“Destined with You” Jo Bo Ah and Rowoon have joyfully unveiled the beginning of an inevitable romance that is full of excitement

JTBC’s Thursday drama ‘Destined with You’ (written by Noh Ji Seol, directed by Nam Ki Hoon), which is broadcasted on a comprehensive channel, premiered on the 23rd with high expectations. The choice of writer Noh Ji Seol, who focused on “fantasy in reality” and “romance,” and director Nam Ki Hoon, was indeed the right one. The actors’ performances, which vividly portrayed realistic characters in the unique context of “magic” and “past lives,” added to the genre’s excitement. Above all, the chemistry and comedic timing between Jo Bo Ah and Rowoon’s romance created an inevitable flutter and laughter, instantly capturing the viewers’ hearts.

Whether led by an undeniable destiny or not, the first encounter between Lee Hong Jo (Jo Bo Ah) and Jang Shin Woo (Rowoon) was both peculiar and intense from the beginning. The relationship between the two, which started with a humorous argument, became even more intriguing due to their intertwined past lives. The romance of past lives, rooted in the enigmatic “Golden Book,” and the birth of a different romantic comedy received enthusiastic responses.

In the first episode, Lee Hong Jo’s dynamic journey to become an official at the Onju City Hall, where she is used to being alone in “Incorrigible Civil Servant,” was portrayed. Her first day at work was no walk in the park. She was assigned to the Parks and Gardens Management Team of the Onju City Hall, where Gong Seo Gu (Hyun Bong Sik), her ill-fated encounter, worked. Lee Hong Jo, who was caught by Gong Seo Gu, struggled to fit in with her team members. An opportunity to improve the relationship came her way. After a death occurred at the ruins of the Onju Mountain Shrine, petitions from citizens demanding the demolition poured into the Parks and Gardens Management Team. Lee Hong Jo stepped forward, saying she would personally resolve the shrine’s demolition petition to help alleviate Gong Seo Gu’s sweating complaints. As she headed to the problematic shrine, she was confronted by an eerie scene, and fear washed over her as rain fell on the desolate shrine.

At the same time, Jang Shin Woo also visited the shrine. He, an ace lawyer actively working at the nation’s top law firm “Law and High,” was suffering from a curse passed down through generations in his family. A mysterious illness, beginning with “Hwanchok” when his blood-stained hands touched his face, led to excruciating pain. The Onju Mountain Shrine had been guarded by Jang Shin Woo’s family for generations. As his condition worsened, he visited the shrine to find it in ruins. The caretaker he hired had disappeared, and even a death had occurred there. To top it off, a strange woman who fainted was causing trouble. And in the dilapidated shrine, he was enveloped by an inexplicable energy.

The demolition petition faced difficulties from the start. The Onju Path around Onju Mountain was privately owned, not by the city. Lee Hong Jo discovered that Jang Shin Woo was the landowner by asking around the village. She requested Jang Shin Woo to help demolish the shrine, which was left neglected like a shanty, and restore it, but he, a lawyer, was not swayed. However, for Lee Hong Jo, it was more important to win the heart of Team Leader Gong Seo Gu than to persuade Jang Shin Woo.

Facing Jang Shin Woo’s firm refusal, Lee Hong Jo visited Madame Eun Wol (Kim Hye Ok), the landowner, and pleaded for permission herself. Jang Shin Woo could not comprehend why Lee Hong Jo, who was risking her life for the shrine’s demolition, was doing this. The unexpected answer she received was, “Because I’m lonely. If I solve the problem, I think the team leader will invite me to eat together.” Jang Shin Woo was swayed by Lee Hong Jo’s words, saying, “If I don’t get permission, I promise not to bother you anymore. Don’t forget that,” and handed him the contact information of the nursing home where Eun Wol stayed.

Jang Shin Woo faced an unforeseen twist. Upon hearing the news that Eun Wol had allowed the shrine’s demolition, he went to see her and heard an unbelievable story. “You’re the woman who killed. You’re the owner of the hands stained with the blood of the woman you touched. But both the pain and the curse will come to an end. The owner of the sarcophagus has finally appeared,” she said, delivering a meaningful message. The fact that “the owner of the sarcophagus” who would end the long-standing curse was none other than Lee Hong Jo left Jang Shin Woo confused. Finding the sealed “sarcophagus” as Eun Wol mentioned while demolishing the shrine, Jang Shin Woo felt a strange emotion.

Meanwhile, Lee Hong Jo was still lonely. Despite resolving the demolition petition, she was not invited to the team dinner, and she burst into tears. Just as she hesitated, Jang Shin Woo appeared before her. With a smile, he extended his hand, saying, “I wish you could come with me.” Jang Shin Woo’s ending raised excitement and curiosity, filling the air with flutter and anticipation.

Meanwhile, the first episode achieved a nationwide and metropolitan viewership rating of 2.9% (Nielsen Korea, based on paid households).

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