Seo Hyun-jin & Jang Ryul's First Date at a Grilled Eel Restaurant Sparks Curiosity in JTBC's 'Love Me'

JTBC's upcoming Friday-Saturday drama 'Love Me' has unveiled the first still cuts of a date between its lead actors, Seo Hyun-jin and Jang Ryul, raising anticipation for their unique chemistry.

Set to premiere on December 19th, 'Love Me' tells the story of a family that begins to grow as each member embarks on their own journey of love. A recently released teaser hinted at the cracks within a family struggling to move forward after a seven-year-old accident involving their mother, leaving viewers eager to see how they will find their way back to 'Love Me'.

Amidst this, a first date scene between obstetrician Seo Jun-kyung (Seo Hyun-jin) and music director Joo Do-hyun (Jang Ryul) has captured attention. Jun-kyung, who finds it difficult to initiate relationships, is depicted alongside Do-hyun, a man with natural humor and manners. Their paths intertwine unexpectedly when Do-hyun, who lives next door, finds himself increasingly drawn to Jun-kyung.

The newly released stills showcase their first date, notably set not in a fancy restaurant or cafe, but at an unexpected 'grilled eel' (kkumi-jip) establishment. The contrast between Jun-kyung's somewhat stiff expression and Do-hyun's relaxed smile hints at a first meeting filled with both awkwardness and budding excitement, leading to comments about their 'intriguingly attractive combination'.

A production team representative stated, "Because Jun-kyung and Do-hyun are not on the same page regarding the pace of their relationship, the curiosity and charm that arise between them are significant." They added, "Pay attention to this first scene, which isn't a perfectly curated date but rather one filled with simultaneous awkwardness, unfamiliarity, and fluttering excitement. The clashing emotional lines will deepen their feelings as the story progresses."

'Love Me' is based on a Swedish original series of the same title, which has also been remade in Australia. The JTBC series will air its first two episodes back-to-back on Friday, December 19th, at 8:50 PM KST.

Korean netizens reacted positively to the stills, with comments like 'Seo Hyun-jin and Jang Ryul's chemistry is insane,' 'A grilled eel restaurant date is so unique,' and 'I'm already excited.' The unexpected setting for a first date generated significant buzz.