Marry You

Don’t Overthink It.. Marry You Is Here Just to Make You Laugh..

Marry You is a breezy, feel good Kdrama that doesnt aim to be top tier but sticks to its purpose and delivers.. Its a short and light comedy drama that knows how to make you laugh.. Sure it had its flaws but the main leads and the humor made it worth watching.. The main couple's interactions were cute..

I think MDL is the only place where its getting so many negative reviews.. But its worth noting that Marry You has been performing consistently well on several streaming platforms and has received positive feedback on X..

The finale?? Simple, cute and a fitting end to the story.. Overall its a good drama thats worth your time.. Dont let the negativity on MDL sway you.. No offense but some people seem to criticize every drama unless it stars their bias..

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Confusing tonally ?

This drama was all over the place tone wise. I'm still not sure exactly what the viewer was meant to get from the show even before the extremely long advertisement for marriage in the finale episode.

I watched for Lee Yi Kyung. I'll watch just about anything with him because he's always entertaining. There were times, I felt he and the kids were in an entirely different show.

As a romance drama - it's like a 7.5/10 for me. The chemistry between the 2 leads flip flopped between cute, rom-com and awkwardly immature. There was a lot of baby talk in the last 2 episodes and I'm not sure why. It also leaned super hard into Cheol-Hui being pressured by the twins because they really only liked Ha-na. Which, compared the 2FL, understandable. There's the guy Ha-na lectured for only dating to make his mother happy and, while I do think Cheol-Hui liked Ha-na, there was way too much emphasis on the kids pushing him towards her.

There's the random stalker/kid-nap/incel plot with the mayor's son and I don't know why we needed that. The previous plot with the brother of Cheol-Hui's ex gf being creepy towards Ha-na because he couldn't let go that Cheol-Hui was moving on. That the show seemingly suggests forgiveness should be given to the mayor's son because he was an ignored, illegitimate child coupled with the under-reaction when they find In-ah escaping him was just gross. I don't care about the incel's childhood, he's disgusting.

The show flipped from some serious plots to humor a little too quickly for me. In addition, there were at least 3 men on the show that were just downright terrible (fake rich guy who wanted to humiliate the young woman marrying for money, the stalker brother of Cheol-Hui's ex gf, and the incel guy in the end). Tbh, Ha-na's ex was also a jerk. Cheol-Hui's brother/the twin's father also sucked. The show also seemed to want us to root for In-ah after she literally tried to ship the kids off to England. I just couldn't tell what the show wanted to be or understand why they wanted us to root for certain people.

I think this would've ultimately worked better as a longer drama with more of an episodic feel to helping different couples every episode while Ha-na got more time to know Cheol-Hui. I would've appreciated more time spent with them as an actual couple, too. As it stands, I felt like we got 2 seconds of them together interspersed with random stalker/creep plots and way too much of the 2FL's dating woes.

So, in conclusion: it's not a recommend from me. It's not Lee Yi Kyung's best work, it's not the best romance drama that came out this year, and it's just not that great. To be fair though, I have watched worse dramas this year that I actually dropped. So, props for the fact that I cared enough to finish it.

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It is endearing to see GROWN-UPS experiencing INNOCENT LOVE.

The fact that this is a modestly produced drama, we really can't expect much about it. But I have to praise Lee Yi Kyung for a splendid portrayal. He's making me laugh (the accent though) even when the atmosphere in the scene is serious. This drama is a testament to his power to reverse himself into a serious actor which could take him away a little from being typecast as a humorist. Oh, the kids playing the twins’ niece and nephew of LYK are the cherry on top – they are the real hoot which is why I enjoy this drama.

The pacing is steady, with a superficial plot, and for agreeable reasons, it doesn’t require heavy performances from all the actors. It simply tells a person’s change of heart into welcoming the idea of marriage. Out from his and her mindset, he believes his life on the island with the twins is his sole happiness while she is hit hard by the past terrible relationship that nearly got her into marriage. Be that as it may, life gives both big surprises after their encounter.

