tleaf

True but S. Korea has always have been spreading their culture worldwide. Imagine magas start being brainwashed by kdrama content that is diverse, which their MLs are too beta or themes are controversy (such as vigilante, revenge theme, bad people actually get their karma, KIND NESS is actually the strength and attractive, etc) that even the rich sponsors won't like to have them on the Hollywood TV shows. Yea, S. Korea definitely has a long term plan with their soft power.

Why so negative? S. Korea has produced more diverse drama stories, including stories that won't even gotten produced in America because the sponsors don't like the themes. Yes, themes that is rather "woke" or too "beta" for some close minded audiences... LOL! With having Kdramas broadcast on sinclair, lets see how it starts brainwash conservatives who DON'T watch foreign TV series.

The only illogical part in the premise is why couldn't she use a translator apps? These days, AI could do a good job on translating foreign language.

Would you consider Run On's Male lead and second male lead (played by Kang Tae Oh) as green flag?

My rating: 7.5/10

Pluses:
* A well-written romcom with minimal conflict, lighthearted, easy to watch, and thoroughly enjoyable.
* Touches on themes of mental health, inclusiveness, and personal growth.
* Outstanding performances by both the main actor and actress, complemented by strong acting from the supporting cast.
* Refreshingly mature for a J-drama where characters behaves normally. Free from exaggerated manga-like quirks, childish antics, or obsessive fixations on hobbies and objects.
* The filming portrays skinship between the leads as natural and genuine, while open verbal expressions of love also feel authentic. This is a refreshing change, as affection in ('non-teenager' genre) J-dramas is often shown too politely or too forceful or with restraint; and physical closeness and affection are frequently downplayed.
* Like the nostalgic theme song, along with the BGM

The pluses above are sufficient for me to recommend this drama to everyone.

Minuses in my own perspective:
* Lacks depth in its portrayal of therapy and mental health. For instance, the male lead’s PTSD feels underexplored. I found myself wishing he could at least reach the point of comfortably shaking hands with strangers.
* While the chemistry between the leads shines on screen, it doesn’t linger beyond the viewing experience. Unlike with "Eye Love You", where simply looking at photos of the leads rekindles that spark, here the connection doesn’t evoke the same lasting flutters, though perhaps that’s just my personal impression.

Blame the writing.

Yes, age gaps in relationships are so easily become controversial these days. But when someone fixates on the age difference, they risk ignoring the bigger picture. Love doesn’t always fit neatly into conditions or restrictions, such as only falls in love with someone who is within a certain age range. What truly matters is context: she met him as an adult, fully capable of making her own choices. She knows who she loves. Ultimately, it is her decision to know what kind of man is right for her.
However, your comment is implying that a 32‑year‑old man is doing something wrong by being with a woman nine years younger, suggesting she (an adult) has no mind of her own or isn’t capable of knowing what type of man is right for her. You are not the one marrying him, and you don’t know him personally enough to judge who he truly is.
People really need to stop obsessing over age gaps when both partners are adults who can make their own decisions.

> Societal pressure of being seen as "available" for the fans
Exactly. The fans are irrational. I could prefer that celebrities to live freely with a normal life and be happy with whoever they love.

I disagree. People need to watch the whole story to fully understand the deep Buddhist elements. Here are a few observations I gathered.
1. Golden Eyes + Tears: LagyBulgasal began to humanize early on, though she didn’t realize it at first. When the antagonist first encountered her, he was captivated by her Bulgasal perfection and became obsessed with the idea of becoming a "demigod" which is his own interpretation of Bulgasal's divine nature. However, LagyBulgasal’s transformation deepened when she witnessed the suffering and death of humans. Overcome with emotion, she shed tears and chose to protect them and her partner to be free from karmic fate, even at the cost of her own life. This acts of self-sacrifice marked her spiritual awakening, akin to the enlightenment of a bodhisattva. This theme culminates in the final episode, where Hwal’s red eyes turn golden with tears upon seeing SangUn, symbolizing his own enlightenment and humanity, as he is able love unconditionally for everyone.

2. Characters who undergo reincarnation are given the opportunity to learn new lessons with each life. The more they reincarnate, the greater their chances of correcting past mistakes. When faced with familiar situations from previous lives, these characters often make different choices—guided by the wisdom accumulated across lifetimes.
Example 1: Kim HwaYeon eventually uncovers the truth by recalling memories from all her past lives, allowing her to answer long-standing questions. However, the weight of her final memories impedes her ability to untangle a deeply rooted karmic bond. It’s implied that she may have pleaded with the underworld dieties to grant her next reincarnation a new path—one that could restore balance and resolve the lingering fate.
Example 2: ShiHo unknowingly helps to mend the mistakes of her past life. Through her subtle actions, she reminds key characters of crucial truths, empowering them to make their own choices and break free from repeating the same patterns.

