Amid the wave of romance dramas flooding the small screen with sweet love stories, The Practical Guide to Love is carving out its own space by offering a more grounded perspective on relationships. Rather than focusing solely on dreamy romance, the series resonates strongly with viewers in their 30s who are navigating career pressure, marriage expectations and mature choices in love.
According to Nielsen Korea, the premiere episode aired on February 28 recorded an average nationwide rating of 3.1% — a solid start for a brand-new series. The encouraging figure signals promising momentum for the drama right from its first broadcast.
In the series, Han Ji Min plays Lee Ui Young, a modern woman in her 30s who has achieved professional stability but finds her love life at a standstill. No longer believing in destiny, she takes a practical approach to romance by attending blind dates with the serious goal of finding a life partner.
However, things quickly grow complicated when she finds herself torn between two very different men. Song Tae Seob, portrayed by Park Sung Hoon, represents stability and maturity — the ideal “safe choice” for marriage. Meanwhile, Shin Ji Soo, played by Lee Ki Taek, brings youthful energy and unexpected emotional sparks.
Caught between logic and emotion, Ui Young must confront not only the two men but also her own doubts about happiness. What begins as a series of calculated matchmaking attempts gradually becomes a journey of self-discovery and a redefinition of love in adulthood.
Han Ji Min’s return to the rom-com genre — her strong suit — has been met with enthusiastic praise. Known as a “chemistry queen” in Korean dramas, she once again proves her ability to make characters feel authentic and relatable. Viewers have particularly buzzed about her remarkably youthful appearance. Now over 40, the actress continues to impress with radiant skin, soft features and an effortlessly vibrant aura, showing little sign of time passing despite more than two decades in the industry.
Online reactions following episode one have been largely positive, with many praising the humor, relatable storyline and on-screen chemistry. Some viewers favor the calm, steady dynamic between Han Ji Min and Park Sung Hoon, while others are intrigued by the emotional tension brought by Lee Ki Taek’s character.
With a promising rating of 3.1% right out of the gate and strong word-of-mouth momentum, The Practical Guide to Love appears poised to become one of the standout romantic dramas of the season.
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