Han Ji-min takes center stage in a story exploring the ironies of real-life romance.
JTBC’s new weekend drama ‘Efficient Dating for Singles’ tells the story of a woman who decides to find love, goes on blind dates, and encounters two men with different charms. As she finds herself drawn to each of them, she begins to discover the true meaning of love.
In the drama, Han Ji-min transforms into Lee Yi-young, a senior buyer at The Hills Hotel, portraying a thirty-something professional who yearns for love but doesn’t want to lose herself.
The episode depicted Yi-young as a woman recognized in her job but always missing the timing in relationships.
Reuniting with her college junior, Do-hyun (played by Shin Jae-ha), who once called her his first love, she hoped for a chance. However, she realized he had feelings for intern Saebyeok (played by Kim So-hye), prompting her to acknowledge her misunderstanding.
Drawing a parallel to old tea leaves found during a site investigation, Yi-young swallowed her bitterness and decided not to wait any longer, setting out to find love herself.
Still, things didn’t unfold easily. The first blind date with Tae-seop (played by Park Sung-hoon) fizzled out without a follow-up, and even after meeting him again by chance, they didn’t reconnect.
In her second encounter, Yi-young couldn’t easily open up to Ji-soo (played by Lee Gi-taek), who seemed to be assessing her from the start.
Yet, when she unexpectedly ran into Tae-seop at a cafe, Ji-soo cleverly managed the situation, leading to an unforeseen drinking session where they found unexpected common ground.
Even so, Yi-young couldn’t easily trust his interest, leading to another pause in their relationship. Towards the end of the episode, messages arriving back-to-back hinted at a new turning point as Yi-young prepared for another date.
Han Ji-min skillfully adjusted the warmth unique to romantic comedies in this piece.
Without exaggeration, she brought to life relatable moments, like anxiously checking a phone while waiting for a message or a sudden stiffening of expression, managing to make scenes light yet meaningful.
Balancing decisiveness as a competent professional with hesitation in love, she clearly defined her character. By incrementally building Yi-young’s changing attitudes and choices, she convincingly portrayed a character living in the present, not merely a romance protagonist.
Through ‘Efficient Dating for Singles,’ Han Ji-min once again stands at the center of romantic comedy. The audience is eager to see what choices she will make in the unpredictable journey of love.
‘Efficient Dating for Singles,’ starring Han Ji-min, airs every Saturday at 10:40 p.m. and Sunday at 10:30 p.m.
Image source: SLL