I acknowledge this drama for how it enlightens our minds towards marriage. This kind of status is not chosen by everyone with so many aspects to consider affecting their decision to put off the idea. For a fact, love alone can’t guarantee a life together to last. Marriage is a responsibility. If you are not fully confident and committed by heart, mind, and soul to share your life with another person in such a way treating his or her life as your own, then just enjoy a single life.

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Lighthearted but with surprising depth on the topics of emotions and marriage

Review

8.5/10 is my rating

Scroll down for a unique synopsis if you want to know what this is about. There aren't a lot out there and it gets confused with others of similar title.

Marry You is what I feel constitutes a hidden gem. I have watched over 400 Asian dramas, mostly Korean, and mostly rated on average 9.0 and above. So, I am very selective, but I am also running out of things to watch that fit all my criteria. I dug deep in my search to find some hidden gems, and this came up as one of them. This Korean romance isn't one of those high-profile hits everyone’s talking about. And I think it is somewhat a factor of it not being widely available or maybe the opposite is true. But the fact that it is not all the buzz is part of its charm—it's a hidden gem that fellow movie and drama lovers who enjoy sweet, feel-good tales might want to seek out. I rated it an 8.5/10, which for me means it's solidly enjoyable and worth recommending, even if it doesn't quite reach perfection. I'd still suggest it to anyone who likes romances that tug at the heartstrings without getting too heavy.

Overall, the story follows Bong Cheol-hee (Lee Yi-kyung), a kind-hearted bachelor from a quiet island village, and Jung Ha-na (Jo Soo-min), a civil servant who had a bad experience which made her firmly against the idea of marriage for herself. What unfolds is a predictable romance in the best way— the kind where you know from the start that these two, one who is ready for marriage and one who has sworn off marriage, warm to each other, build a connection, and hopefully find their happy ending. It's heartwarming and cute, with plenty of moments that made me smile and root for the characters. Bong Cheol-hee, in particular, is the standout; he's such a sweet, genuine guy—helpful to everyone around him, including the adorable niece and nephew he's raising—that it's impossible not to cheer for him. Jung Ha-na is sweet too, but her past created some emotional flaws more guarded in her emotional interactions. She portrays this happy go lucky persona but her deep self is uncertain and unwilling to gamble her emotional well-being for love. The supporting cast, including the quirky team at the marriage agency bring some fun energy and light humor without overdoing it.

If you're looking for a cozy watch that celebrates kindness and second chances in love, this one delivers. It's not groundbreaking, but in a sea of more intense dramas, its simple charm is refreshing. Just know it's the type where you settle in for the predictable beats of a good romance—you're always hoping they'll get that good ending. If you know me I am not one to recommend anything that has a tragic ending.

Spoilers

There are several plot holes and frustrating aspects that keep it from scoring perfect on my scale.

First off, the whole setup with the marriage agency felt inconsistent. The mayor pushes this as a special project to boost his re-election, pulling in the entire team like it's a temporary gig, but then it suddenly seems like a well-established operation with long-term plans. At one point, they're handling over 90 clients—that's no small number, and it makes the agency feel way more permanent than the initial "quick fix" vibe suggested. It just didn't add up smoothly. They also aren't really experts in relationships but that is the role they are playing in the way they interview each client. And then they are held responsible if there is not a good outcome as if they are somehow matchmaking experts. No-one has that formula of love that dialed in. Sometimes opposites attract and sometimes they absolutely detest each other. There is just way too much complexity in human emotional interactions for anyone to predict the perfect match. So, it was an odd unit in that regard.

