Poster for Drama Nice To Not Meet You: Love and Laughter

tvN’s Nice To Not Meet You brings a chaotic love-hate story.
Starring Lee Jung Jae and Lim Jiyeon amid heated debate.
Premieres November 3, 2025.

tvN’s latest romantic comedy Nice To Not Meet You (Korean title: “얄미운 사랑”) is already capturing public attention even before its premiere. The promotional poster shows A-list actor Im Hyun Joon (played by Lee Jung Jae) sitting helplessly on the floor with a bewildered look, while reporter Wi Jung Shin (played by Lim Jiyeon) steps on his shoulder. Above them is a witty tagline that reads, “Looks like I picked the wrong lunatic,” teasing viewers about the unique relationship that will unfold in the already dramatic world of entertainment. The poster marks the beginning of a “war of disses” between an actor who has lost his sense of self and a justice-obsessed journalist suddenly reassigned to cover entertainment news.

From its very first reveal, the drama promises a refreshing “love-hate romance.” Im Hyun Joon is a famous actor who has spent years trapped in the role of a kind-hearted detective in the hit series Good Detective Kang Pil Gu, but secretly dreams of becoming a rom-com lead. Wi Jung Shin, on the other hand, is a political journalist who once became the youngest recipient of a prestigious award. When her career collapses due to a corruption scandal, she is forced to switch to the entertainment desk, a move that leads to a brand-new adventure full of humor. Their encounter sparks ego clashes and public curiosity.

Synopsis and Controversies: Love, Careers, and Netizen Reactions

Nice To Not Meet You follows the story of Im Hyun Joon, a national actor who has lost his passion, and Wi Jung Shin, an idealistic reporter reassigned to the entertainment desk. The drama is written by Jeong Yeo-rang and directed by Kim Ga-ram, known for Good Partner and Nevertheless. With major studios like Studio Dragon, Studio&NEW, and Artist Company behind it, expectations are high for a top-tier production. In addition to Lee Jung Jae and Lim Jiyeon, the cast includes stars like Kim Ji-hoon and Seo Ji-hye, adding more depth to the story. The series is set to air every Monday and Tuesday starting November 3, 2025, at 8:50 PM KST. The broadcast time, initially reported as 8:30 PM by Soompi, was later corrected by Korean media outlets like Naver Entertainment and Chosun Ilbo to the official 8:50 PM.

In the story, Im Hyun Joon, known for his breakout role in the fictional series Good Detective Kang Pil Gu, is desperate to break free from his detective persona. He craves recognition as a romantic lead but is always beloved as a heroic police officer. Wi Jung Shin faces a different struggle: once respected as a principled political journalist, she must now adapt to the scandal-filled world of entertainment news. The two are forced to interact when the reporter chases an exclusive story about the famous actor. That’s where the comedy kicks in. Wi Jung Shin doesn’t hesitate to “step on” Im Hyun Joon, literally as seen in the poster, to get the scoop. Meanwhile, the actor forces a bitter smile and mutters, “I picked the wrong lunatic,” perfectly capturing their chaotic dynamic.

Beyond romance, the drama offers sharp satire of the entertainment industry. Producers promise a mix of “dis battles, hard truths, and prejudice-shattering revelations” that will not only make viewers laugh but also reflect on media realities. Audiences will witness how these two characters from completely different worlds slowly learn to understand themselves under the spotlight. The combination of romantic comedy, workplace drama, and social commentary is what makes Nice To Not Meet You stand out, according to cultural critics.

Unsurprisingly, the first poster and teaser sparked heated reactions. Many international netizens criticized the 17-year age gap between Lee Jung Jae (52) and Lim Jiyeon (35), saying they look more like a father and daughter than a romantic couple. Comments such as “they look like a father and his daughter” and “zero chemistry” flooded online forums. Criticism didn’t stop there, as some viewers also slammed the hair styling, makeup, wardrobe, and lighting as poorly executed. The Times of India highlighted complaints about the production’s attempt to hide the age gap rather than making it part of the story, which made the chemistry feel forced.

Another controversy erupted during filming at Jamsil Baseball Stadium on August 31, 2025. A shoot that took place 20 minutes before the LG Twins vs. Kiwoom Heroes game reportedly disrupted the athletes’ routine. One spectator complained, “I arrived early to watch the players warm up, but the atmosphere was chaotic because of the drama shoot.” Others claimed the players’ training schedule was thrown off and “the team lost that day.” The production team responded that they had coordinated with the club and would blur spectators’ faces in the broadcast.

In stark contrast to the criticism, domestic viewers responded with enthusiasm. According to Wikitree, teaser viewers on YouTube left comments like, 

“This feels like real acting is coming,” 

“The teaser alone is already fun and engaging,”

“The comedic chemistry between Lee Jung Jae and Lim Jiyeon is going to be hilarious,”

“There haven’t been many good dramas lately, this looks like a masterpiece.” 

Others added, “It’s been a long time since a trailer made me laugh, this looks so fun,”

“The comedy tone feels just right; this is going to be a blast.”

After observing the divided reactions, tvN producers emphasized that the drama’s charm lies in the “love-hate chemistry” between the actor and the reporter. They assured viewers that the comedic conflict will be delivered with a human touch and that the relationship between the two leads will evolve realistically. With the premiere date approaching, viewers now wait to see whether this series will silence the critics or rise as the next rom-com hit.

📺 Watch the teaser here:

Several public comments captured on social media and forums reflect the polarization of opinions. Here are some representative ones:

“They look like a father and daughter. Zero chemistry.”

“If the producers had embraced the age gap as part of the concept, it might have felt more natural. Because they tried to make them look the same age, it feels forced.”

“I came early to the stadium to watch the warm-ups, but the drama shoot made everything chaotic.”

“The players’ routine was disrupted, and the team even lost that day.”

“It feels like real acting is coming. If the teaser is this good, imagine the drama.”

“Lee Jung Jae and Lim Jiyeon are going to be hilarious in comedic roles. It’s been a while since a trailer made me laugh.”

“There haven’t been many good dramas lately; this might be a masterpiece.”

These contrasting reactions highlight both the high expectations and skepticism surrounding Nice To Not Meet You. Will the age gap truly hinder their chemistry, or will the story and performances defy the doubts? Time will tell when the first episode premieres.

Sources: Soompi, Korea JoongAng Daily, The Times of India, KDramaStars, KBizoom, Wikitree