'Park's Power' Breaks the 'Rom-Com Formula': "Heo Nam-jun's 'Wrist Kiss' Rewrites Korean Romance History" — A Must-Watch 'Beautiful World' [Star Issue]

*This content was translated by AI.

Actor Heo Nam-jun has emerged as the 'King of Rom-Coms' with his mature acting prowess in 'Beautiful World'.

In the fifth episode of SBS's Friday-Saturday drama 'Beautiful World' (written by Kang Hyun-ju, directed by Han Tae-seop and Kim Hyun-woo), which aired on the 22nd, the story focused on Cha Se-gye (played by Heo Nam-jun), who struggles to win the heart of Shin Seo-ri (played by Im Ji-yeon). Despite being rejected by Shin Seo-ri, Cha Se-gye's instinct to move forward never wavered. Even amid a corporate scandal, he remained 'Only Seo-ri,' dressing from head to toe and visiting the drama set where Seo-ri was filming. He poured his heart into gifts, starting with a coffee cart and culminating in a bouquet of flowers. Yet, despite these efforts, Cha Se-gye was rejected once again by Shin Seo-ri, a bittersweet moment that brought 'laugh-through-tears' entertainment to viewers.

Ultimately, the sixth episode ignited the official signal of a 'mutual romance.' When Cha Se-gye visited a Jeju Island commercial filming site, he picked a fault by claiming Shin Seo-ri's dress was too extravagant. Moments later, using the excuse that the product couldn't be seen clearly, he blurted out, "Right now, I can only see that woman!" delivering the thrill of a 'bulldozer-like direct advance' typical of a male lead. Moreover, Cha Se-gye not only went to find Shin Seo-ri when she got lost but also quietly followed a few steps behind her while she was drunk, revealing his tender side.

The highlight was the ending scene at the beach. Realizing his feelings for Shin Seo-ri once again, Cha Se-gye approached her closely, saying, "If you're going to run away, now is the only time. I'll give you exactly three seconds."

In response, Shin Seo-ri stood up abruptly and tried to leave, but soon grabbed Cha Se-gye's hand. He then kissed her wrist, and only after finally confirming each other's feelings did they share a passionate kiss, creating an all-time memorable scene. Notably, this scene emphasized the male lead's intensity, cleverly subverting the usual rom-com kiss formula and striking a chord with viewers. This kiss ending has surged in popularity, surpassing 140,000 views within just 16 hours. Netizens reacted explosively: "Starting with the wrist kiss to avoid startling Seo-ri was a bold move," "It's great that he said 'I won't do it if you don't want to' first, and kissing the injured part before the main kiss was so touching. This drama is crazy," "A wrist kiss feels more thrilling than a regular kiss," "The quintessential rom-com taste. It's shocking like watching 'Secret Garden' for the first time. I think I'm falling for Heo Nam-jun," "Even if the lines are cheesy, if the acting is amazing, it makes your heart race like this. Actors must be good at their craft," "From now on, Korean romance history will be divided into before and after Cha Se-gye's wrist kiss. Truly."

As such, Heo Nam-jun has been praised for delicately portraying the transformation of a 'villainous chaebol' character in the face of the unfamiliar emotion of love, heightening immersion. True to his reputation for seamlessly switching between villainous and heroic roles in dramas like 'Your Honor' and 'A Hundred Memories,' he effortlessly navigates between comedy and melodrama genres, showcasing remarkable presence in every episode. Heo Nam-jun, who is currently generating synergy with Im Ji-yeon through perfect pacing control, continues to captivate audiences.

'Beautiful World' is led by Im Ji-yeon, with Heo Nam-jun firmly supporting her as a new powerhouse in the rom-com genre, breaking its own highest viewership ratings in every episode. The sixth episode, which aired on the night of the 23rd, recorded a 10.3% viewership rating, sparking widespread discussion.

'Beautiful World' can be watched every Friday and Saturday night at 9:50 PM on SBS.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.