3. Suffering in Buddhism: In Buddhist thought, suffering (dukkha) is an essential part of the human experience, often arising from the cycle of karma and rebirth. All characters in the story endure suffering as they respond to the consequences of their past actions, which is this process is necessary for cultivating empathy and realization. Hwal and the antagonist, in particular, bear the deepest suffering. Yet, Hwal, having reincarnated as a human, comes to understand humanity and realize that immortality and his karmic entanglements with key adversaries are themselves forms of suffering. He longs to break free from this endless cycle.

The introduction page is misleading the readers to have prejudice against this actor. This is misinformation. Obviously, whoever wrote the intro is disrespecting this actor's years of hard work by not writing some good drama projects he has participated in.

One aspect that audiences often overlook is the maturity of the male and female leads, which is already a decade ahead of their peers (because they are already 10 years older based on their original life). This maturity explains why they carry themselves with the composure and insight of much older individuals. Whether it's how they navigate difficult situations, confront antagonists with calm authority, or approach relationships with deeper conversations, their behavior consistently reflects a level of wisdom align to the "actual" age. This contrast is especially evident when compared to the female lead’s first love, which was marked by a more younger mindset than hers.

Due to raving reviews I read in forums, I ended up watching the Japanese version first, then the Korean version. After that, I realized some of the reviews aren't objective or are only focused on specific areas such as chemistry, compactness of the story.

IMO, here are aspects that are different between the Japanese and Korean adaptations:
1. Antagonists: In the Japanese version, the antagonists are portrayed as victims of their parents' actions, which helps explain their behavior, choices, and motivations.
a) In the Japanese version, the male antagonist is not as evil as his counterpart in the Korean version. He is depicted as a victim of the female lead (FL), who set him up in order to save herself and her friend's life. As a result, he still shows signs of conscience in his actions. In contrast, the male antagonist in the Korean version is clearly a sociopath with an abusive mentality, which he learns from his mother.
b) In the Japanese version, the female antagonist's obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is portrayed as the result of abandonment, an abusive environment, and a traumatic event. Therefore, she still has the conscience to act on what she believed was right for the sake of friendship, even within her own twisted worldview. In the Korean version, however, the female antagonist is characterized as a psychopath with a combination of personality disorders (e.g., antisocial and delusional). Consequently, she shows no concern for the FL, unlike the Japanese version's female antagonist.

2. Kdrama Cliche and redundant characters: The Japanese version removed some of these scenes and characters.

3. Main Protagonists: The Japanese version lacks crucial character development for the protagonists.
a) The FL's trust issues are not addressed in the Japanese version. Given her past experience in an abusive relationship, why would she be willing to enter a relationship with a man again? Why would she so quickly trust the male lead, especially considering his different social status and role within the company? It is unrealistic. In contrast, the Korean version thoughtfully portrays the FL’s journey of rebuilding her ability to trust others, particularly in the context of romantic relationships and marriage.
b) In the Japanese version, there aren't enough scenes to fully showcase the female lead's growth in self-confidence, courage, and independence. She's portrayed as kind-hearted and gentle—someone who wouldn’t hurt a fly. Naturally, she doesn’t know how to fight back right away and often questions whether her words or actions have gone too far when confronting her enemies. This emotional and personal journey is more thoroughly explored in the Korean adaptation.
c) The Japanese version is missing honest, meaningful conversations between the leads, especially the male lead, who is generally reserved. One of the most enjoyable aspects of the Korean version is the candid dialogues between the male and female leads. These moments reflect the maturity of their relationship and the gradual development of trust. Unfortunately, such relationship-building scenes are missing in the Japanese version
d) The Japanese version wasn't clearly show the maturity of the male and female leads, which is already a decade ahead of their peers (because they are already 10 years older based on their original life). This aspect that audiences often overlook. This maturity explains why they carry themselves with the composure and insight of much older individuals. Whether it's how they navigate difficult situations, confront antagonists with calm authority, or approach relationships with deeper conversations, their behavior consistently reflects a level of wisdom align to the "actual" age This contrast is especially evident when compared to the female lead’s first love, which was marked by a more younger mindset than hers.

4. Plot Holes: The Japanese version contains several plot holes and missing transition scenes that disrupt the narrative flow. Some of the more unbelievable inconsistencies include:
* The FL suddenly appearing at the bridge in an unrealistically short amount of time.
* The ML somehow knows the FL had traveled from the future in early episodes
* The ML bringing a jacket or top to the FL after she abruptly left the ceremony, even though I don't remember she was wearing one.
* The ML somehow knows where the female antagonist took the FL

Anyway, I enjoyed both versions and rated them 8.5. Although I watched the Korean version later, I still prefer the leads' interactions and conversations in the Korean version, which more deeply portray their love for each other compared to the leads in the Japanese version.

Due to raving reviews I read in forums, I ended up watching the Japanese version first, then the Korean version. After that, I realized some of the reviews aren't objective or are only focused on specific areas such as chemistry, compactness of the story.

