My Dearest Nemesis p1

My Dearest Nemesis ~ Are You the Black Dragon?

“My Dearest Nemesis” (aka “That Man Is Black Salt Dragon”) is a 2025 Korean drama series, with 12 episodes, and categorized as Romance, and Comedy (Rom-Com); based on a webtoon and streaming on Viki and KOCOWA+.

SUMMARY: A high schooler/video game player finally got to meet the player known only as The Black Dragon. In person, he professes his love for her and she flat-out rejects him. He told her that he was 22 years old. It turns out, he’s just a kid! She was furious! A middle schooler had deceived her. Could she put it behind her? Nope! When they became adults, that kid became her boss.

The New Director Has a Double Life

In “My Dearest Nemesis”, Baek Soo-Jung is a dutiful child. When her mother passed away, she stepped up to take care of her little brother and help her dad. Her brother is a video game addict who has been trying to reach a certain level. He said if he didn’t everybody would look down on him.

WHAT? Look down on my little brother. Those were “trigger words”. Baek Soo-Jung kicked him off the computer and took over his identity. Her character was “The Healer”. Playing the game, she met and made friends with a team of players. One of the players she had hoped to eventually meet in real life was “The Black Dragon”. But when she met him it was a huge disappointment for both of them.

  • Baek Soo-Jung was disappointed because he wasn’t who he said he was. The Black Dragon was just a kid! He a supposed to be older than her and handsome … and … everything this kid isn’t!

  • Ban Joo-Yeon was disappointed because The Healer was everything he imagined she would be but when he confessed his love to her, she angrily rejected him.

Fast forward to adulthood. Baek Soo-Jung now works as a team leader at a company where she has a reputation for getting rid of the directors. But they are not unjust firings. Even so, her co-workers call her “The Killer”.

Even though it’s been years, Baek Soo-Jung hasn’t gotten over her anger and disappointment regarding the Black Dragon’s deception. There’s no sugar-coating it. She was fooled by a kid. But no matter because that’s in the past and he’s no longer a part of her life. Because of her efforts in getting rid of a director, the company was obviously in need of a new one. In walksBan Joo-Yeon , the new director.

Baek Soo-Jung does not recognize “The Black Dragon” because he’s not a kid anymore. It turns out that the little kid she rejected is a chaebol successor. Ban Joo-Yeon recognizes her because she looks pretty much the same. She was his first love but now she’s a dangerous employee. Dangerous? How did that happen?

Ban Joo-Yeon threatened to fire Baek Soo-Jung even though there was no way he could justify her termination. Baek Soo-Jung is not one to back down because of a threat from anybody. If anything the challenge gives her determination and makes her stronger. She reasoned that all chaebols have something “dirty” that they don’t want anyone to know about. If she could find something on Ban Joo-Yeon, she could threaten him with exposure, the way he threatened her with termination.

There is something.

Just because Ban Joo-Yeon is a chaebol successor it doesn’t automatically mean he will succeed. His grandmother has imposed very strict rules that he must follow to prove that he is worthy. But those rules stop him from himself. In other words, he’s forced to live a “double life”.

Baek Soo-Jung found out about his “double life”. When he realized that he knew his secret, he decided that instead of firing her, he would watch her … very very closely. He even took her as his guest to attend social events with him. It wasn’t a date; just an easy way to keep track of her and ensure that she doesn’t reveal the secret about his “double life”.

But you know … she was his first love. Wonder what Baek Soo-Jung will do IF or WHEN she finds out her boss, Ban Joo-Yeon, is The Black Dragon.

Main Characters:

Where to Watch

Viewership and Rating:

My personal rating is the same as My Drama List.

“My Dearest Nemesis” kept popping up whenever I signed into my Viki account. Plus KOCOWA+ recommended it. I figured they were giving me a hint to watch it. LOL. It’s kind of cheesy. But if you don’t mind cheese, then …

LINKS OF INTEREST:

“My Dearest Nemesis” Enjoys Boost In Ratings + “Mother And Mom” Soars To New Personal Best | Soompi

My Dearest Nemesis’ review: Moon Ga-young and Choi Hyun-wook’s romcom is far from perfect but still irresistible – Entertainment | Mashable ME

Moon Ga young – My Dearest Nemesis review: Chaotic chemistry makes even familiar trope work | India Today

TRAILER/TEASER:

CJ ENM Global. “[ENG SUB] My Dearest Nemesis.” YouTube, 21 Feb. 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aq5h0LC4xJ8.

