[K-Drama Review] The Spies Who Loved Me: Kang Ah Reum Would Make An Excellent Spy!

When I stumbled upon The Spies Who Loved Me, my initial thought was that this Korean drama was just another love triangle in which two male leads compete for the heart of the female lead. Having never watched a show with espionage as its backdrop, I certainly didn’t expect to find myself navigating a world of undercover missions, shady characters, and the complicated romantic history of a successful career woman. Needless to say, this drama turned out to be very different from what I had initially signed up for.

Spoiler alert! I can’t talk about this drama without giving a few things away, so continue reading with caution.

You can find more details about The Spies Who Loved Me on MyDramaList, IMDb and Wikipedia.

Poster Analysis

If I had been given no context, I would have assumed from the poster that this was simply a story about the main couple eloping together. However, upon closer inspection, one can spot SPY1021 engraved on the motorbike’s number plate. This subtle detail not only hints at the spy missions that drive the story but also references its premiere date of October 21, 2020. The vibrant neon lights and the sense of movement create an air of mystery that immediately sparks curiosity.

I really love this simple promotional poster for The Spies Who Loved Me. It is actually the same wedding photo that the female lead uses as the wallpaper on her smartphone throughout the drama. Just how lovely they both look in this wedding photoshoot image! Despite its simplicity, the poster beautifully conveys the affection and warmth that once existed between the two, radiating both joy and melancholy at the same time.

This poster perfectly embodies the drama’s premise through its clever visual design. The contrasting color palettes are particularly striking, while the word SPY stretching across the three main characters immediately grabs the viewer’s attention. Each character’s personality is reflected through a distinct color. Stylish, mysterious, and visually appealing, the poster leaves plenty of room for speculation about the story.

Plot

Kang Ah Reum is a wedding dress designer and co-owner of the store, Areumdaun Dress. She appears to have it all—a brilliant career and a loving husband, Derek Hyun. Although her first marriage ended horribly, Ah Reum has finally found peace and happiness in her second marriage. However, things take a surprising turn when she crosses paths with her ex-husband, Jun Ji Hoon. As she begins investigating the disappearance and murder of her scientist friend, she not only uncovers secrets hidden by her former husband but also finds a dark truth lurking behind her present husband’s friendly facade.

Jun Ji Hoon is a failed travel writer, adventuring exotic and dangerous places. But that is merely a fake profession he uses to conceal his true identity. He is actually a secret Interpol agent and is part of the team that investigates industrial espionage. An informant requests him to meet at a bachelorette party for trading crucial evidence in exchange for a fresh start in life. Little does he know that his source is a friend of his ex-wife Ah Reum, and that this unexpected encounter will set off a chain of events he never could have imagined.

Hyun Dae Hyun, also known as Derek Hyun, is a diplomat. He is highly accomplished in his career and appears to be a kind-hearted man on the surface. Deeply devoted to his wife, he frequently expresses his affection through thoughtful gestures. No one would ever suspect there is more to Derek than his charming personality. But beneath his polished exterior lies a skilled industrial spy working for a secretive agency called Helmes. His carefully guarded secret is on the verge of being exposed when Ah Reum is suddenly drawn into his dangerous world.

Cast & Crew Highlights

Yoo In Na takes on the role of the ingenious businesswoman Kang Ah Reum. She was one of the main leads in my favorite K-drama, Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, so it was a pleasure to see her in another leading role. Eric Mun portrays Jun Ji Hoon convincingly, conveying his character’s lingering feelings for his former wife through subtle expressions and heartfelt moments. Im Joo Hwan delivers a compelling performance as the industrial spy Derek Hyun.

What Makes Kang Ah Reum Better Than The Actual Spies?

My first impression of Kang Ah Reum was quite bitter. She met her ex-husband, Jun Ji Hoon, coincidentally at the very place where they had fallen in love. Ji Hoon politely greeted her and simply wanted to have a casual chat. But Ah Reum responded with disdain and was rather mean to him. This was their very first encounter after Ah Reum’s second marriage, and at that point, I had no idea what had led to their divorce. Ji Hoon seemed unfazed by Ah Reum’s rude behavior, and it was quite evident that he was still very much in love with her. I felt so sorry for him because, no matter what, he didn’t deserve to be treated that way by Ah Reum.

Ah Reum was quick-witted by nature. Whenever a crisis occurred at her workplace and everyone became anxious, she remained calm and handled it with quick and clever decisions. She didn’t let the situation break her into pieces, and she stayed resilient no matter what life threw at her. It pleased me to see a strong female character who took matters into her own hands rather than wait around miserably for a dependable man to save her.

I could see traces of myself in Ah Reum. Even though I am an introvert, I am highly intuitive and have a strong sense of judgment. There have been numerous occasions in my life when my instincts were proved right. And though I regard myself as a very weak person, I have been surprisingly bold and brave in certain situations when the usually confident people around me were shaken. It’s amusing how watching dramas actually helps me understand myself even more.

If someone else had been in Ah Reum’s place, they might have mourned the death of their best friend and moved on with life. But not Ah Reum. Ever since Ahn Sophie disappeared right after her bachelorette party, Ah Reum began forming her own theories and analyses, slowly piecing everything together. With each hypothesis, she came one step closer to the truth. She wasn’t afraid of the unknown world she was stepping into because she was dangerously curious, even if it meant putting her life at stake.

