“Dear Hye-Ri” ~ My Good Personality Helps Me Heal

“Dear Hye-Ri” is a 2024 Viki Original Korean drama series, with 12 episodes, and can be categorized as Psychological Romance and Comedy (Rom-Com).

SUMMARY: In “Dear Hye-Ri”, Joo Eun-Ho develops another personality, Joo Hye-Ri, to help her conceal and also mend the wounds of her broken heart. Her ex-boyfriend, Jung Hyun-O, came up with a different way to heal his wounds. He hides his hurt and pain behind the facade of a successful career. Everyone thinks he’s the man who has everything. She refused an opportunity to work on a show and get more exposure. Jung Hyun-O volunteered for the job she refused and then figured out a way for them to work side-by-side. That wasn’t her plan. So was that his plan?

♦ Can’t Take the Job. I’m a MORNING Person.

In “Dear Hye-Ri”, Joo Eun-Ho is successful in her work. It’s been 14 years but she managed to get her MORNING radio show ranked Number One. She is a single woman, 37 years old, happy with her career accomplishments, and doesn’t understand why her boss insists that she throw away all of her years of hard work to present news in the AFTERNOON. WHY? Her boss gives her the most ridiculous answer. It’s because she’s a woman. (O.o)  The other host is a man and he needs her next to him for contrast. WHAT?? (O.o)  He said that to her in a room with her co-workers who are all men.

Joo Eun-Ho was adamant in her refusal. Finally, Jung Hyun-O, one of her co-workers volunteered to take the slot, instead of “that”. Joo Eun-Ho’s reaction was like: ‘Excuse me? Did he just call me a “that”???’ At one time, Jung Hyun-O and Joo Eun-Ho were in a relationship but he is now her “ex-boyfriend”. Setting the personal relationship aside, they are both professionals and should refer to each other respectfully and not call her a “THAT”!!!

Once Jung Hyun-O took the job she didn’t want, her boss told her to convince him that she had changed her mind and now she wanted the job that she didn’t want. (O.o)  Not sure how it happened, but one thing led to another, and the next thing she knew Jung Hyun-O had the AFTERNOON program combined with the MORNING radio show and he would now be working together with her IN THE MORNING. WAIT … WHAT? Does he want to work side-by-side with his “ex-girlfriend”?

OK! There is something neither one of them knows about the other.

• Joo Eun-Ho has another personality, Joo Hye-Ri, which she developed as self-care/self-protection, to hide the wounds from a broken romance.

• Jung Hyun-O also has a wound that he can easily hide because everyone only sees him as the handsome star announcer at the broadcasting station, a man who has everything going his way. On the outside, he appears to be perfectly fine.

Now that they will be working together, will they rekindle their relationship and possibly help each other heal their wounds?

Main Characters:

• Joo Eun-Ho / Joo Hye-Ri (played by Shin Hae-Sun, “See You in My 19th Life”, “Welcome to Samdal-ri”, “Don’t Buy the Seller”, “Angel’s Last Mission: Love”, “Mr. Queen”, “Stranger”)
• Jung Hyun-O (played by Lee Jin-Uk, “High Society”, “The Three Musketeers”, “Squid Game 2”, “Sweet Home 1, 2, and 3”)
• Kang Joo-Yeon (played by Kang Hoon, “A Time Called You”, “The Secret Romantic Guesthouse”, “The Red Sleeve”, “Rookie Historian Goo Hae-Ryung”)
• Baek Hye-Yeon (played by Cho Hye-Joo)

Where to Watch

Viewership and Rating:

• IMDb: (no rating yet) out of 10 stars
• MyDramaList: 7.8 out of 10 stars
• Dramabean: 9.1 out of 10 stars
• Viki viewers rated this series 9.3 out of 10 stars

My personal rating is the same as the Viki viewers.

I don’t know who the reigning queen of rom-coms is at the moment. But if she hasn’t reached this level already then Shin Hae-sun is on her way to becoming the Ultimate Queen of Kdrama Rom-Coms. If anybody is currently considered the queen, then Shin Hae-sun is on her way to becoming the Queen of the Queens of Kdrama Rom-Coms. This is in no way a put down to any of her other acting roles where she played more dramatic parts. Any part she accepts, Shin Hae-sun always shines bright like a diamond, as is obvious by the numerous awards she has won.

LINKS OF INTEREST:

Dear Hye-Ri with Shin Hye Sun joins Shin Min Ah-Kim Young Dae starrer No Gain No Love in viewership ratings race | PINKVILLA: Korean

K-drama Dear Hye-Ri: Shin Hae-sun has her hands full in intriguing but tricky romcom | South China Morning Post

‘Dear Hye-Ri’ debuts strong, while ‘No Gain No Love’ surges in ratings | Times of India

7 exciting K-dramas to watch in September 2024 on Netflix Disney+ and more | NME

TRAILERS/TEASERS:

TOP, K-Drama. “Dear Hye-Ri Full Trailer | Shin Hye Sun Has a Split Personality.” YouTube Video. YouTube, September 26, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yx0tX5-c1T8.‌