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For once, an original K-BL plot with great acting... and yet...
The actors were really good and seeing them play the same characters across timeskips of multiple years didn't feel awkward as you might expect. The overarching plot was good as well and for once original - no more childhood friends turned co-workers or the like.Unfortunately, the script writing lacked severely in places efter episode three. Some of the cuts felt out odd and make me do a double take to ensure that I didn't just miss an episode in-between. Some of the "drama" also felt unnecessary and often, the motivation of the characters was difficult to understand.
If the quality of the first 3 episodes had been maintained, I would have rated the show at least 8,5 and the only reason that I have not deducted more than 1 point is that the actors really did a great job.
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True love's kiss is not enough to break the curse. Only loving yourself is.
This show is a delicate and messy exploration of how childhood trauma can affect people and impact their self-esteem and mental health even decades later, and it how hard it is to move on and relearn trust in both yourself and others.The main character, Lee Dohoe, lives a suffocating life with an abusive father who manages a taekwondo gym in a small town, and his only ticket to freedom is studying hard to get into a top university. One day, a new boy named Shin Juyeong comes to the gym to train and the two boys quickly become each other's safe heaven. Unfortunately, life is not kind to either of them and they end up separating in a painful way. 12 years later, they end up meeting again and being trying to make sense of where they stand in each other's lives.
Dohoe is a purposefully messy main character. He went through so much trauma that his knee jerk reaction is to always ignore his problems and try to move on with his life by not thinking about them, and he does that by cutting all ties to his old life when he moves to Seoul. But complex trauma has a way of sneaking up on you when you least expect it and, if left unaddressed for years, it will slowly spread through all areas of your life, leaving no choice but to either face it or give up and ruin yourself in the process. Juyeong is the unstoppable force that meets this immovable object. He acts an anchor to Dohoe, but that in itself is a double-edged sword: while his presence grounds Dohoe to a reality where he can see himself becoming happy, the circumstances in which they met make Dohoe scared of reliving and getting stuck in his painful past again.
Both characters go through a lot of inner conflict to understand who they are and what they're even allowed to want for themselves, and that heavily affects the way they interact with each other. The actors did really well in their roles, they had the necessary range to act in both the lighter and the more emotional scenes, and on top of that they had amazing chemistry with each other. The dialogue was also well utilized and provided several emotionally impactful scenes.
But the stars of the show were definitely the soundtrack and the production quality. The scenes were always beautifully shot and aesthetically pleasing, while also adapting to the level of impact the show wanted to evoke in the viewer. And the original soundtrack (sung by Gogang, Yu Ra, and Jo Hwanji) provided the perfect accompaniment to the wide range of emotions the characters went through over the course of their 12-year journey.
All that being said, one thing I didn't love about this show was the pacing. It felt very slow at points only to rush through very important plot and character arcs, which made the overall story lose some of its impact, as the viewer wasn't allowed enough time to sit with and unpack all the sudden reveals being discussed. The choppy editing worsened this, as several important scenes were stitched together in a dizzying supercut that required way more screen time and breathing room than they were given, causing some frustration while watching as you need to piece together what happened in the past and how it continues to affect the present.
Overall, this was one of the best Korean BLs I've watched, both for its technical quality (script, production, photography, acting) and in its ability to stick the landing on the emotional impact. The storyline was overall solid and provided enough nuanced exploration of the themes it wanted to address to rise above the rest. I would definitely recommend it if you're looking for a more realistic portrayal of real life issues in your BL.
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highly unlikeable main lead
dohoe is one of the worst male leads ive seen in a while in a bl...he's actually so infuriating that i wished juyeong just left his ass..this show drives off of trauma bonds with defenders of this show saying "dohoe's a complex character" no he's a beligerent dumbass who kept that loser as a friend, watched as his father beat up the one person who cared for him, and didn't contact him for 12 years. idk how juyeong could just jump into the relationship portrayed cs it is not realistic in the slightest...a normal person wouldn't have given him the time of day. this drama is like a angst fest to the point where it becomes corny and boring, its like dohoe is portrayed as the only one who's having a bad life...and the plot holes??Was this review helpful to you?
Refreshing plot twist and some suprisingly good acting
The story is believable for the most part. The character development for the mains was solid; and for 8 episodes, I was also happy with development of the side antagonist. I find his story quite appealing and refreshing. Also the twist was quite unexpected. This drama has a lot going for it. And in 2024, I cannot say it is just enjoyable, it actually has something to add in the oversaturated field of bl dramas.I did learn to appreciate when a relationship has a consistent character whose actions make sense on a larger scale.
We have Ju Yeong who is consistent and stable in his beliefs and truly, as Do Hoe points out, he indeed remains same after all the timetime. Then we have Do Hoe who is volatile and influenced by his upbringing.
I have to say it was an enjoyable watch. The actors were confident when the scenes demanded it and awkward when it was necessary, but their acting itself was never awkward or rookie-like. I think that made for the overall enjoyment and my forgetting of the plot holes.
The issues of the drama in regards to violence in family, the hardship as prerequisite for the success, betraying the ones you love in order to escape it -- these all are important topics and interesting questions to be raised to a viewer. And while I cannot say the drama went too deep to explore or justify them, it also did not do it injustice in sense they made it feel irrelevant. I think what saved them was clear focus on the relationship between Ju Yeong and Do Hoe. I was relieved by the confirmation that what they choose is each other at all times.
Twisty with a happy ending.
You should def watch it.
Thank you for reading,
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It was a different experience within the BL genre.
I confess that only recently have I started watching some Korean BL dramas. I have been watching K-dramas for a much longer time.I still prefer Chinese and Japanese BLs. Unfortunately, I cannot get used to the Thai language. The sound bothers my hearing, and I end up not appreciating the drama with impartiality. There are very few Thai BLs that I am able to watch.
Please forgive me, Thai viewers. This is not prejudice in any way, just an auditory incompatibility.
Right now, I am really trying to watch Khemjira, but it has been difficult. It is funny, sometimes I cannot even tolerate myself… honestly.
But let me move on to “Unleash the Curse of Taekwondo,” which is the reason I am here.
I liked the drama. It was a different experience within the BL genre. A mature and compact story, without excessive dragging or exaggerated emotions.
Yes, I wanted more. Although, for me, the most painful aspect was the inhumane side of domestic violence, what bothered me the most was the time skip that separated the lovers.
For some, twelve years is almost a lifetime; for many, it is a lifetime. So what makes a person leave another for so long? With so many unanswered questions, living in the solitude of an unfinished past? It was unfair. It was painful.
Even though the story follows an explanatory path, it was not convincing to me. Ju Yeong did not deserve that.
The script is good, but the translation in my country was unsatisfactory. Many dialogues were difficult to understand, which is truly unfortunate.
That said, the acting was very good and fully met what was required of the cast.
In the end, Unleash the Curse of Taekwondo is a good drama, a good BL.
It was not particularly memorable for me, but it can certainly be for others.
I would like to see the leads in another series, with the same chemistry, but with more freedom of action.
Sorry for this evaluation. I have just finished watching To My Shore, so my soul is still burning with passion, hahaha.
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Absolutely one of the best BL dramas I have ever watched
As soon as I finished it I immediately watched it again. It was so moving and real, and the acting so fine. The chemistry between the two actors was gripping.. The real life themes of authenticity and artifice and redemption coming through the love given by another person and his refusal to give up were masterfully portrayed. This series is a masterpiece. Both actors were great. Lee Seon lit up the screen. He was mesmerizing with his smile and buoyant presence.Was this review helpful to you?
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Tragically beautiful — sometimes two words are enough
There are series you finish and immediately know you'll carry with you for a long time. This is one of them.Two boys, a rural taekwondo hall, a father who makes home feel like something to escape — and then a boy from Seoul arrives and quietly changes everything. The first love that forms between them is tender and fragile in the way first loves are, and when it breaks it breaks before it ever really had the chance to become itself. Twelve years later, a funeral, a reunion, and all the wounds that never properly healed still sitting exactly where they were left.
What I find genuinely rare about this series is how it handles blame — or rather, how it refuses to distribute it neatly. People hurt each other here not out of cruelty but out of circumstance, out of silence, out of not knowing how to do better with what they had. That's a much harder thing to write than a villain, and the series pulls it off with real maturity.
Korean productions at their best have a particular relationship with grief and time that I don't think translates easily across cultures — a willingness to sit inside pain without rushing toward resolution. This series has that quality completely. And it still leaves you with something warm at the end, which feels almost like a small miracle given everything that comes before it.
Tragically beautiful. That's all it needs to be.
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The Past Never Remains In The Past
This was an extremely enjoyable series to watch, but I must say, it seemed like it was divided into three different parts. The first few episodes are perfectly moving along, Do Hoe & Ju Jeong experience the beginning of a relationship. It is done with such innocence, you can't help but feel how adorable the two of these people are. Not even knowing where to put their noses when they kiss. It's really was great to watch.Rather quickly in the middle of these episodes, you can't help but feel the darkness and drama take over. The acting is great during this period, but even with all the despair and negativity happening on screen, you just know that somehow Ju Yeong is somehow going to correct this ship into the right direction. He never gives up. Lee Sun is great performing this character.
