Dare to Love Me ~ A 2024 Viki Original Series

“Dare to Love Me” is a Korean drama TV series released in 2024 with 15 episodes, based on a webtoon of the same name, and categorized as Romance and Comedy (Rom-Com). An alternate title is “Treat Me Carelessly”.

♦ Before Dreams and Love, the Country’s Cultural Heritage Must Be Protected

In “Dare to Love Me”, Shin Yoon Bok (Kim Myung-soo), is a young man in the 21st century who aspires to become a webtoon writer. However, the story begins with an illegal auction taking place. People are buying Korea’s cultural heritage items on the black market. Business is booming and Shin Yoon Bok has been sent on a special assignment to discover who’s been trafficking in these illegal goods, recover the items, and return them to their rightful place.

Shin Yoon Bok comes from Seongsan Village, a World Heritage Site, which is a community that adheres to the conservative values of Korea’s Joseon Dynasty. Many visitors from around the world come to see this place but do not venture further than the gate. But if one goes beyond the outskirts of the village, through the Seongsan Gate, they will arrive at “Korea’s Little Joseon in the 21^st century”. The people of this village do their best to stay away from modern culture and maintain the Joseon Era’s aesthetics and lifestyle.

Shin Yoon Bok has a special duty as he is the 28^th offspring of the Woorim Shin family. If it were not for the efforts of the Woorim Family, many cultural heritage treasures would have been stolen. However, on his most recent assignment, the painting he thought he had recovered turned out to be a counterfeit. It is the work of a person known as Gamjjok (“like a charm”). Now he must leave the countryside and go to Seoul where he believes the person he is chasing conducts his illegal operations.

Shin Yoon Bok has been to Seoul once before but he went there to learn how to write webtoons. His teacher was Kim Hong-Do. But that was 7 years ago. Now she is a contract worker for the design team of an apparel company where everybody mistreats her and takes her for granted. Sad to say she doesn’t even realize when she is being taken advantage of until she is ashamed and in pain.

Kim Hong-Do is upset over her relationship with a co-worker that has gone sour. Well! In her mind, she was in a relationship but according to the guy, he never had any romantic intentions. She simply misread his acts of kindness. While trying to get past this heartbreak and move on, she crosses paths with Shin Yoon Bok on different occasions. Because the situation where they accidentally meet each other is usually embarrassing, she tries to avoid him whenever she sees him again.

But you can’t avoid a person forever, especially when they end up living right next door to you. Shin Yoon Bok came to Seoul on a special assignment and rented the place right next door to where Kim Hong-Do lives.

• Although his assignment takes priority, Shin Yoon Bok still dreams of becoming a webtoon writer.
• Although her love life crumbled, Kim Hong-Do dreams of becoming a fashion designer.

But did either of them dream of falling in love with each other?

Main Characters:

• Shin Yoon Bok (played by Kim Myung-soo, “Royal Secret Agent”)
• Kim Hong-do (played by Lee Yoo-young, “SF8: The Prayer”)

Where to Watch

Viewership and Rating:

• IMDb: 7.1 out of 10 stars
• My Drama List: 7.8 out of 10 stars
• Viki viewers rated this series 8.4 out of 10 stars

My personal rating is the same as the Viki viewers: 8.4 out of 10 stars.

I was having difficulty trying to think of a good word to describe “Dare to Love Me”, but drew a blank. However, the South China Morning Post picked the perfect word: “wonky”.

Even though it is a Viki Original series, it is available for streaming on Netflix in selected regions.

• FUN FACT: There is a real place called Seongeup Folk Village (성읍민속마을) and its purpose is to preserve the history and cultural heritage of Jeju Island. The traditional architecture and folk traditions from the late Joseon period are maintained. It is one of South Korea’s main tourist attractions. Learn more: Seongeup Folk Village Jeju: A Detailed Guide | Expatolife

KOREAN FOOD MENTIONED IN K-DRAMAS:

In “Dare to Love”, the cook in Seongsan Village packed lunch for Shin Yoon Bok and his traveling companion. She said it was sweet potatoes and shikhye (or sikhye).

• Sikhye 식혜 – Rice punch | Maangchi (Sikhye (rice punch is a traditional sweet Korean drink made of fermented malt and rice. As the rice ferments, the grains turn white and become spongy, …” ) It is non-alcoholic.

• Easy Sikhye Recipe (Sweet Korean Rice Drink) | Beyond Kimchee (“This easy recipe lets you make the tasty Korean punch at home using an Instant Pot or rice cooker.”)

LINKS OF INTEREST:

• Netflix K-drama Dare to Love Me: Kim Myung-soo, Lee Yoo-young struggle through clichés in wonky romantic drama | South China Morning Post
• Netflix drops trailer for ‘Dare To Love Me’, starring Kim Myung-soo | NME
• “Lovely Runner” Remains No. 1 In Ratings + “Dare To Love Me” And “Crash” Join Race | Soompi
• Kdramas of the Week: Dare To Love Me, Lovely Runner, Uncle Samsik, And Much More | Alt K-Selection
• ‘Dare to Love Me’ mixes historical, modern elements for lighthearted romance | The Korea Times

TRAILERS/TEASERS:

Netflix K-Content. “Dare to Love Me | Official Trailer | Netflix [ENG SUB].” YouTube Video. YouTube, May 7, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiHyGJrHXvc.