tvN’s new romance thriller Love in Disguise, starring Yim Si Wan and Seol In Ah, premiered to solid ratings despite mixed reactions to Yim’s unconventional acting style.
The October 19th premiere averaged 5.6% ratings nationwide and peaked at 6.7%, according to Nielsen Korea, topping its time slot among cable and general programming channels. The drama also ranked first across all channels among viewers aged 20 to 49.
The first episode introduces Yoon Yi Jun (Yim Si Wan), heir to Taegang Group, who becomes a murder suspect after his secretary Han Eun Young (Jung Yoo Min) is found dead inside an office cabinet. Detective Kang Jae Hee (Seol In Ah) suspects him, but when pressure from her superiors brings the investigation to a premature close, she decides to investigate undercover.
Disguising herself as a man, Kang applies to become Yoon’s personal secretary. A former special forces officer, she meets his unusual hiring requirements, which prioritize combat and security skills over academic credentials.
During the interview, Yoon asks, “Have you ever killed anyone?” Kang recalls a fellow soldier who died because of her hesitation during military service. When Yoon presses her about confronting the killer, she loses control and throws him to the ground.
Although initially rejected, Kang gets a second chance after stopping a relative of the murder victim from attacking Yoon in a parking garage. He hires her on the condition that she put him first and like him unconditionally, to which she enthusiastically replies, “I will!”
The episode ends with Kang entering Yoon’s home wearing camera-equipped glasses to share information with her team. Yoon suddenly removes them and says, “Gotcha,” suggesting her cover may already be blown.
The premiere drew attention for its mix of murder mystery, undercover investigation and comedy. However, Yim’s unusual speech patterns and delivery as the eccentric heir divided viewers. Some found his performance “awkward,” while others suggested it was too early to judge or questioned whether the character’s distinctive voice had a deeper explanation.
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