Then there's Jung Ha-na's (Jo Soo-min) past relationship with her college ex (the one who faked an affair to break things off). It's weird that she forgives him so easily once the truth comes out about his father's gambling debts. And he should've been upfront and let her decide, instead of staging something so hurtful—it left her feeling rejected and pitied, which is a real stigma for a woman. So when he comes back, tells her the truth of what happened when their relationship ended and claims he wants her back it never reached second guy vibes because, obviously, she wouldn't fall for that. Or she certainly shouldn't. But what really made it so I never got strong second contender vibes, is she friend zones him, he tells others he hopes to win her back but then does absolutely nothing to show romantic interest; he just seemingly accepts the friend zone and acts disappointed later without making any real moves. It was frustrating to watch, like if you want someone you have to tell them. Just watching and having some kind of weird jealousy from afar does not make you a strong second man character. He expected her to come back to him without her ever even knowing he still hoped for that.

The dynamic with Oh In-ah (Ji Yi-soo) was another head-scratcher. The show build them as a possible second romance. That the two rejected exes will wind up together. They were friends enough to conspire to make Ha-na think they are having an affair. Then they meet regularly to talk about how much they long for the leads. Even stalk after them a bit together spying on their growing attachment. And, there is this pizza scene that shows how much they think alike. Almost completing each other's sentences. Serious couple vibes. Any minute they should be confessing, and it would make sense given the entire series seemed to build to that. But, last few episodes she not only gives up on lead guy but then she jumps into an arranged marriage while Choi Ki-jun (Koo Jun-hoe) stays a bachelor? It didn't make narrative sense. Why the build up to a second romance if that was going to be the conclusion?

Bong Cheol-hee’s (Lee Yi-kyung) backstory as a former firefighter had this bizarre side plot where he saves a rich guy, who later picks him up in a fancy car. I thought it was building to something meaningful, like the guy becoming a benefactor or mentor, but nope—it just fizzles out. It seemed like it was only there so Jung Ha-na (Jo Soo-min) could mistakenly think he was involved with shady types like the mob, but it came across as a forced, pointless detour. And he just gave up being a firefighter and is now what? A sous chef? An island bum? I mean I really liked him but he has two kids and now a girlfriend and needed to have something serious going on. I thought that was a little weird. It ends with him coming on as a special member of the team - but that didn't seem permanent.

There was a recurring pattern of immoral or near-criminal behavior getting brushed off too easily, which really pulled me out of the story. For instance, Oh In-ah (Ji Yi-soo) essentially pays to have Bong Cheol-hee’s (Lee Yi-kyung) niece and nephew kidnapped and shipped off to boarding school without his permission. When it's revealed, she just shrugs it off like, "Oh, I thought you'd like it," and everyone forgives her. You arrange to have the dead beat father come kidnap the kids and ship them off - that is not a forgivable action. But it was like oh well she is sorry and thought she was doing the right thing. I mean there is a whole scene where he essentially says that and that was so out of character for him. He adored those children. Why would he forgive some girlfriend for trying to ship them off? And his brother? He is like bad on you man. And that is essentially it.

Even creepier was the mayor's son storyline. There are all these reports of women being assaulted and how it is not safe for women to be out and all indicators point to this masked mystery man. It builds like he's this predatory figure, almost leading to something as serious as date rape, with all the tension around women not being safe alone implying he's the culprit. And he acts so creepy to In-ah and tries to do something we don't fully know to her when she pretends to be drunk. Yeah, she head butts him and he ultimately apologizes but what he did was criminal. They figure out it is the mayor's illegitimate son who has mommy issues because of it, and the mayor is feeling guilty and going above and beyond for the son, and they all feel sorry. So, the mayor asks nicely, and they just drop it—no charges, no fallout. The whole thread vanishes, which felt like a massive cop-out after the buildup.

What was really frustrating in terms of the romance itself was we waited so long for Bong Cheol-hee (Lee Yi-kyung) and Jung Ha-na (Jo Soo-min) to finally get together. They are finally admitting their feelings and showing affection and she suddenly gets cold feet about long-term commitment and marriage? It contradicted her earlier damage from the breakup, where she was heartbroken because she truly wanted to marry. Why flip that now? Hadn't she forgiven the ex, admitted she probably would not have followed through herself had she known the real reason, and had all these insights on relationships through observing other couples. Wasn't she emotionally grown and healed now?

