“The Interest of Love” (사랑의 이해)

By Jae-Ha Kim
Substack
February 11,  2023

☆☆☆☆
Ha Sang-soo (played by Yoo Yeon-seok)
Ahn Soo-young (played by Moon Ga-young)
↑Note: Korean names denote the surname followed by the given name.

답답해. That’s the first feeling that comes to mind when I think of the K-drama “The Interest of Love.” The entire series is about a group of broken people who can’t articulate how they feel and are in a constant state of unhappiness because of this.

I think that in some ways, the success of last year’s “My Liberation Notes” — which offered a beautifully-executed slice of life without any fairy-tale ending — encouraged shows like this. The difference is that the former had a purpose, while this one meanders along at a frustrating pace. If I were to break it down into one sentence, “The Interest of Love” is about people who want to be in love, but are too frightened about the possibility of it not lasting to give it a shot.

Honestly, the most honest character was an adulterer who got married to a rich woman, like he was supposed to, but ended up going back to his socially-inferior (according to his parents, and himself) girlfriend, who then ditched him. Of course this isn’t the best scenario for anyone’s love life, but he gave it a shot.

Sang-soo is a handsome, well mannered banker who grew up in Gangnam with his single mother. Unlike his rich classmates, he and his mother struggled to survive. But, he was smart and got into a good university. He works alongside Soo-young, who trained him, but will never advance comparably. Why? Because she doesn’t have a college degree. She will always have the lower-paying teller job. She will always do the work that other people will get credit for.  In reality, the fact that she is so good at her job without having had the benefit of a university education is something that should be commended, rather than looked down upon. She’s more qualified than anyone there.

She is beautiful, but dead inside. And I know that Moon Ga-young was directed to act this way. However, staring at her expressionless face for over 16 hours grew tiresome fast. Besides her beauty, I didn’t understand why anyone was attracted to her, much less Sang-Soo, who apparently liked her from the first time he met her.

He likes her, she likes him, they agree to go on a date, and then another. But he ends up having to work late and breaks his phone on his way to meet her. For some reason, he has a moment of pause while crossing the street to the restaurant where she’s waiting for him. She sees this and just leaves. That moment of hesitation on his part sends her into some kind of weirdo emotional spiral and then she pretends she has a boyfriend to get him to stop chasing her, even though she likes him a lot.

The boyfriend, Jong-hyun (Jung Ga-ram), is a part-time security guard at the bank who has a crush on Soo-young, and eventually moves in with her — not out of love (on her part), but financial desperation (on his).

Honestly, everything about this series was 답답해 because things could’ve been straightened out by telling the truth and/or making an effort to better their lives.

For instance, Soo-young knew that her options were limited because she only had a high school degree. So why didn’t she go to night school after work to get her university degree? Since she had moved away from her parents and didn’t help support them, she only had herself to take care of. Yes, working and going to school would’ve been difficult. But she didn’t even try. She just accepted that her fate in life was to be less than.

As for Sang-soo, why pine away for this woman who is constantly running away from him? And why agree to get involved with Mi-kyung (Keum Sae-rok), a former college classmate he has no interest in? Instead of making himself clear, he finally gives in to her, because it’s easier than having a spine and saying, “Knock it off. I don’t want to date you.”

My favorite Soo-young moment was when she stood up to their boss, who sexually harasses her and uses her beauty to curry favors from clients during after-work drinks. He wants her there to be the pretty young thing who pours drinks for everyone. In other words, he’s using her as a hostess. When he gives her money after each outing under the guise of giving her cab fare, she knows exactly what’s going on. He’s giving her money to keep her quiet.

I was really disappointed in Mi-kyung’s character change. She started out as a smart and well-liked go-getter who got obsessed with getting Sang-soo for her boyfriend, even though she knew her chaebol parents would balk at her dating a man raised by a single mother. Her mom, though, strikes up a friendship with Sang-soo’s mother — not realizing at the time that their children are in a relationship. When her mom finds out that Mi-kyung has been promoted over Soo-young, she points out that Mi-kyung benefited from the latter’s hard work. (I was really glad the mom noticed this). Mi-kyung just shrugs it off, as if that’s the way it’s supposed to be.

Mi-kyung can’t help but notice the sexual tension between Sang-soo and Soo-young and her jealousy escalates. So what does she do? She insists on throwing a surprise birthday party for Soo-young. Under the pretense of asking for a favor, she asks Soo-young to go to the craft studio where they had woven rugs together. Soo-young comments to the proprietor how well their rugs had turned out and says she plans on displaying hers on the wall as a work of art. When she gives Mi-kyung hers, the rich girl thanks her and throws it on the floor for people to wipe their feet. When Soo-young excuses herself to use the restroom, she sees that her friend purchased an expensive work of art that they had both admired. For Mi-kyung, displaying this in the bathroom was suitable. For Soo-young, the painting would’ve been displayed in a place of honor.

As I mentioned earlier, the series is full of vignettes where Soo-young promises to meet Sang-soo and ghosts him. Halfway through Episode 10 — after she has already skipped their planned meal together — he finds her at a bus stop. He asks if she’s like to take a walk with him. (바람을 피우다?) The words are gentle, but I wonder if the wordplay was intentional. Barrum/바람 means wind in Korean, but 바람쟁이 refers to a cheater.

Airdates: Sixteen hour-long episodes aired on JTBC from December 21, 2022 to February 9, 2023. (The finale clocked in at about 90 minutes.) I watched this series on Netflix.

Spoiler Alert: Soo-young had a younger brother, who died trying to help his mother out with deliveries after their father left them for another woman. (NOTE: I’m not certain of this. I think that’s what happened, but don’t want to go back and rewatch any of this to confirm.) Near the end of the series, one of the brother’s friends tells Soo-young that he feels bad having told her brother that his mother was having an affair.

Say. What?!

Soo-young had seen her father outside another woman’s house and had assumed that was his mistress. In reality, the woman was suing his wife for sleeping with her husband and ruining their marriage. Soo-young’s father went to beg the woman to please reconsider her actions. That’s what Soo-young witnessed. But in order to protect his wife, the dad never revealed the truth to his children. And his shameless wife let him accept the blame for her own immoral actions.

At one point in the series, I’m guessing Soo-young wants to be rid of all the men who are in love with her. She and a work colleague concoct a fake one-night stand. I was thinking… Why? This is the business world in South Korea. His reputation won’t be tarnished. He comes from a wealthy family and, most importantly, he’s a man. Meanwhile, she will be viewed as the office slut and be gossiped about regardless of which branch she transfers to. Again… 답답해!

In the series finale, Sang-soo and Soo-young meet again. He finally asks her why she never called him as she had promised. And she counters with her dead eyes, “Why didn’t you come find me?”

Bitch, please! He spent the entire series waiting for you. You changed you phone number. You moved without telling him where you were going. Get some therapy and reflect on your actions.

And I hope that all of these characters choose to remain single. Or, if they do pursue relationships, it’s healthier options with people who want the same things they do: Each other.

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