Love Me

Presentation

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Overview

Synopsis

Seo Jun Kyeong is single and works as an OB-GYN. She appears to have a perfect life, but she’s actually a very lonely person due to a secret. 7 years ago, she ran away from her family after a devastating accident. One day, Joo Do Hyun enters her life. He is the only one to recognize her loneliness.

My Opinion (No Spoiler)

There’s no better example to represent what a slice-of-life drama should be like. Love Me offers a variety of characters who all experience loneliness, love (hence the title) and the many challenges that life can throw at you. From grief to healing, breakup to love, loneliness to contentment, the drama is a roller coaster of emotions that will make you cry, laugh, hope and despair. The show focuses on one family (the father and his two children) but scales up to all the people gravitating around them. Each and every character is interesting and has his fair share of struggles that are relatable, realistic and authentic. I think anyone can identify with one of these situations whether it is Jun Seo’s bleak future or Jun Kyung’s insecurities in her relationship. There’s not a single scene to throw away, I was immersed in the cosy ambiance that broke my heart at times and healed it right away after. Morale of the story: Life is not a picnic, but it’s still worth living. I highly recommend you give this drama a chance, it’s definitely worth your time.

Analysis

• Loneliness at the core of our lives
  Seo Jun Kyung, fear of being hurt
  Seo Jin Ho, selfless devotion
  Seo Jun Seo, lost and misunderstood
  Joo Do Hyun, unconditional love
  Jin Ja Young, the second chance
  Ji Hye On, the forever support
  Im Yoon Ju, the fear of being alone
  Daniel, Oh Won Yeong and Kim Mi Ran, gravitating around Jun Kyung
• Love, the answer to loneliness
• Main themes
• Ambiance
  

Loneliness at the core of our lives: As said by Seo Jun Kyung (Seo Hyun Jin), there’s not just one definition of loneliness. It comes in ‘different shapes, different colors, different sizes. Each of us carries a different kind of loneliness.’ That’s exactly what the drama portrays through each of its characters.

Seo Jun Kyung, fear of being hurt: Seven years ago, Seo Jun Kyung’s life changed when her mother was severely injured in a car accident while on her way to see her. The accident left her mother amputated and emotionally withdrawn, while Jun Kyung was consumed by guilt, resentment, and unspoken pain. Their inability to communicate drove them apart, and Jun Kyung eventually distanced herself from home. The tragedy stripped her of her cheerfulness. She withdrew from others, lived in isolation, and wandered the streets at night, shouldering every problem alone. Her loneliness was both physical and emotional. Through Joo Do Hyun (Chang Ryul), Jun Kyung slowly relearns how to live – letting go of guilt, grieving her mother’s death, and allowing herself to rely on someone else. Over time, it becomes clear that her solitude was a choice born out of fear: fear of vulnerability and of being hurt again. Beneath her cold exterior, Jun Kyung is gentle, empathetic, and deeply caring – someone who simply kept her heart on mute to survive.

Seo Jin Ho, selfless devotion: Seo Jin Ho (Yu Jae Myung) has done his best as a husband. He took care of his sick wife for 7 years and tolerated her mood swings without complaint. He also tried to reconcile the family, but failed every time. His wife’s accident created an implicit crack in his marriage that made him feel lonely, misunderstood and disregarded. As a devoted caretaker, he shouldered most of the burden, repressing his own feelings. Nevertheless, he did it with love and kindness. Like Jun Kyung, Jin Ho is a softie who’s benevolent, empathetic and selfless. He loves fully, even at the cost of his own hurt. After his wife’s death, he experiences a different kind of loneliness and so travels to Jeju Island to honor his promise and fill the void she left behind. There, he meets the second love of his life. He and Jin Ja Young (Yoon Se Ah) have gone through the same ordeals and thus understand each other. Their compatibility creates an immediate connection that blossoms into love, withstanding family’s reluctance and guilt. At the end of the drama, Ja Young is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. She tries to run away from Jin Ho, but neither can return to a life of solitude. They choose to face sickness together rather than live apart.