IMO, here are aspects that are different between the Japanese and Korean adaptations:
1. Antagonists: In the Japanese version, the antagonists are portrayed as victims of their parents' actions, which helps explain their behavior, choices, and motivations.
a) In the Japanese version, the male antagonist is not as evil as his counterpart in the Korean version. He is depicted as a victim of the female lead (FL), who set him up in order to save herself and her friend's life. As a result, he still shows signs of conscience in his actions. In contrast, the male antagonist in the Korean version is clearly a sociopath with an abusive mentality, which he learns from his mother.
b) In the Japanese version, the female antagonist's obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is portrayed as the result of abandonment, an abusive environment, and a traumatic event. Therefore, she still has the conscience to act on what she believed was right for the sake of friendship, even within her own twisted worldview. In the Korean version, however, the female antagonist is characterized as a psychopath with a combination of personality disorders (e.g., antisocial and delusional). Consequently, she shows no concern for the FL, unlike the Japanese version's female antagonist.

2. Kdrama Cliche and redundant characters: The Japanese version removed some of these scenes and characters.

3. Main Protagonists: The Japanese version lacks crucial character development for the protagonists.
a) The FL's trust issues are not addressed in the Japanese version. Given her past experience in an abusive relationship, why would she be willing to enter a relationship with a man again? Why would she so quickly trust the male lead, especially considering his different social status and role within the company? It is unrealistic. In contrast, the Korean version thoughtfully portrays the FL’s journey of rebuilding her ability to trust others, particularly in the context of romantic relationships and marriage.
b) In the Japanese version, there aren't enough scenes to fully showcase the female lead's growth in self-confidence, courage, and independence. She's portrayed as kind-hearted and gentle—someone who wouldn’t hurt a fly. Naturally, she doesn’t know how to fight back right away and often questions whether her words or actions have gone too far when confronting her enemies. This emotional and personal journey is more thoroughly explored in the Korean adaptation.
c) The Japanese version is missing honest, deep, and meaningful conversations between the leads, especially the male lead, who is generally reserved. One of the most enjoyable aspects of the Korean version is the candid dialogues between the male and female leads. These moments reflect the maturity of their relationship and the gradual development of trust. Unfortunately, such relationship-building scenes are missing in the Japanese version.
d) The Japanese version wasn't clearly show the maturity of the male and female leads, which is already a decade ahead of their peers (because they are already 10 years older based on their original life). This aspect that audiences often overlook. This maturity explains why they carry themselves with the composure and insight of much older individuals. Whether it's how they navigate difficult situations, confront antagonists with calm authority, or approach relationships with deeper conversations, their behavior consistently reflects a level of wisdom align to the "actual" age This contrast is especially evident when compared to the female lead’s first love, which was marked by a more younger mindset than hers.

4. Plot Holes: The Japanese version contains several plot holes and missing transition scenes that disrupt the narrative flow. Some of the more unbelievable inconsistencies include:
* The FL suddenly appearing at the bridge in an unrealistically short amount of time.
* The ML somehow knows the FL had traveled from the future in early episodes
* The ML bringing a jacket or top to the FL after she abruptly left the ceremony, even though I don't remember she was wearing one.
* The ML somehow knows where the female antagonist took the FL

Anyway, I enjoyed both versions and rated them 8.5. Although I watched the Korean version later, I still prefer the leads' interactions and conversations in the Korean version, which more deeply portray their love for each other compared to the leads in the Japanese version.

I too dislike the BGM used in early episodes of this director's dramas he worked on. However, the BGM used often improve in later episodes in all his dramas. He often has this recurring issue, which I wish he would fix it in his next drama project but.... I still think this director's filming of letting the "audiences be the observers" is unique to his filming style in all the his dramas he worked on.

You are right about the symbolism. The screenwriter took the essence of the Chinese Buddhist tale's "Mulian Rescues His Mother from Hell" and wrote a modern version of it by equating "hell" to China's societal issue - scams, including pyramid schemes. If you use Google's AI with this key phrase search you will find these themes: "Mulian's Filial Piety", "Rebirth in Hell", "Yulanpen Ceremony (Ullambana)", "Compassion and Salvation", "Influence on Chinese Buddhism".

That hint doesn't hit me since it is too cliche. I always thought he could be Lee Dong Ju's or a new character's illegitimate son.

Side note: I have met someone with premature grey hair and was told that it is genetics since it happens alot in their family.

Some people's hair grey prematurely due to genetics or stress. It could indicate that he and his bro isn't related genetically.

There is a epilogue after the first rolling credit. Don't miss it!

> Beside miso, does no one know that Ha eun died?? even ha eun's parents??
Ha Eun's parents were notified. There is a scene where Ha Eun's mother was having a conversation with Misoo after Ha Eun's pet died to join her.

No. The chinese version does not hint they are lovers.