The Challenges of Being a Female Reporter in Korea: Insights from Two Cops

The Challenges of Being a Female Reporter in Korea: Insights from Two Cops

There’s going to be some epic head-butting between the two leads in this one, I can tell. The second teaser for MBC’s body-swap rom-com Two Cops is out, and the first showed a no-nonsense Jo Jung-seok (Jealousy Incarnate) as a violent crimes detective, while this time, we have Hyeri (Entertainer) as the tenacious, prickly local news reporter with a habit of getting into trouble.

The teaser starts with Hyeri asking the audience what we think are required of female reporters in Korea, “Narcissism? Shamelessness? Or beauty?” She hisses at the way people look down on them in that way, as we see her struggle into a fray of reporters and get into some hair-pulling fights. I mean, I gotta admire her bravery, ‘cause I would be running the other way if I was confronted by a group of gangsters, and not trying to bite one’s arm off, getting thrown to the ground and tied up in the process. She proudly lists a couple of monikers she’s been called, all ending with a curse word.

The teaser lists that female reporters’ actual qualifications are being abrasive and courageous, as Hyeri tells someone offscreen that “women in Korea have always been pretty brave, and the reporters among them even more so.” It’s still a tad weird to see Hyeri playing a professional, but she cuts a surprisingly convincing figure at the end of the teaser, which has her in front of the camera as her character signs off.

I always love it when the female leads have some sass and backbone, so though I still have my reservations about Hyeri as an actress and opposite Jo Jung-seok, I’m going to go into Two Cops with an open mind. I’m also pretty eager to see the two leads interact, ‘cause they both seem hilariously bull-headed and I can’t wait to see who folds in the battle of wills.

There’s only a little over two weeks until Two Cops finally premieres on November 27, taking over from 20th Century Boy and Girl in MBC’s Monday-Tuesday slot.