As part of our ongoing bi-weekly series, Classic KDrama 101, today's drama is "My Lovely Kim Sam Soon."
Kim Sam Soon is the heroine of this drama and although she's adorable, life is just not working out for her.
Kdrama heroines usually face unjust circumstances or you would not want to root for them to get what they deserve. Kim Sam Soon is no exception. There are several things holding her back from getting what she wants. Some are her fault and some are not. For a start, she has a terrible boyfriend, who has been wasting her precious marriageable time. He's cheating on her and never planned to marry her.
Making this an even worse crime is that she's also not the best blind date candidate. She's getting older (although wiser), she is not supermodel thin, she can be a little crass and she has a temper. Also, she has a name that people make fun of.
But on the plus side, she speaks her mind, is not afraid to confront people, including her lying jerk of a boyfriend, is an excellent pastry chef, and, according to the jerk of a boyfriend, smells wonderfully like sugar.
At the start of the drama, you learn that her preoccupation with getting married has lost her a job and being fired for that is preventing her from finding a new one. Who should she meet but Hyun Jin Heon, played by Hyun Bin, the attractive but annoying heir of a food company? He owns a restaurant and desperately needs a new pastry chef. They don't meet under the best of circumstances, but the chemistry is obvious.
Complications ensue when Jin Heon's old girlfriend. Yoo Hee Jin, returns to Korea to reclaim his affections. Jung Ryeo Won plays Yoo Hee Jin. She is followed by Henry Kim, who is played by Daniel Henney.
The drama was touted as being the Korean "Bridget Jones Diary" but Kim Sam Soon is a much more likable character. Unlike Bridget Jones, who weighs every calorie and worries incessantly about her body image, Sam Soon loves food wholeheartedly and only worries about her name, which she considers silly.
This romantic comedy is as sweet and fluffy as cotton candy but does contain an important message. You have to love yourself and follow your heart. It's well worth a watch
