DNA Lover ~ A 2024 Viki Original Series

“DNA Lover” is a 2024 Viki Original Korean drama series, with 16 episodes, and can be categorized as Science Fiction, Romance, and Comedy.

SUMMARY: In “DNA Lover”, a genetic scientist believes that human beings have a perfect soulmate from birth. She also thinks it might be easy to find them by their smell since it’s not practical to go around collecting DNA samples from everyone and trying to match them up. But what if she’s wrong? What if she’s right but finds more than one DNA lover? What if … what if … what if …?

♦ But Your DNA Was a Match. Why Are We Breaking Up?

In “DNA Lover”, Han So Jin is a research scientist and her specific field of study and experimentation is DNA. After going through several break-ups because her partners cheated, she becomes convinced that she can find her perfect soulmate by his DNA. Checking your partner’s DNA might seem normal to you if you’re a scientist. But look at it from your partner’s point of view. You’re constantly taking samples and checking their DNA. You’re acting like a stalker and that’s creepy! Even if your boyfriend didn’t cheat he still wants to break up with you! Can you blame him?

Shim Yeon Woo is a doctor, specifically, he’s an ob/gyn (obstetrician and gynecologist). Shim Hospital, where he works has an agreement with Beneficial Gene Center, where Han So Jin works. They provide information about a pregnant woman’s DNA in the hopes of being able to detect medical problems that might occur during the pregnancy. That’s his professional life.

In his personal life, Shim Yeon Woo breaks up regularly with his girlfriends. Usually, it’s because they become too clingy and possessive and that’s not what he wants in a relationship. This time his girlfriend did not want to accept that their relationship was over. So she did what many women do when their partner tells them it’s over. She went out and got drunk.

3 Drunk Women Drinking Together is Not Good

Shim Yeon Woo’s ex-girlfriend, Han So Jin, and one of Han So Jin’s friends were all at the same place, at the same time, getting plastered. Women having man trouble, getting drunk simultaneously could lead to all of them doing something very foolish … TOGETHER! Shim Yeon Woo’s drunk ex-girlfriend decided to go to his apartment and beg him to take her back. The other two drunk ladies decided to go with her for moral support. If he didn’t take his girlfriend back they were going to teach him a lesson.

As if handling his drunk girlfriend wasn’t enough trouble, two women barged into his apartment that he didn’t even know! Han So Jin went crazy and sprayed him with some “icky stuff”. It was something she had developed at her laboratory. It grows hair if a person’s DNA is compatible. Shim Yeon Woo tried to avoid being sprayed but a drop got on his face. Even though they were all drunk, Han So Jin’s friend had the presence of mind to drag her away before the guy called the cops!

The situation gets resolved with the ex and the next morning Shim Yeon Woo wakes up, he’s got hair on his face that instantly grows. What’s happening to his handsome face? Why does he have this ridiculous sideburn on one side of his face that keeps growing back no matter how often he shaves?

He thinks back to the events of the previous night and remembers there was a crazy woman who sprayed something and he heard the word “hairy”. She also left the bottle at his apartment. The problem is that he doesn’t know who she is! That problem is soon solved because he crosses paths with her since she is one of the scientists who provide DNA results for his patients. Now all he has to do is confront her and make her fix his face!!

Did You Ever Check the DNA of Your Good Friend?

Seo Kang Hoon is a firefighter and coincidentally he is friends with Han So Jin and Shim Yeon Woo. As Shim Yeon Woo’s friend, he constantly gave him advice about finding the right woman and getting married. As Han So Jin’s friend, he thought she needed someone to look out for her since she always seemed to have problems with her relationships. He never pursued her romantically and always kept himself in the friendship zone.

Is It Possible to Have More Than One DNA Lover?

But sometimes feelings change. Han So Jin thinks Shim Yeon Woo smells nice but she never noticed Seo Kang Hoon’s scent. It gets complicated when both Seo Kang Hoon and Shim Yeon Woo fall for Han So Jin. This unexpected love triangle will make Han So Jin test her scientific research.

• Is there such a thing as a DNA lover?
• If so, which one of them is her perfect DNA lover?
• What should she do if they’re both perfect?

Main Characters:

• DNA Scientist Han So Jin (played by Jung In Sun**)
• Doctor Shim Yeon Woo (played by Choi Siwon, “Death’s Game”)
• Firefighter Seo Kang Hoon (played by Lee Tae Hwan, “Royal Secret Agent”)

** NOTE: A few K-dramas starring Jung In Sun are WL-TBR (on my watch list and to be reviewed). If you watched them already, let me know in the comments. Thanks!

• Circle: Two Worlds Connected
• Psychopath Diary

Where to Watch

Viewership and Ratings:

• IMDb Rating: 6.2 out of 10 stars
• My Drama List: 7.4 out of 10 stars
• Viki viewers rated this series 8.1 out of 10 stars

My personal rating is the same as the Viki viewers.

Most of the Viki Original series for 2024 seems to be rom-com. Not that it’s a bad thing. They are fun to watch when you want something lighthearted, cute, and corny. I’m just amazed at the different ways the scriptwriters can spin these familiar K-drama tropes. The idea that you have a perfect mate from birth and all you need to know is their DNA and you will likely find them by their smell? Am I supposed to go around smelling people to find my soulmate??????? Would you have thought of that? (O.o)

LINKS OF INTEREST:

“Good Partner” Soars To Its Highest Ratings Yet As “Love Next Door” And “DNA Lover” Premiere | Soompi

Why watch DNA Lovers? 3 reasons for rom-com fans to anticipate Choi Si Won and Jung In Sun’s upcoming K-drama | PINKVILLA: Korean

New K-dramas to watch in 2024 | Tatler Asia

WATCH TRAILER:

LoveBreak _Official. “DNA Lover Official Trailer | Choi Si Won | Jung in Sun | Jung Eugene {ENG SUB}.” YouTube Video. YouTube, August 17, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytUMZ1SKTEc.‌