Exploring Love, Marriage, and Work in tvN’s Search Query: WWW

Exploring Love, Marriage, and Work in tvN’s Search Query: WWW

Lol these promos are hilarious on top of being an efficient exposition fairy for all of our main characters. Search Query: WWW is less than a month away from its premiere, which is probably why the tvN rom-com decided to dump five teasers on us at the same time. I’m not complaining too much though, since they’re each short, cute, and follow the same format with the four leads – Im Soo-jung (Chicago Typewriter), Jang Ki-yong (Kill It), Lee Da-hee (Beauty Inside), and Jeon Hye-jin (Misty) – answering one question per clip.

In the first clip, the question posed is what the characters’ ultimate goal is for the year. Im Soo-jung, who will be playing a highly competitive strategy manager of Korea’s top portal site, predictably answers, “To remain the most searched portal.” Lee Da-hee, a social media manager for a competing portal site, responds that she wants to stop her temper from getting the best of her, lol. As a former judo athlete with anger management issues, I second her stated goals. Jeon Hye-jin, a director on the board of the portal site Im Soo-jung works at, keeps it short and simple: “Divorce.” I love her consistent deadpan throughout all of these clips. And last, but not least, is Jang Ki-yong, the young CEO of a company that produces computer game music. I have a feeling that his character is gonna be super endearing and sweet, just by the way he responds that he wants to be in a relationship with a cheeky grin. Why so cute?

In the second clip, the teaser asks what “love” is to each of them. Jeon Hye-jin doesn’t even give an answer and just lightly scoffs. She may have nothing to say about love, but Lee Da-hee answers the question with an exasperated question of her own: “Why do they all cheat?” Rounding out the female cynicism is Im Soo-jung, who says it’s something “useless” and a “waste of emotions.” How much do I love that the sole male is the only romantic out of the leads? We hear Jang Ki-yong’s heart beating loudly as he shyly asks whether it’s that obvious that he’s in love right now.

The next clip asks what “marriage” is to them, to which Im Soo-jung first responds that it’s a hindrance to her work. Lee Da-hee, who is fast becoming my favorite character just from these clips, resignedly relays that a fortune teller told her that there were no men in her future. Awww. Jeon Hye-jin simply states, “A strategic partnership?” And then, to counter all the negative responses, is Jang Ki-yong, who says that he has someone he wants to do it (marriage) with.

When the next teaser asks what each of the characters would tell their past selves from 10 years ago, Im Soo-jung immediately replies, “Get another job.” Jeon Hye-jin, in her calm, expressionless manner, says, “Don’t go ahead with that marriage.” Lee Da-hee cracks me up when she tells herself, “If you’re going to beat him up anyway, do it properly!” And in case we thought Jang Ki-yong would be a little too boring as a character (I didn’t), we see him looking a little smug as he says, “Don’t worry, you’re still handsome in 10 years.” An endearing amount of ego never hurt anyone, did it?

And in the last clip, the characters are asked whether they have someone they like now. Lee Da-hee, grimacing, thinks it over for a second but doesn’t give an answer, while Jeon Hye-jin just gives a shake of her head. Jang Ki-yong, who’s heart is still loudly beating, whispers that he does as the screen slides over to Im Soo-jung, who gives a definitive “No.” I have a feeling that Jang Ki-yong and Im Soo-jung will both prove formidable opponents to each other, one resistant to the idea of love while the other does his best to change her mind. I love it.

Search Query: WWW will premiere on June 5 and air on tvN’s Wednesday-Thursday slot.