, if you can handle the show’s slow pace to get there.

Genre: Drama

Actor: Hani, Kim Ye-won, Kim Young-kwang, Lee Sung-kyoung, Sung Joon

Director: Kim Ji-yeon, Lee Gwang-young

Wedding Impossible has all the hallmarks of your classic romantic Korean drama. Good-looking and likable leads who go on an enemies-to-lovers journey? Check. One is poor and the other is an heir to a big conglomerate? Oh, check. Funny friends, relatable hardships, fairy tale coincidences? Check, check, check. It’s standard to a tee, which is why it’s remarkable that despite all that, it’s still very easy to like. It’s funny enough, nice to look at, and features winsome performances. Jeon Jong-seo (Burning, Ballerina) may have cut her teeth in edgy roles, but here she’s effortlessly charming. And though his situation isn’t explored in depth, making Kim Do-wan a queer main character is a gusty move for a K-drama. If you want to put something on to pass the time pleasantly, Wedding Impossible is a good choice. But if you want something fresher, edgier, and have no patience for nonstop tropes and cliches, you’re better off exploring other entries in the genre.

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Actor: Bae Yoon-kyung, Jun Jong-seo, Kang Na-eon, Kim Do-wan, Kim Kwang-kyu, Kim Ye-won, Kwon Hae-hyo, Moon Sang-min, Park Jae-wan

Director: Kwon Young-il