Bong Cheol-hee (Lee Yi-kyung) absolutely carried the show—he's so sweet and decent to everyone, from the women in his life to all the people around him, that you can't help but root for him. The niece and nephew are just precious, adding that adorable family element. In the end, they do end up as a couple, which ties things up nicely. There is no permanence, like it shows a proposal but I wasn't clear if she accepted or not. Just an "I love you" I guess that was a yes? But they are a couple plus two. And she just seemed like good buddies with the kids. I wish Jung Ha-na (Jo Soo-min) had stepped up more as a true mother figure for the kids. They needed that stability after losing their parents, but she comes across more like a friendly aunt or distant relative—playing guitar while they're in the background, not really engaging like a committed partner would. A happier resolution for me would've shown her fully embracing that role, making the family feel complete. Still, despite these quirks, it's a recommend from me for its overall sweetness.

Synopsis

This is a 2024 South Korean romantic comedy drama with 10, 60-minute episodes.

Bong Cheol-Hee (Lee Yi-Kyung) is a warm-hearted single guy from the quiet island village of Cheongdo who is juggling odd jobs while raising his mischievous twin niece and nephew, Bong San-Yi (Seo Woo-Jin) and Bong Ba-Da (Ahn Tae-Rin). He was featured in a documentary just about being a young bachelor and the island and that results in him getting roped into a quirky government matchmaking scheme. The mayor formed a special team to help solve the decline in marriage problem and appoints the only civil service expert they know of, Jung Ha-Na (Jo Soo-Min), to act as the "government expert" on matchmaking based on a former job she had at a dating agency. At first reluctant, because one of her previous matches resulted in tragedy, she is promised a promotion and decides to accept the special assignment short term until she meets the criteria for promotion. Ironically, Ha-na actually hates the idea of marriage largely because of her ex, Choi Ki-Joon (Koo Jun-Hoe). And, as luck would have it, Ki-Joon, who is also a civil servant, is assigned as the supervisor of the government matchmaking team. Ha-Na, as the perceived expert, is assigned Cheol-Hee who is seen as a difficult case due to his carefree lifestyle and the fact that he comes with two children. But determined to get that promotion, Ha-Na pushed Cheol-Hee toward eligible ladies like the fancy chaebol heiress Oh In-Ah (Ji E-Suu). But proximity breeds unintended feelings and even though they are like country mouse and city mouse and there are a lot of hilarious mix-ups there are also a lot of heartfelt moments centered on love and family. Cheol-Hee may be the only one that can convince Ha-Na love is worth the emotional risk.

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A forced couples retreat on a paradise island ? You’ll question why you signed up, a Lot !

"He’s hot, single, and raising toddlers—she’s here to cancel marriage entirely. Let the petty begin!" 💍
6.5/10 – A Rom-Com That Says ‘I Don’t’ More Than ‘I Do’ (But Still Flirts With Commitment)

✨ THE GOOD:
The setup? Chaotic genius.
Marriage-obsessed island guy vs marriage-hating civil servant = tension marinated in petty.
Lee Yi-kyung’s charisma – This man carried the show, the twins, and the entire concept on his back (and smile).
The kids – Twin gremlins with acting chops and comedic timing. Give them their own spin-off already.

🤨 THE “MARRIAGE? IN THIS ECONOMY?” MOMENTS:
The plot wandered – Started with matchmaking, detoured into melodrama, and briefly considered espionage.
The female lead’s vibe – Stoic to the point of "Are you okay, blink twice?"
Childcare logic – Sir, where are the toddlers while you’re on your fourth beach walk of the day?

💋 THE "JUST KISS BETWEEN DIAPER CHANGES" FACTOR:
Chemistry? Lukewarm.
Drama? Minimal.
A romance so chill it could legally be iced coffee. No love triangle, just mild inconvenience dressed as an ex.

🎯 VERDICT:
"Like a government-mandated dating retreat—awkward, low-stakes, but somehow weirdly relaxing."

Watch if: You crave light fluff, tropical scenery, and kids who act circles around adults.
Skip if: You want sparks, sharp writing, or anything resembling adult supervision.

Best paired with: 🏖️ A coconut drink, emergency childcare hotline, and your lowest emotional investment.

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A heartwarming drama

Well, there's nothing special about this drama. But it's sweet and adorable; both the male and female leads are good characters. Their motivations were very interesting to watch. The drama talks about marriage, and it does a good job showing an interesting discussion of what a marriage should be and more. The real problem is some unnecessary storylines.

I think if it were a movie, it would be better and less boring in some parts. I watched the episodes when they launched weekly, and that was probably the best way to watch this, because the chance of being bored if you do a marathon is very high. That's it, a solid 7/10 drama.

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Is better after Ep.2, but social agenda of theme & cartoony male lead meshed oddly

I really didn't like the first 2 Episodes. Both leads presented poorly & there were no sparks to make you want to see them together. The tone suddenly changed in Episode 3 , with the female lead doing a 180 degree in her personality. Her softer & higher pitched tone made her seem as if she was trying to persuade a child or give the impression of innocence & femininity. (the drama trope of faux sweet temperament) . It was as if the writers changed! The theme of government officials matchmaking people is timely as South Korea is actually doing that to a certain degree, but it didn't seem like they were actually doing much of that in the drama as it focused on very few couples. Did they intend to show that those in thier 20's & 30's aren't that interested in marriage ? Because that's how it came across. There were really too many "what the heck" moments for me to rate this higher. Sadly, it requires spoilers to explain well, so will add them to the bottom of the page here.
I was disappointed that the *main male lead was like a caricature of some old man from the countryside (who lacked a fully functioning brain !) He & the second male lead were hyper focused on obliging the female lead -which made sense for the one guy (who felt guilty for "cheating" on her,) but the main male lead *"Mr. Clowny pants" was just perplexing. I was really disturbed to see that 2 times men got away with inappropriate behavior & werer not held accountable .[see spoiler at bottom]. It was a bit jarring to have things like that happen in such a light weight drama.
Though I was glad that the element of having young children as part of the main plot didn't prove to be annoying, I was side eyeing the scenes where the uncle was frequently leaving them in the apartment by themselves. It's not like he was new to parenting them, so why are kids under 10 unattended for really long stretches of time ? Also the children were conspicuously missing in the happy ending (see * spoilers at end) The kids were just kind of snarky side kicks there for comic relief & were conveniently just not around alot with no one watching them.
The female lead did waffle around alot when it came to choosing the male lead & that did not make her endearing.
I found the end to be surprisingly lackluster & though the leads get a happy ending, it didn't "hit me in the feels".

It will take spoilers to explain

**Spoiler**

#1
guy targets woman to take advantage of her (in unimplied way) & when she is passed out, he takes photos of her exposed legs & plans to defame her. It is unclear if he intends to do more to her, but when he is caught, he is let off with the warning : "don't do something like this again or I will come after you". !!!! what ? ! Next time !?
another incident is that the deviant's father (the mayor) begs for mercy for his son. (instead of the son begging for mercy) and says to let him off the hook because the son was born out of wedlock & his mother abandoned him so he doesn't know what love is. The son is 29 !!! So really both the son & the mayor (who tried to pin the incident on an innocent person) should go to jail !

Spoiler #2
at the end main couple are together chatting & get into bed together......wedding, what wedding ? when ? and kids, where are the kids, the apt. looks open , no closed doors for privacy...so kids are where ?

Spoiler#3
rich annoying chaebol chick was really brainless & selfish, very intent on what she wants. So at the end when you find out that; Nope, she & 2nd male lead did not even consider dating ( though it was shown over & over again that they were very similar & compatible ) but she is suddenly marrying some guy that never had screen time & seems totally fine with it!

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Is marriage right for you?