Seo Jun Seo, lost and misunderstood: I think many people in their 20s can identify with Seo Jun Seo’s (Lee Si Woo) life struggles. Aged 27-29, he’s still studying at university, when most of his friends have landed a job. His prospects seem bleak and his future uncertain. Jun Seo feels lonely, lost and misunderstood. On top of that, his current girlfriend only thinks about herself, his family is oblivious to his insecurities and Jun Kyung tends to criticize his choices. He doesn’t feel worthy to be loved, has low self-esteem and self-confidence. The only solace in his life is his best friend Ji Hye On (Dahyun). She’s been by his side through thick and thin and always supported him unconditionally. She loves him for who he is – not for his situation, and genuinely wants what’s best for him. When they finally get together, Jun Seo attempts to break up with her, as he feels ashamed and worthless. But Hye On hangs on. Her unconditional love eases his loneliness and gives him the courage to make meaningful choices, starting with finding a job. At the end of the show, he’s forged his own path by becoming a weather forecaster.

Joo Do Hyun, unconditional love: Joo Do Hyun is as lonely as Seo Jun Kyung when they first meet. He’s 35 and pursues his passion as a musician. Therefore, he doesn’t seem reliable nor financially stable. Hence Jun Kyung’s reluctance to start a relationship with him or people’s general distrust towards him. This ‘tortured artist’ vibe fuels his loneliness. But it all changes with Jun Kyung. She showers him with care, affection and love when he feels like he doesn’t deserve such kindness from a woman he’s just met, especially when she discovers the existence of his 15-year old child. After some bumps on the road, Jun Kyung endorses the role of the step-mother. She embraces Daniel (Moon Woo Jin) with all her might and accepts the various challenges that punctuate their relationship (Daniel’s hate at first, his mother’s return to South Korea and Do Hyun’s paternity-related secret). But no matter what life throws their way, Do Hyun can count on her unconditional support and benevolence. Though he’s the root cause of many of her sufferings, he’s also the bandaid that makes her feel better. The reverse is also true, as Jun Kyung makes Do Hyun feel whole.

Jin Ja Young, the second chance: Jin Ja Young felt extremely lonely after the death of her sick husband. Overwhelmed by grief, pain and solitude, she even tried to commit suicide. She eventually chose to live, but constantly ran away by traveling around the world as a tour guide. This was a way to escape her suffering, but also to heal. During her trip to Jeju, she meets Seo Jin Ho and it all just makes sense. He went through similar struggles with his wife, understands her feelings and comforts her. Both know the challenges that come with being a caretaker. They devoted themselves to their loved one and now have to endure the weight of the loss. When she discovers she has Alzheimer’s, Ja Young runs away again. She doesn’t want to be a burden to her lover who’s already been through so much. However, both realize that they can’t live without each other. Not only does Ja Young provide a second chance at love to Jin Ho, but she’s also given a second chance at life thanks to that fateful encounter. She becomes a member of the Seo family, is beloved by everyone and finally feels like she belongs somewhere. She’s loved and thus can leave her loneliness behind.

Ji Hye On, the forever support: Ji Hye On loves her best friend Seo Jun Seo with all her heart. However, she had to stand by and watch him get hurt, as well as hide her true feelings for him. She struggled to see him make wrong choices and accept his girlfriend’s rude behavior. This filled her with great loneliness – watching your loved one being hurt and not being able to do anything is extremely tough. However, she musters her courage and confesses. This is a first step out of the dark shadow she was hiding behind. She goes towards Jun Seo hoping that it would be reciprocated. Despite a tough start, Jun Seo finds solace in his best friend. She brings him reassurance and comfort, while Hye On can give way to her intense feelings. She doesn’t care about external circumstances, money, career, success, she cares about him as a person. As proof of her love, she writes a book that describes the feelings of loneliness she’s had in the past and how much she struggled to get to him in the first place. These words get through to Jun Seo who immediately understands how much Hye On loves him. She’s definitely his best cheerleader.

