Edited by Seo Hayne
Translated by Yu Jin Kim
Non-romance dramas can surprise viewers with how captivating the bond between a male and female lead can be. Even if they have completely different personalities and live opposite lifestyles, seeing them work flawlessly together towards a shared goal sparks delightful anticipation in viewers. It makes us wonder if there’s a spark simmering beneath the surface of their professional bond. Now, let’s take a look at some on-screen work relationships that subtly set hearts aflutter.
Flex X Cop – Ahn Bo Hyun & Park Ji Hyun
Flex X Cop is a detective drama that follows two unlikely partners with clashing investigative styles. Jin Yi Soo (played by Ahn Bo Hyun), a wealthy third-generation chaebol accustomed to a life of leisure, becomes a police officer overnight after an unexpected incident. He is then paired with Lee Kang Hyun (Park Ji Hyun), the first female team leader in the violent crimes division. Yi Soo’s approach to solving cases using money, connections, and power clashes with Kang Hyun, and she excludes him from the investigation due to his unorthodox methods. Despite their rocky beginning, their bond strengthens as Yi Soo’s troubled past is revealed and Kang Hyun’s mother sets her sights on him as a potential son-in-law. Yi Soo’s words, “If you’re going to fight, I’ll be on your side,” perfectly encapsulate the growing relationship between the two. Flex X Cop is set to return with Season 2, promising to delve into their evolving relationship.
>> Will There Be Romance in ‘Flex X Cop’ Season 2? Writer Kim Ba Da Says Yes
Taxi Driver – Lee Je Hoon & Pyo Ye Jin
Taxi Driver is a revenge drama about a mysterious taxi company and its driver, Kim Do Gi (Lee Jae Hoon), who avenges the victims of injustice. Do Gi receives help from his colleagues at the taxi company, including Ahn Go Eun (Pyo Ye Jin), an accounting department employee with excellent hacking skills. Go Eun seems to be Do Gi’s most reliable colleague, and the two share a common bond: they have both lost loved ones to crime. They are also neighbors who live under the same roof. Do Gi and Go Eun have been popular with viewers since Season 1. In Season 2, they pose as a married couple to solve a victim’s request, and Go Eun even expresses her feelings for Do Gi. This is why expectations for Season 3 are even higher than they were for its previous seasons.
>> Pyo Ye Jin Reveals She Got to Like Lee Je Hoon More After Shooting ‘Taxi Driver2’
Stranger – Cho Seung Woo & Bae Doona
Stranger is a drama about a prosecutor who cannot feel emotions, Hwang Si Mok (Cho Seung Woo), and a hot-blooded detective, Han Yeo Jin (Bae Doo Na), who work together to solve crimes. At the 2017 production event, Cho Seung Woo even said, “The show is not about a romance between a prosecutor and a detective.” Stranger breaks the mold of Korean dramas, focusing on a strong partnership without a romantic subplot. It turned out that Si Mok had lost his emotions as a result of brain surgery and was suffering from ringing noises in the ears. Only Yeo Jin knows this secret, highlighting the deep trust between them. Additionally, Shi Mok, who rarely smiles in front of others, showed a smile towards Yeo Jin, raising expectations for a love line. However, the show stays true to its core, and their bond remains purely professional as they focus on upholding justice.
365: Repeat the Year – Lee Joon Hyuk & Nam Ji Hyun
365: Repeat the Year is a mystery thriller drama about ten people who dream of a better life and go back a year in time, only to find themselves trapped in an inexplicable fate and forced to play a game of survival. They come from different backgrounds and age groups, but they all choose to reset their lives and go back to the past. As the lines between good and evil blur, the characters begin to suspect each other, and the tension mounts as events unfold. Among them, detective Ji Hyung Joo (Lee Jun Hyuk) and popular webtoon writer Shin Ga Hyun (Na Ji Hyun) share their feelings about past pain after the reset and form a strong bond as they investigate the case together. When the identity of the person Hyung Joo trusted is revealed to be a serial killer, Ga Hyun does her best to comfort and support him to prevent him from breaking down completely. In the end, the drama ends with an open ending that suggests a possible love line between the two.
Hyena – Kim Hye Soo & Ju Ji Hoon
Hyena is a legal drama that depicts the cutthroat survival of lawyers who represent the top 1% of the high class. Jung Geum Ja (Kim Hye Soo), who will stop at nothing to make money, embodies the drama’s title, “Hyena.” Geum Ja’s path crosses with Yoon Hee Jae (Ju Ji Hoon), an elite in the legal world, and their relationship begins when she intentionally approaches him. The dynamic between these two very different people is fascinating to watch. As they compete with each other to get ahead, a romantic tension gradually builds between them, and the distance between them narrows. Geum Ja captivates the audience as she flirts with Hee Jae in a way that is both flirtatious and dramatic. Instead of explicitly defining their relationship, the drama portrays them as understanding and supporting each other’s pain, leaving room for their relationship to evolve.
Editor Seo Hayne: I like actors as they faithfully lead through their long running-time. I also like idols who accomplish everything on stage within 3 minutes.
