KDrama Calling: King The Land - Im Yoona, Lee Junho Ignite Screens With Smiles, Kisses And A Promise That KPop Idols Can Act
Lee Jun-Ho's character in King The Land hates Im Yoona's smile. He calls it fake, and believes it fails to connect with him. But it's that smile which later conquers his heart, and infuses a new spark
into his mundane life. Yoona's beauty, charm, and glowing eyes were perfectly written around her character. She carried a romance not just with the absolutely gorgeous Junho onscreen, but even with every viewer off-screen, who watched this Netflix hit in 2023... It still does!King The Land rode heavily on the backs of these extremely beautiful two faces of the K-pop. Infact, Junho from 2PM and Yoona from Girls' Generation proved that even idols can give actors a run for their money. They were brilliant in what they delivered.
King The Land proved loves can heal childhood gloom
King The Land followed the story of Gu Won, the heir to a luxury hotel conglomerate, who's caught up in an inheritance war with his half-sister. While his childhood in the absence of a mother leaves his life dull, it is also reflected in his role as a boss. Cheon Sa-Rang, an employee at his King Hotel, is a bright and dedicated employee known for her warm smile, something she's taught to exude during her training, and that exactly becomes the point of contention between the two. But, despite his dislike for forced smiles and her initial irritation with his grumpy demeanor, the two cannot stop themselves from falling for each other while navigating the complexities of the hotel business.
All love, no war
The premise was simple. Infact, there are subplots where you'd yearn for a clash or conflict. But that's not the show's intent. It knew it had two heartthrob K-pop idols in one of their rare acting projects. So, the makers made the most of their crackling chemistry, so sparkling that the show even gave K-drama fans one of the most beautifully shot and aesthetic kisses seen in recent times - placed around fire, water, and racing heartbeats, literally. And that "consent" melted emotions!King The Land is that perfect rom-com loaded with lavish sets, sharp wardrobe, a lens that zooms in on Junho and Yoona at just the right moment, to accentuate their screen presence. The crispness of the hotel business in place, perfectly amalgamated with stolen glances at work, impossible hill-top stunts and jumping off helicopters to win your woman's heart, and a lavish display of wealth, this one satiates when you want something bring and colourful.
Chemistry so real, fans wish for more
There's nothing complex about King The Land. With a sweet, uncomplicated plot, it's a breezy romance loaded with smiles, kisses, and hugs. Comedy is too loud, but the two leads pull it off like butter. Such was the chemistry that fans shipped for them for a long time, many even being certain that they dated in real!ALSO READ: KDrama Calling: Descendants Of The Sun - Song Joong-Ki, Song Hye-Kyo's Rosy Romance Is Dessert For Love And War Land
Idols CAN act!
Yoona and Junho might have moved to their new projects, but how they struck a chord with King The Land was their best. Yoona, known for hitting bull's eye with every show, is currently topping the trends with Bon Appétit, Your Majesty, and Junho has Typhoon Family on the platter, but fans still hold King The Land, a benchmark for both. They broke the myth that idols cannot act. Well, they can. Get Yoona and Junho as your teachers!(KDrama Calling is our weekly series where we dissect and look back at a fan-favourite Korean show, decoding what makes it a hit even after a considerable time after release.)