Im Yoon Ju, the fear of being alone: Im Yoon Ju (Kong Seong Ha) is Daniel’s mother. Throughout the drama, you get to understand how fearful of loneliness she is. In the past, she got pregnant and lied about Do Hyun being the father to keep him by her side. He was a reassuring presence for a 20-year old woman with a child. When Daniel leaves for South Korea and finds his place next to his father and Jun Kyung, Yoon Ju feels lonely again in Germany. Despite a successful career, she doesn’t have anyone who brings her comfort. So, she returns to Korea and tries to get Do Hyun back. That way, she hopes to recreate a family that would make her feel warm and complete. When Do Hyun discovers that Daniel is not his biological son, she uses that excuse as a way to take her son back to Germany. She’s afraid that he would want to stay with his father and thus leave her all on her own. Her despicable actions are the result of a profound fear of solitude. She’s incapable of living with herself. So, she acts selfishly, manipulates others and forces them to stay by her side. But Jun Kyung says it well: ‘Loneliness is not an excuse for everything‘. The pain she’s inflicted to Daniel and Do Hyun is immense, yet she doesn’t even reflect on that.

Daniel, Oh Won Yeong and Kim Mi Ran, gravitating around Jun Kyung: Daniel’s loneliness results from the fact that he doesn’t know his father. He wants to fill this empty space and create a relationship with him. He feels threatened by Jun Kyung at first, because she’s the center of Do Hyun’s world and he envies her. Daniel fears he’d be pushed aside and not preferred over Jun Kyung. So, the adult gives him space and lets him come to her at his own pace. Once he accepts her, the relationship they form is beautiful and strong. He really considers her a second mother and feels entirely accepted in his father’s world. Oh Won Yeong (Kang Chae Young) used to work at a convenience store, while she studied for the police exam. On the night shifts, she often met Jun Kyung. A silent bond formed between these two. Words were not needed, as the other’s presence was enough to neutralize their respective loneliness. At times when things were not going well, Won Yeong felt as if Jun Kyung was a friendly and reassuring stranger who helped her go through the toughest times of her life. Kim Mi Ran is Jun Kyung’s mother. After her accident she withdrew in herself and fell into depression. She cut ties with others and spent her days at home, waiting for her husband to come back. She felt lonely in this empty and cold house that used to be filled with laughter and love. She too, experienced great solitude, that she never truly managed to communicate to her family with soft words. She died lonely in her bed.

Love, the answer to loneliness: As it is mentioned in Jun Kyung’s final monologue, love is the best medicine to loneliness. ‘If you trace it back to where it begins, love is waiting at the end. Because loneliness comes from wanting something that hasn’t been fulfilled yet, something that hasn’t quite reached you. Seen that way, loneliness doesn’t feel so bad. It just hasn’t been filled yet. At least it means, there’s that much love in my heart.’ All characters felt lonely at some point in their life. They carried that burden with them, not realizing that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Loneliness is nothing but an empty space in your heart waiting to be filled with love, joy and happiness. Feeling lonely just means that you’ve not met the right people or not experienced the right things yet. But it will all happen in due time. Meanwhile, we can just take a moment and reflect. If you’re lonely now, it only means that you have a lot of love to give to others and you’re yet to receive plenty. The title of the drama, Love Me, perfectly relates that idea. Being loved means filling in the void created by loneliness. Being love brings comfort, strength, assurance and solace. Being loved replaces negative emotions with positive feelings of joy, laughter and sense of belonging.

Main themes: This drama is a slice-of-life that tackles such a vast number of themes. The first one is obviously loneliness – which is at the core of the plot – but you also have others like grief, family, love, friendship, or even parenthood. Then again, you have many different configurations for each topic. Love for example englobes toxic relationships (Jun Seo and his ex-girlfriend), best friends to lovers (Jun Seo and Hye On), second love (Jin Ho and Ja Young). Family relates to dysfunctional dynamics (Jun Kyung and her mother), remarriage (Jin Ho and Ja Young), recomposed families (Jun Kyung, Do Hyun and Daniel), single parent (Yoon Ju and Daniel) and delves into parenthood with subjects like what it means to be a parent (Do Hyun and Daniel/Jin Ho and Mi Ran), infertility, and adoption (Jun Kyung and Do Hyun).

Ambiance: The drama has this jazzy cosy vibe that brings comfort and warmth. You root for characters and desperately wish they’ll overcome their struggles and find happiness. Nevertheless, Love Me is not a walk in the park. It portrays life as it is (raw, cruel, brutal, but also beautiful, heartwarming and fulfilling) – hence the myriad of emotions you experience while watching the show. I cried, laughed, felt characters’ pain and empathized with their suffering, while smiling and giggling in the face of their happiness. This drama is a roller coaster of emotions – positive and negative.