A Gentleman’s Dignity: Sexy, Free and Single in Korea

Can I just say…I am so thankful for this K-drama?

I began watching A Gentleman’s Dignity (in Korean: ??? ??) upon the recommendation of my ‘Seoul Sweet Seoul‘ co-author Hana Yoo, and she was so on the money.

This little telenovela kind of has it all: romance, humor, timely relevance, and glints of Seoul style glamour. Viewers and critics are also praising the show for a bit of contemporary realism: middle age is ever on the wane, and rising divorce rates have created a new class of singles, something that’s reflected in the cast. Also — many of Korea’s urbanites are flushed with wealth and want to enjoy life to the fullest.

The story follows the love lives of four yuppie-type male professionals in their early 40s, men arguably past their prime but living it up like it’s still 1999 (when — doing the math now — they should have been in their late 20s). The focus of course, is on all-around Hallyu-verse heartthrob Jang Dong Gun, who plays perfectionist-architect Kim Do Jin, a divorcé whose impeccable good looks still wins a bevy of women admirers, none of whom are of much interest to him personally. Enter high school ethics teacher Seo Yi-Soo (played by the cute and pouty Kim Ha Neul), a woman beyond his usually masterful grasp, and bam! We have a love story.

Aside from the front and center tug-of-war romance, A Gentleman’s Dignity offers viewers something above and beyond the usual rich-princeling-meets-pauper-girl of past Korean drama hits (oh c’mon now, you know exactly what I’m talking about).

And isn’t that refreshing?