Radio Romance is about a top actor (Yoon Doo Joon) who becomes a radio DJ, but he can’t do anything without a script and the program’s writer (Kim So Hyun) who struggles to succeed with her writing. It follows stories of healing through their radio show as they fall in love.
Kim So Hyun plays Song Geu Rim, a writer at a radio station. She is passionate about radio because it’s the way she connects with her blind mother. But she has had trouble getting ahead with her writing. That is until she gets top actor Ji Soo Ho to be the DJ of a radio program at the station.
Yoon Doo Joon is the popular actor Ji Soo Ho. He’s good at pretending and playing a part, but in real life he is very withdrawn, sad, and cut off from those around him. He struggles to connect with others and to show his true self. Becoming the DJ of a radio program allows him to discover a new side of himself and explore his feelings for Geu Rim.
Yoon Park play the radio PD Lee Gang. He’s kind of an eccentric man who is tough but good at his job. He finds himself a bit at odds with Soo Ho and even more so when he also develops feelings for Geu Rim.
Radio Romance is a mostly nice watch. I enjoyed the radio station as a setting, and it has a cute romance coupled with a nice journey of character growth for Soo Ho. This drama is more character driven with the plot revolving around the characters’ personal journeys. Soo Ho’s story is the most prominent with it being very intertwined with Geu Rim’s.
It was sad watching Soo Ho so awkwardly try to navigate the world while remaining closed off and withdrawn. Past hurts and trauma haunt him and create so much pain. But seeing him slowly take interest in those around him as well as actually looking forward to working at the radio station was great.
I also liked how Soo Ho’s core personality doesn’t dramatically change throughout the drama despite his inner transformation. He’s had years of being hurt and withdrawn, and that isn’t something that easily changes. He remains a bit closed off, but we see that subtle smile more often and see him feel more at ease around Geu Rim.
The romance between Soo Ho and Geu Rim was very sweet. I liked how their childhood connection very much related to their present. It had a big impact on Soo Ho that played a major part in him being able to finally open up and desire a relationship with Geu Rim. I didn’t find their relationship particularly swoony, but it felt very down to earth and comfortable. It was a nice relationship to watch blossom.
The villains are quite strong in this drama. Soo Ho’s mother (Oh Hyun Kyung) is completely controlling and not to be swayed, and Tae Ri (Yura) is an actress who clings on to Soo Ho and creates a lot of drama. Neither are very appealing characters.
The drama did feel a bit slow at times, but mostly it felt like an easy watch. The back story surrounding Soo Ho and Geu Rim was interesting though I wish they would have went deeper with it much sooner rather than saving so much for the end of the drama.
But I still enjoyed watching their healing journeys. There are also some very touching stories that play out through the radio program. Many times they helped push Soo Ho forward in his own healing journey.
While Radio Romance doesn’t do anything particularly revolutionary, it’s cute and fun with a main couple that is easy to root for. It also delivers plenty of heartfelt moments to make for a thoughtful and enjoyable story.
My Rating: 7/10
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