In the end it shows how powerful this first love was, able to withstand the test of time and all the obstacles that were put in their way.
The very end, as Do Hoe is reading all the entries on the computer screen of Ju Jeong, it made for a fantastic finish to a great story.
All in all, very enjoyable.
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Story Can get confusing at times, but man everything else is top notch.
This drama was so cute. It has some pacing issues, and sometimes it felt like it was going too fast and the story was hard to follow at times, but I do like the concept of it for the most part. I don’t like it when shows have someone fall in love and then they leave for a long time and magically find each other again and fall in love again, it’s just not a realistic trope but nonetheless it’s fine, but what really made me give this series such a high rating was the portrayal of these characters that are gay. In today’s world gay people are associated with so much hate and such misinformation and it was really touching to see how nurturing these characters were written because you don’t see gay characters often portrayed like this so seeing this made me shed so many tears and it really got in touch with my emotions which is one of this show’s biggest strengths. Furthermore the soundtrack was phenomenal, I have the main song in my Apple Music Libary and I just listened to it like 10 times on repeat because of how beautiful and touching it was, everything was on par. the cinematography, the music, the characters, THE ACTORS!!! the acting was AMAZING, they had me FULLY immersed. I loved everything about them, and their natures. the character Lee Dohoe pissed me off at times, and was super toxic but honestly it’s realistic. Nobody has ever not been toxic, and it’s real asf😭. The ending of this show was almost the best ending possible for this show. I wish they would’ve showed Dohoe finally passing his exams, but how they ended it with him reading the old posts was so beautiful and I loved it. This show was everything, and I’m honestly about to cry at 3:36 AM because of how touched I am.Was this review helpful to you?
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It did not go the way that I expected. And for that, it made me enjoy this series more
So, I started this series, and while the storyline was lovely, I thought that it was going the way that I expected it to go. But this was not the case, as we are informed of what Do Hoe went through to become so successful in life.And because of this change, we see Do Hoe fess up to what he has done and is now living with Ju Yeong, no longer rich, but seems to be happier when we see him again. And I love that for this series—because of this route that they have taken.
So, with an excellent storyline, good actors who are able to portray these characters so well, their emotions, and their beautiful music, this story was able to resonate with me that I am able to give it a 9 for its end product.
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it is a nice story that could have been beautiful
It's sooo good, I fell for them after the second episode. I love how they try to protect each other, especially from the abusive father. And it's nice to see Do Hoe smile when he is with Yu Young, as his life was so hard and he had to endure a lot.I wish that the drama had stuck to the story in their teenage years, as the 10-year later jump is not that interesting and it doesn't have the same charm. It's a real shame, as the first two episodes were perfect.
In the end, I understand why Do Hoe behaved terribly, and we got a lively last episode, but it does not compensate for the middle part.
Overall, it's a nice story that could have been beautiful.
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Please dont skip this BL!
I was really excited for this drop, and despite it having only 8 episodes, it did not disappoint. The storyline is truly compelling, complex yet relatable and the main leads have amazing chemistry. The entire cast is a visual delight.I’ll admit, Episode 7 left me a bit confused. It feels like the show leaves certain elements up to the viewer to interpret, particularly regarding the characters' past issues. For example, why does Ju Yeong put on and take off his cross necklace? Or what happend to his mom?
Do Hoe frustrated me at times, especially with how harsh he was to Ju Yeong. However, once he admitted his flaws and opened up about what truly scares him, I started seeing him differently. The show does a great job portraying family love, friendship, and the challenges adults face. There’s an easy flow to the series, balanced with plenty of humor, mostly thanks to Ju Yeong. His character is so bubbly and lovable that you can’t help but giggle when he’s on screen.
On the other hand, Hyeon Ho (aka “Mr. Walden”) has this “I hurt you because I like you” attitude that’s an absolutely no for me. However, that one call (no spoilers!) really showed how much Do Hoe truly means to him; despite everything, they are best friends, and Do Hoe knows it too.
Overall, I really enjoyed the series but wish they had included a few more details. For instance, Ju Yeong’s religious backstory could have been a major element, but the show focused so heavily on Do Hoe’s issues and traumas that Ju Yeong’s story felt a bit overlooked. But, again it's a really good series.
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