Yoo Yeon-seok and Moon Ga-young's 'The Interest of Love' Gains Global Recognition on Netflix Despite Low Domestic Ratings

The 2022 drama 'The Interest of Love', starring Yoo Yeon-seok and Moon Ga-young, initially recorded low viewership ratings of 1-2% in Korea but has since achieved significant global recognition, reaching 6th place in the Netflix non-English TV category. The drama is drawing considerable attention abroad by unflinchingly portraying the realities of class and capital that govern society, going beyond a simple romance narrative.

'The Interest of Love' is a 16-episode JTBC drama based on the novel of the same name by Lee Hyeok-jin. Set in a bank, it delicately depicts the complex relationship between Ha Sang-soo (Yoo Yeon-seok), a university-educated public recruit, and Ahn Soo-young (Moon Ga-young), a high school-educated contract employee, as they are drawn to each other but face obstacles due to their educational backgrounds, job positions, and family circumstances. While domestic ratings struggled, starting at 3.1% and dropping to 1.9% by the second episode, the drama continues to generate discussion about its ending in online communities three years after its conclusion.

Bloggers note that the drama elicited mixed reactions, with some finding it frustratingly slow, akin to 'eating 100 sweet potatoes', while others were captivated by its 'realistic portrayal without fantasy'. Its static direction and delicate psychological depiction resonated with international viewers, who found it refreshing compared to more sensational narratives. The pain of youth hesitating in love and confronting the walls of reality transcended language and culture, becoming a universal theme.