From "Miscast" Controversy to "Comedy of the Year": The Surprising Success of 'Hateful Love'

The announcement that global star Lee Jung-jae would be starring in a Korean drama—and a romantic comedy, no less—was, in itself, a massive event. In the wake of "Squid Game," where his every move draws international attention, expectations for his return to the small screen were at an all-time high. However, as the saying goes, high expectations can lead to great disappointment. When the official posters and trailers for the drama "Hateful Love" were released, public opinion quickly shifted from anticipation to cold skepticism. The problem stemmed from the show's advertised genre, "romance," and the pairing of its two leads: Lee Jung-jae and Lim Ji-yeon.
 

At the heart of this controversy was the significant "age gap" between the two actors. Lee Jung-jae, born in 1972, is 52 years old, while Lim Ji-yeon, born in 1990, is 35. This 17-year difference was seen as a major hurdle. Romantic comedies rely heavily on audience empathy and visual "chemistry" to succeed. The public largely feared that this age disparity would shatter the immersion required for the genre. Some harsh online comments labeled the pairing as looking like "an uncle and his niece" or "anachronistic casting." While Lim Ji-yeon's past role in a melodrama with the 49-year-old Song Seung-heon was mentioned, that was some time ago, and this combination in a full-fledged romantic comedy seemed beyond the pale for many.

However, all these concerns evaporated the moment the drama actually aired. Immediately following the broadcast of the first two episodes, online forums and social media exploded with reactions summarized in one word: "Tricked!" "Hateful Love" was not the sweet romance its promotional material had suggested. Instead, it was a "comedy," with the scales tipped heavily, almost exclusively, toward comedy rather than romance. The lead characters—Im Hyun-joon (played by Lee Jung-jae) and Wi Jeong-shin (played by Lim Ji-yeon)—were not on a path to falling in love. They were, in fact, textbook 'enemies' (앙숙, angsuk) who couldn't wait to see the other fail. Instead of exchanging sweet glances, they spent their screen time growling at each other at every opportunity.

The driving force behind this subversive twist is undeniably Lee Jung-jae's radical acting transformation. In recent years, he has cultivated an image of intense, serious characters: the desperate survivor in "Squid Game," the cold-blooded agent in "Hunt," or the overwhelmingly charismatic Grand Prince Suyang in "The Face Reader." But Im Hyun-joon is the complete opposite. Lee Jung-jae completely sheds the gravitas he has built, delivering a performance where he truly "shatters his image" (망가지다, mangajida). His portrayal of a petty, clumsy, and continually humiliated man provides a fresh shock to viewers, eliciting non-stop laughter.

This choice of role, in hindsight, might have been predictable. After starring in a succession of dark and emotionally heavy projects, it's reasonable to assume he felt a thirst for a lighter, more cheerful character. The behind-the-scenes story that Lim Ji-yeon was the one who first suggested the project to him only adds to the intrigue. Lim Ji-yeon herself, known for her powerful, intense roles like the antagonist in "The Glory," also completely drops her serious persona, diving effortlessly into the comedic role. This "powering down" is seen in the other actors as well, such as Kim Ji-hoon (as Lee Jae-hyung), creating a delightful, relaxed synergy that radiates through the screen.

The character Lee Jung-jae plays, Im Hyun-joon, is perfectly optimized for this "pathetic-yet-hilarious" (짠내, jjaennae) brand of comedy. He is a tragic actor who enjoyed a brief moment of stardom with one movie before being completely forgotten. He gets a second chance at fame when a character he plays in an independent film, "Kang Pil-gu," becomes an unexpected mega-hit. The problem? This "Kang Pil-gu" character is now in its fourth season, and Im Hyun-joon is hopelessly typecast. He desperately craves different roles, but the industry only sees him as Kang Pil-gu, creating a situation that is simultaneously sad and hilarious.

Lim Ji-yeon's character, Wi Jeong-shin, is equally formidable. She was a fiery political reporter whose life mission was to pursue social justice. However, her unbending principles made her a thorn in the side of her superiors, and she finds herself abruptly demoted to the entertainment desk. For someone with her strong convictions and pride in her work, this demotion is tantamount to a death sentence. It is at this point, with both characters facing major crises in their respective careers, that their paths are set on a collision course.

The drama's opening episodes comically detail how these two become archenemies. The core issue is that every time they interact, Im Hyun-joon is the one who ends up suffering damage or humiliation. What's even more absurd is that Wi Jeong-shin shows absolutely zero remorse for the trouble she causes. Instead, she laments her own unfortunate situation and has the audacity to imply that he is somehow the reason her day is ruined. While some viewers initially found this selfishness off-putting, this shameless, self-centered attitude is the very mechanism that solidifies their rivalry and fuels the show's humor.

Perhaps because so many viewers had braced themselves for a traditional, sappy romance, the B-movie-style, almost slapstick humor of "Hateful Love" lands with even greater impact. The unexpected comedic setups and perfectly timed gags disarm the audience, forcing laughter. All of this is held together by Lee Jung-jae's "passionate performance" (열연, yeol-yeon). A popular joke circulating online is, "Why is he acting so well in a silly rom-com?" It's a testament to how he brings his full talent to bear, dominating the screen even in a character defined by his flaws.

This explosive positive reaction was immediately reflected in the viewership ratings. Prior to the show, Lee Jung-jae had made a bold promise: "If the first episode's ratings surpass 3%, I will hold a fan-signing event in Myeongdong dressed as Grand Prince Suyang." Given the pre-broadcast controversy, 3% seemed like a modest, perhaps even hopeful, goal. The actual rating for the first episode, however, was a staggering 5.5%. This is an exceptionally high figure for the competitive Monday-Tuesday drama slot, proving "Hateful Love" had completely captured the audience's attention from day one. As a 16-episode series, the drama has successfully overturned all initial skepticism and is now set to cruise forward as a light, thoroughly enjoyable, and "well-made comedy."