Black Dragon Gift Ideas

All this talk about the Black Dragon inspired me to go shopping. I found two gift ideas for kids (or grandkids).

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Avatar of Breakaway
Breakaway

New Member

11 messages 2 likes

I loved every second of it! The childhood deception turning into workplace tension was such a fun dynamic. Baek Soo-Jung and Ban Joo-Yeon’s chemistry was electric, even when they were at each other’s throats. I especially enjoyed how the show balanced humor with deeper emotions. The “double life” aspect added a unique twist, making Ban Joo-Yeon’s character more complex than the usual chaebol lead.

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Avatar of Catalie
Catalie

Dreamer, Believer, Achiever

15 messages 0 likes

I gave this drama a try because of the high ratings, but honestly, it wasn’t for me. The premise had potential, but the execution felt predictable. The enemies-to-lovers trope can be great, but in this case, I found Baek Soo-Jung’s grudge against Ban Joo-Yeon to be a bit over-the-top. I get that she felt deceived as a teenager, but holding onto that anger for so many years seemed unnecessary. Still, I can see why others might enjoy the tension and comedy.

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Avatar of Nancy06R78
Nancy06R78

New Member

83 messages 3 likes

This drama reminded me why I love rom-coms! The past misunderstandings, the workplace power struggles, and the lingering first love—it all came together beautifully. I really appreciated how Baek Soo-Jung wasn’t a weak female lead. She was ambitious and didn’t let Ban Joo-Yeon intimidate her, even when he became her boss. And Ban Joo-Yeon? His devotion was clear from the start, even if he tried to hide it. Definitely adding this to my rewatch list!

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Avatar of BROOKE
BROOKE

Member

345 messages 29 likes

While My Dearest Nemesis had a fun premise, I couldn’t help but notice how the show leaned on typical K-drama clichés. The “chaebol with a strict grandmother” storyline has been done so many times before. Also, the idea of keeping someone close to prevent them from revealing a secret is a bit forced. That being said, the humor and chemistry made up for some of the predictability. I just wish the show had taken a few more risks with the story.

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Avatar of DramasOverKimchi
DramasOverKimchi

Well-Known Member

1,305 messages 56 likes

I read the original webtoon before watching the drama, and I have to say, they did a great job adapting it! Some details were changed, but the essence of the story remained. One thing I appreciated was how they expanded Baek Soo-Jung’s backstory. In the webtoon, we don’t see as much of her struggles taking care of her family. The drama made her character more relatable and strong-willed. If you loved the show, I highly recommend reading the webtoon too!

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Avatar of Shayla_15200
Shayla_15200

I am Alive!

146 messages 4 likes

This drama had me laughing so much! The way Baek Soo-Jung handled her little brother’s gaming obsession was hilarious, and her workplace reputation as “The Killer” made for some great moments. The banter between her and Ban Joo-Yeon was one of the best parts. Their love-hate dynamic reminded me of classic romantic comedies. If you want something lighthearted and fun, this is a great pick.

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Avatar of Zoey
Zoey

Aspiring Smilemaker

68 messages 3 likes

I didn’t expect to get so emotionally invested in this drama. Beyond the romance and comedy, I really connected with Baek Soo-Jung’s journey. She had to grow up so fast after losing her mother, and it made sense why she didn’t trust easily. Ban Joo-Yeon, despite his privileged background, also had his own struggles. Their relationship wasn’t just about romance—it was about healing and understanding. It made me tear up a few times.

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Avatar of Sandy Rose
Sandy Rose

Go getter

41 messages 2 likes

As a gamer, I was drawn to the whole “online friends meeting in real life” angle. It’s a common fantasy, but this drama put an interesting spin on it. The fact that their first meeting was such a disaster made it more entertaining. I also liked how they showed the difference between how people present themselves online versus reality. Wish they had included more gaming scenes, though!

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Avatar of realitycheck
realitycheck

Master Payroll Processes with Effective Training

27 messages 1 like

I know some people find chaebol stories overused, but I actually enjoy them! There’s something fascinating about watching rich, powerful characters deal with family pressure and hidden struggles. Ban Joo-Yeon had to prove himself despite his status, which made him more interesting than your typical spoiled rich guy. Plus, his “double life” secret added tension. I’d rather watch a story like this than a plain office romance.

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