SBS' "The Time We Were Not in Love" received positive praise for its June 27 premiere. Based on the 2011 Taiwanese drama "In Time with You," the series focuses on high school friends who reach a turning point in their relationship, as finding suitable marriage partners becomes an important issue within their lives. The first episode recorded 6.7 percent of nationwide viewership, yielding stronger ratings than the finale of "Divorce Lawyer in Love."
Ha Ji Won portrays Oh Ha Na, a 34-year-old home shopping division leader, who is pushed aside by her boyfriend for a co-worker in her '20s. Shoes become a metaphor for her struggle with aging and her marital status, particularly when the younger employees shoe selections are chosen over hers.
Lee Jin Wook is Choi Won, the close friend of Ha Na, who was present for the pinnacle moments of her life. While he rejected her when he was a popular high schooler, he is protective of her, in adulthood. After they attend the wedding reception of her ex-boyfriend, they bet that one of them will marry before turning 35.
The series has remained close to the source material, but Ha Na is less exaggerated than her Taiwanese counterpart. Korean phrases also help to drive the distinction of her age difference home, particularly when a girl who is shopping in a shoe store calls her an ahjumma or woman who is older.
The second episode will introduce INFINITE's L as Sung Jae, an intern at the home shopping network. The noona or older woman-younger man relationship that will inevitably develop between them should satisfy female viewers over 30.
"The Time We Were Not in Love" airs on Saturdays and Sundays at 10 p.m. KST.
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About the writer: Adrienne Stanley is a contributing editor for KDramastars. She is also a contributing writer for Kpopstarz, MTV Iggy and CJ Entertainment's KCON blog. Her passions include a love of K-pop and Asian drama. When she is not writing, she is hanging out on Twitter (@retrogirladdy).
