Edited by Seo Hayne
Translated by Kim Hoyeun
tvN’s new series Love Your Enemy tells the story of Seok Ji Won (Ju Ji Hoon) and Yoon Ji Won (Jung Yu Mi), a man and a woman born on the same day and sharing the same name, as they navigate love, heartbreak, and reunion. Directed by Park Joon Hwa, known for What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim and Alchemy of Souls, and written by Lim Ye Jin, co-writer of Love in the Moonlight, this series brings together a dream team of cast and crew to deliver the quintessential romantic comedy.
A Reunion with First Love
The theme of reconnecting with a high school sweetheart after years apart is a familiar one, explored in dramas like Our Beloved Summer (starring Kim Da Mi and Choi Woo Shik) and Serendipity’s Embrace (starring Kim So Hyun and Chae Jong Hyeop). As adults, the characters reunite only after breaking free from the harsh realities that shaped them over the years. No matter how deeply they loved or how similar their struggles once were, they can’t return to the people they were—or the feelings they had—back then.
In Love Your Enemy, the leads were academic rivals in their youth: Yoon Ji Won, a perennial top student, and Seok Ji Won, who always followed closely behind her. During their teenage years, they seemed to share the same world, but as adults, they reunite under very different circumstances—she as a high school P.E. teacher, and he as the school’s chairman. While the drama doesn’t heavily emphasize class differences, it’s clear their lives have taken different trajectories.
The series draws inspiration from the old Korean saying, “Enemies meet on a narrow bridge (Enemies always cross paths where they least expect it),” reflecting the unshakable bond between the two leads. Their tangled history spans three generations, beginning with their grandfathers’ rivalry. In the present day, this animosity continues over a small village: one side wants to build a golf course, while the other wants to preserve the community. Seok Ji Won’s official reason for taking the chairman position at Yoon Ji Won’s school is to avenge his grandfather, but in reality, his bruised ego drives him—Yoon Ji Won failed to recognize him when her glasses broke.
Comedy First, Romance Later
Even before airing, the series garnered buzz for marking Jung Yu Mi’s return to romantic comedy 12 years after I Need Romance 2012 and Ju Ji Hoon’s 18-year break from the genre since Princess Hours. Known for excelling in darker, action-packed roles in projects like Asura: The City of Madness, the Along with the Gods franchise, and Kingdom, Ju Ji Hoon takes a refreshing turn with this makeover.
The early episodes focus heavily on comedy. Jung Yu Mi nails slapstick moments, including being hit on the head with a ball and having her glasses break, while Ju Ji Hoon delivers laugh-out-loud physical comedy, like getting stuck in a drum barrel.
By the end of episode two, however, romance starts to take center stage. At a staff dinner, older male teachers try to pair Yoon Ji Won with Seok Ji Won, but Yoon Ji Won is still reeling from drunkenly confessing to another teacher (Kim Jae Chul) and getting rejected. Then there’s the unusual romantic catalyst: the “mad lilacs” blooming in the schoolyard. These flowers are said to herald exceptional college admissions success in the years they bloom. Yet, in some years, they fail to bloom entirely, giving rise to their nickname, “mad lilacs.”
After hearing that the flowers haven’t bloomed in four years, Seok Ji Won taunts Yoon Ji Won with a bet: “If these mad lilacs bloom, let’s date.” While the line feels a bit forced, it’s a callback to their high school days, when Seok Ji Won made a similar bet—if he ranked first in finals, they would date. Unfortunately for him, he lost back then. This time, will he come out on top?
Still, early in the series, viewers might question just how sturdy this “narrow bridge” really is. Even as a lighthearted rom-com meant to be enjoyed without much weight, some of the dialogue and plot setups feel a bit clunky. With seasoned actors like Jung Yu Mi and Ju Ji Hoon leading the way, the drama’s overall execution falls just a little short. (6/10)
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.
