Lee Jung Jae, a veteran A-list actor celebrated for his roles in both dramas and K-movies, is facing an unexpected backlash following his recent appearance in the romantic comedy Nice To Not Meet You. Despite gaining global acclaim for Squid Game, the 52-year-old star is being criticized for his choice to take on an awkward and ill-suited role in a romantic comedy.
Fans expected a more important and mature role, worthy of Lee’s talent and reputation. Instead, his romantic relationship with actress Lim Ji Yeon left viewers perplexed. Many feel that the age gap and overly sentimental plot make the performance awkward and forced, especially as Lee seems to be “trying too hard to act young”, with what some call an “unctuous” acting style.
One particularly controversial scene involves Lee’s character Im Hyeon-jun arguing with his mother played by veteran actress Na Young Hee. The problem? Na is only 12 years older than Lee, and viewers found their onscreen dynamic baffling. Without subtitles, many thought they were watching a couple arguing rather than a mother-son interaction.
Comments from Korean netizens included:
“I thought it was a newlywed couple arguing.”
“So greasy. Why is he doing romantic comedies at his age? The jokes are bad and the style is tacky, it doesn’t make me feel like a star at all. If it was Kang Dong Won, I would believe it.”
“When the son looks as old as the mother… I thought it was an argument between husband and wife.”
“Maybe he’s just doing this show for fun, to relieve stress. The script is greasy from the start.”
“I told you this uncle isn’t for romantic comedies.”
Pleased to Know You is a romantic comedy centered on actor Im Hyeon-jun, trapped in his image as a virtuous detective and eager to reinvent himself. Opposite him is Wi Jeong-sin, a justice-oriented reporter demoted from politics to entertainment. She becomes a reluctant fan of Hyeon-jun based on her TV character only to discover that her real-life character is less than ideal.
As the drama unfolds, audiences grapple with the strange casting choices and tonal mismatch. While some defend the series as light entertainment, many agree that Lee Jung Jae’s presence seems out of place and that he would be better suited to more serious roles.
This romantic comedy misstep serves as a reminder that even the most seasoned stars aren’t immune to poor casting, and that fans aren’t afraid to say when a role just doesn’t fit.
Sources: kenh14
