What if love is written not in the stars, but in our genes? TV Chosun’s romantic comedy DNA Lover has released its first teaser, showcasing the rose-tinted research of our romantic scientist and the ideal man she dreams of.
Jung In-sun (Grand Shining Hotel) stars as the gene researcher Han So-jin, who opens our teaser with a dreamy proclamation: her perfect match, who will stay by her side forever, is engraved into her genes. So-jin’s so dedicated to her vision that she’s turned her entire bedroom window into a research board, complete with bright colors and whimsical doodles reminiscent of a middle school art project.
To find her so-called “DNA lover,” So-jin develops an app to facilitate connections between genetically-destined lovers. In the process, she crosses paths with the OB-GYN Shim Yeon-woo, played by Choi Siwon (Death’s Game). Despite his exceptional social skills that earn him no shortage of admirers, Yeon-woo has a firm boundary he refuses to let anyone cross. The moment his beau acts obsessively possessive, or attempts to bend him to their will, he dumps her without a moment’s hesitation.
That might spell bad news for the geeky So-jin and her image of the perfect sweetheart, but our heroine is driven by an earnest determination. “Welcome to Han So-jin’s experiment world!” she squeals in delight, even as a devastated Yeon-woo wails over the jigsaw puzzle she just ruined. Whoops. Still, in spite of their differences, the serene Yeon-woo can’t help but feel drawn to So-jin’s bubbly energy. Perhaps the secret to romantic destiny really does lie in one’s DNA after all.
Apart from our scientifically-proven match, we also have second leads to twist up the love lines. Lee Tae-hwan (Thirty-Nine) plays the flower boy firefighter Seo Kang-hoon, who holds So-jin as his number one priority. The moment she calls, he’s dropping everything to answer instantly. On the contrary, Yeon-woo’s ex-lover Jang Mi-eun — played by Jung Yoo-jin (Celebrity) — approaches romance with an open mind and a free spirit, which she imbues into her polyamory advice column. “A woman who expects everything from only one man is bound to get hurt,” Mi-eun declares. Will her belief hold true, or will the devoted So-jin prove her wrong?
Directed by PD Sung Chi-wook (Tomorrow) with scripts by Jung Su-mi (Born Again), DNA Lover will premiere on August 17.