SUMMARY: Two wounded souls — a psychiatrist and a content producer — agree to become anonymous “dinner mates,” sharing weekly meals without revealing personal details.
In “Dinner Mate”, Woo Do-Hee is a lively and imaginative content producer longing for stability in love, and Kim Hae-Kyung is a composed psychiatrist and food therapist whose calm exterior masks lingering wounds from past relationships. This Korean drama blends romance, emotional healing, and the comforting ritual of shared meals to tell the story of two strangers who slowly form an unexpected bond.
Woo Do-Hee is on romantic Jeju Island, the perfect place for her to accept a long-awaited proposal from her boyfriend. Instead, she is blindsided by his confession that he has chosen someone else. Reeling from heartbreak, she turns instinctively to food for comfort. On her flight back to Seoul, she is seated beside Kim Hae-Kyung. She can’t stop herself from crying, so as an empathetic gesture, he hands her his handkerchief. He didn’t initiate a conversation. They don’t know each other. They just happen to be sitting next to each other on the plane. Woo Do-Hee seemed to be so distressed. Letting her have his handkerchief is the least he could do.
Besides, it’s probably the first and last time their paths will ever cross. Right? Nope! It may have been the first time, but it won’t be the last time.
“Fate is meeting the same person again and again in impossible places and moments.”
– Woo Do-hee
Woo Do-Hee and Kim Hae-Kyung encounter each other repeatedly. One day, they are both waiting alone for a table at a restaurant. Mistaken for being a couple, they decide on a whim to dine together. This impulsive choice becomes the foundation of their “dinner mate” arrangement: weekly meals shared without exchanging personal details, expectations, or emotional obligations. What begins as a simple companionship built around good food gradually evolves into a safe space. They can feel comfortable with each other, breathe, reflect, and rediscover themselves.
As their dinner meetings continue, Woo Do-Hee’s bright and spontaneous personality enables Kim Hae-Kyung to lower his guard and open up. He has a positive effect on her as well. His thoughtful presence helps her confront the pain of her breakup. Their relationship develops, and they feel as though they can confide and discuss more serious matters. The lighthearted banter progresses to deeper conversations. Woo Do-Hee and Kim Hae-Kyung make honest confessions about past loves, fears, and the fragile hope of starting over. The dinners become nourishment, not only of the body, but for their heart and inner spirit. They can connect, trust, and not be afraid of being vulnerable.
“I want to have dinner with you every day for the rest of my life.”
– Kim Hae-kyung
Their growing closeness happened almost naturally, and it was uncomplicated. However, figures from their pasts reentered their lives to make things complicated.
“It’s strange how hard it is to control your heart even after a relationship ends.”
– Woo Do-hee
“Our hearts are sometimes one step behind our brains.”
– Kim Hae-kyung
My personal rating is the same as Letterboxd.
“Dinner Mate”, a 2020 Korean drama, is adapted from the webtoon “Would You Like to Have Dinner Together?” by Park Shi-in. My three reasons for watching this K-drama? (1) It’s a delightful rom-com, (2) the male lead is an actor who never disappoints, and (3) some of the scenes are on Jeju Island.
Dinner Mate [2020] | JangHaven
Dinner Mates. ~ Korean Drama Review | Kdrama Love
An Honest Review of ‘Dinner Mate.’ | Cosmopolitan Philippines
Dinner Mate Korean Drama | KoreanDrama.Org
Review: Dinner Mate Is a Classic Rom-Com with Updated Vibes. | Dramas Over Flowers
First Impressions and Unfiltered Thoughts: Dinner Mate | Dramas with a Side of Kimchi
iQIYI 爱奇艺 – Get the iQIYI APP. “Teaser:Song Seung Heon & Seo Ji-Hye’s Quarrelsome Love Will Come.” YouTube, 9 May 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btdNnjH0mto.
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