Yes, I get this is a classic trope. SML has been friends with FL since childhood, but never shows interest, until ML shows up. I get the trope. But, did the PM have reasons he felt he couldn’t pursue Huiju? I know the PM offered to marry her, but maybe he thought dating HJ would ruin his chances of becoming PM. It’s also stated in his character bio that he comes from a family of politicians, maybe he was concerned about family opposition?. Bc at this point, I can’t even sympathize with him. He had every opportunity and never took it. I love that Ian is telling HJ straight that he likes her. No games. This couple has great communication. I also appreciated that Ian’s noble idiot plot only lasted one episode and they got right back together.

Aviva:

I think PM Min Jeong U was always conflicted in the past. He had his family reputation and legacy to uphold. Impossible standards to maintain, high-profile lineage and a career path that demands a flawless personal history could've been some of the reasons why he didn't approach Huiju before.

Plus, Huiju is rebellious in nature, due to the circumstances she faced in life. That is the only thing which helped her survive the hostile situations.

The PM thought that maybe Huiju wouldn't accept being tethered to him in a marriage since she's so free-spirited or maybe he was waiting for his 5 year term as PM of the royal court to end, before proposing to her. And Prince Yi An got to her first.

Yeah, this makes the most sense to me as well. Like you said, maybe he was thinking of pursuing her after his term was finished and he had fulfilled his family expectations to a certain extent. How did you read the proposal scene? Bc the way she turned him down when she said, aren’t you going to serve another five years? It was disappointed for sure, but was he also touched that she was thinking about his career? Or was he realizing that Ian has something more than status to offer that the PM cannot. The PM was hard to read in that scene IMO.

Aviva:

I think it was very jarring to Min Jeong U, like a wake-up call and a slap all rolled into one. Huiju didn't mean to be rude but they've been friends for so long and maybe she knows how much his political career means to the PM.

Also, from the first scene between the Prince & the PM, we get that they are the most eligible bachelors of the nation.

So when Huiju's words makes the PM realise that he loved his career more than his personal life, that's the first time he realises that he neglected one of the most important people in his life. And now he's too late. His emotions are complex because he hasn't processed it yet. It's like 'sand slipping between his fingers'.

This is going to get deeper in the future episodes. I hope they don't make Min Jeong U a train wreck and a puppet that the Queen Mother can mould. 🥲🥲

Agreed. I love his character. I hope he doesn’t turn out to be a baddie.

He saw her string of trophy boyfriend’s. I think he knows her well enough that he knew she wasn’t serious about any of them. Ian is the first potentially real relationship she has had. The PM knows HJ’s character. He knows she would never settle for less than the best. Like you said, he is one of the most eligible bachelor’s in Korea, Ian being the other. I bet he thought she has never been serious about any of her prior BFs. He thought he had more time. Also, I bet he never even imagined she would marry into the royal family due to her commoner status. It never even crossed his mind that Ian would compete with him for HJ’s hand in marriage.

It’s sad bc he could have used the veto power and stopped the marriage. But, ultimately, he put the good of the royal family and the country before his personal life. Also, I think he is till counting on the divorce. He thinks he still has a chance, as long as she divorces.

I think you're all reading too much into it. No offense, but I think he is just the classical 2nd male lead. Too scared to make the first step and risk their friendship, because as long as he was her best friend, the closest person to her, because none of her love interests were really a competition to their relationship, he was content. He wouldn't risk this to confess and get rejected and lose what they had. He didn't even mind seeing her with other men, they were momentary things and couldn't compare to their bond. Only after the male lead appeared in her life and was someone who could mean more, who could surpass him, did he change thinking. And I'm afraid he would sabotage her as long as he is convinced he can fix it and use it to turn it around to be the one closest to her again.

Quote: "It’s sad bc he could have used the veto power and stopped the marriage. But, ultimately, he put the good of the royal family and the country before his personal life. Also, I think he is till counting on the divorce. He thinks he still has a chance, as long as she divorces."

No, the Prime minister is not pitiful or kind, he is constantly dancing on the edge of needing a firm talking to from Seong Hui Ju. It is her life and she has clearly rejected the Prime minister, so he is crossing the line trying to manage her life in any shape or form. If he would have vetoed the marriage, Seong Hui Ju would have slapped him and I say he would have earned it, even though I'm against violence. Men who can't take NO for an answer are not cute, they are abusive and that's the energy the Prime minister is giving.

He probably saw that she had zero interest in him as a man.

T0P:

Yes, so glad he is getting more roles. I would love to see him as the romantic lead in his next project. So far, he has mostly been SML. I am specifically thinking of Pachinko and Perfect Crown.

Yeah, so do I. He has one listed as an upcoming show. It's an older woman - younger man romance trope (a 20 year age-gap or something). But I hope his character arc is solid. 🤞🤞

Syskid:

My take on it is that he focused on his career and assumed she would always be there. He probably thought that her being an illegitimate child would prevent anybody else among their wealthy peers from showing serious interest in her. He never imagined the prince would marry her and that woke him up. I can relate from my own experience of knowing someone who was a good friend but never showed interest that way, until I started a relationship with someone else and then he was stunned and heartbroken. When I countered that he'd never said anything he said, "Well, I meant to, someday...."

WOW 😮 that's actually really insightful, 😂 honestly I actually feel pity for PM Min and thinks it's unfair how people said they have 10plus years. But reading your post made me feel like "serves him right" 😅 it really is like what people said. Also if a guy really really wants you they'll act on it. One example in the drama we can see her brother who chase after her sis in law since 17 (character description on MBC). He will not waste his time if he really values her.