This show explores several facets surrounding relationships giving importance to not just companionship but also the perspective of someone who doesn't want to get married. The story is not that well crafted but decently executed, can't blame them cause the meanings they want to deliver and that too through stories of different people doesn't give that much flexibility. Overall the show is a good watch if you like light romance, good acting, a meaningful story, and the actors involved in the show.

The show revolves around Jung Ha Na, a government employee who does not want to get married and enjoys her single life. She is transferred into a new department set up to get people married due to the declining birth rate. Circumstances lead her to Bong Cheol Hui an island bachelor who checks all the points from the avoid marriage list and the irony is that she had to get him married to get out of this new department. When things seem to go her way people from both their pasts come back and the chaos ensues. Will she be able to get him married and transferred to another department, or is something else awaiting her?

The are many things to like about the drama:
1. Bong Cheol Hui, is such a genuinely nice person, anyone who meets him melts from his warmth in the show.
2. The twins, were too cute yet mature for their age. They acted as our characters' guides, using their innocent remarks in various situations.
3. The dynamics between the leads, although I won't say they had the best romance but it was comfortable and peaceful watching them being comfortable and peaceful together. The way they thought and acted for each other conveyed a lot.
4. Finally, the most important things were the little yet profound messages that each of the episodes carried. If you are someone who likes stories filled with meaning and messages and not just exaggerated situations then this drama is for you.

Closing message (not related to the drama):
Whether you want to be single or in a relationship, you should always try to understand why they feel that way. If you are content being single then stay single, if you like companionship be in a relationship, but don't be in one while hating the other, or don't run if your insecurities, past experiences, etc. are what stop you from making choices. It's not just love rather the same can be said about every aspect of one's life. One should live the way they want to, without running away due to their trauma, fears, or insecurities or holding back due to fear of not being good enough or uncertainties, but rather try to become a better version of oneself in every aspect imaginable while living their life with a positive mindset. For example, if a person is truly happy, they will be happy alone and with people, no private or public situation can hold them back, rather than judging someone with different beliefs or forcing them to think a certain way, they will try to understand why the other person thinks that way. And lastly, everything in life is important, one's career, family, friends, romantic relationship, money, dreams, goals, mental and physical health, etc. Not even one of them is dispensable rather I can go all day long stating more such things to be added to that list. Try to find what you really want and what's keeping you from it, we all have one life why live with fear and sadness when we can live a happy and content life instead?

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Is that all?

While it initially showed promise with the interesting premise and strong initial chemistry between leads, it ultimately felt rushed and underdeveloped. The first few episodes were engaging, but the plot lost momentum after Episode 6 or 7. The story suddenly turned sharp, leaving many unanswered questions and unresolved plot points. The build-up of the romance was promising, but then it was a letdown. The ML was really good; after watching him from Marry My Husband, I thought it was good to have a different character that balances different character portrayals. Despite the initial promise, it ultimately fell short of its potential. The rushed pacing and abrupt ending left me feeling disappointed and unsatisfied.

Should you watch now, watch later, don't waste time? For me, if you don't have any other drama to watch, perhaps you can try. But I will not spend another hour to rewatch.

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Marry You

If you're looking for a lighthearted romantic comedy, Marry You is a great pick! This drama features Lee Yi Kyung, a talented actor known for his work in Welcome to Waikiki and Marry My Husband. His comedic timing and natural acting skills shine once again in this series.

In Marry You, Lee Yi Kyung plays Bong Cheol Hui, a charming bachelor from an island. Opposite him is Jung Ha Na, a government employee who gets tangled in a unique marriage boost scheme set up by the mayor. Her task? To find a bride for Bong Cheol Hui. The story takes off from there, delivering plenty of funny and heartwarming moments as their lives intertwine.

The chemistry between the leads is fantastic, and the storyline is fresh and entertaining. It’s a mix of humor, romance, and quirky situations that will keep you hooked. Lee Yi Kyung’s performance as Bong Cheol Hui is both hilarious and endearing, making this drama a joy to watch.

If you enjoy feel-good dramas with a good balance of romance and comedy, Marry You is definitely worth trying. Give it a shot – you might like it !

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