For a wedding dress designer with no prior experience as a spy, Ah Reum was amazingly good at investigations. Both Ji Hoon and Derek Hyun were trained professionals—they had spent years perfecting their skills. But Ah Reum seemed to be a natural at it. Not to mention, her sharpshooting skills and quick reflexes came in very handy whenever she found herself in danger. Remember how she managed to hit Tinker on the head with a wrench and stab him in the thigh with a pair of scissors when she didn’t even know who was under the mask? She didn’t need weapons or armor to protect herself. Her witty and intellectual mind was more than sufficient. If there was one thing she was not clever about, it was never realizing the secret identities of both her husbands. But that could be because both men were extremely good actors and made sure Ah Reum never suspected anything about them.

Though Ah Reum appears to be perfect in many ways, that doesn’t mean she has no shortcomings. The most realistic thing about her is that she has flaws too, just like any ordinary human being. When she was young, she had little understanding of life or love. She jumped on the bandwagon when Ji Hoon proposed, agreeing to marry him without giving much thought to what lay ahead. She didn’t wait to get to know Ji Hoon better, and neither did he.

With her struggling wedding dress business and Ji Hoon’s frequent disappearances for his so-called adventurous travels, their marriage was a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. The final nail in the coffin was when Ji Hoon was nearly killed in a bombing during one of his undercover missions. To make matters worse, Ji Hoon deliberately made Ah Reum believe he was having an affair with Hwang Seo Ra. Eventually, Ah Reum ran out of patience and filed for divorce. She made no effort to salvage the marriage and seemed completely exhausted by that point. We can’t really blame her though. She was suffering deeply, and Ji Hoon wasn’t exactly much help to her, either financially or emotionally.

Ah Reum became more sensible in her second marriage. Though she doesn’t fully approve of everything Derek does, she has learned to let go, adjust, and adapt in order to keep her marriage life peaceful. When things got out of hand and Derek confessed that he was an industrial spy, she decided to stand by his side and work through the situation together. And that’s when she regretted giving up on Ji Hoon too soon.

But she didn’t want to make the same mistake twice. One by one, every dark secret surrounding Derek came to light. Yet instead of walking away, Ah Reum gambled with her life and asked Derek’s mother to let go of her son so that he could live a life free from her control.  I am quite sure that Ah Reum would never have abandoned Derek, no matter how many obstacles came their way, if not for Derek’s own decision to leave her. It pained him to watch her struggle to love him for who he truly was. Derek’s love for Ah Reum would not allow him to see her suffer like that, so he left her for her own good.

It wasn’t surprising to see Ah Reum end up as an Interpol informant. She was made for that job. She took Ahn Sophie’s advice to heart and learned not to trust anyone completely, even those closest to her. She took calculated risks and revealed the evidence she had withheld only when the timing was right. All these qualities and traits made her an ideal candidate for the role of an Interpol informant. 

In my opinion, she would make a better spy than both Derek and Ji Hoon.  Yoo In Na shines as Kang Ah Reum and captivates the audience with her spectacular performance. For me, The Spies Who Loved Me became a far more engaging show because of her character.

What Impressed Me

The Bromance

Even though Ji Hoon and Derek Hyun start off as rivals who cannot stand the sight of each other, they gradually come to understand one another because of their undeniable love for Ah Reum. The chemistry between the two was even recognized in several instances where supporting characters and guest roles jokingly wondered if the two were dating. Their jealousy, petty arguments, and friendly squabbles were a delight to watch and remained one of the most enjoyable aspects of the drama.

The Funny Moments

For a thriller drama, The Spies Who Loved Me featured plenty of humorous moments. Some of the funniest scenes occurred right in the middle of serious conversations. For once, the comedy never felt forced, cringeworthy, or out of place. Instead, it blended naturally into the story without undermining the emotional weight or purpose of the scene. Most of the humor revolved around Ji Hoon and Derek Hyun, and both actors performed their comedic moments exceptionally well.

What Annoyed Me

Weak Writing Of Derek Hyun’s character

Derek Hyun is initially presented as a cold-blooded industrial spy who disregards morals and ethics, doing whatever he wants without considering the consequences. However, compared to Ji Hoon and Ah Reum, his character feels underdeveloped and inconsistently written. In fact, the chief of the Interpol team labels him a joker, and to be honest, Derek often lives up to that description.

I am not blaming Im Joo Hwan for this—he worked with the material he was given. Throughout the drama, I expected Derek to be cunning enough to manipulate his way out of difficult situations, especially when Ah Reum confronted him about his crimes. Instead, he admitted to them rather easily. He comes across as a lonely man who has been trapped in the world of espionage by his mother since childhood. At times, he seems like a pawn in his own game. Despite his profession, he never truly feels like a threat. In contrast, Tinker appears far more dangerous, having harmed Ah Reum twice and even attempted to kill her on the orders of Derek’s mother. As a result, the version of Derek shown on screen never quite matches the image this K-drama tried to build around him.

A Disappointing Interpol Team

I liked the dynamics of the Interpol team, but what bothered me was how they constantly seemed to tease Ji Hoon. I am perfectly fine with lighthearted banter among colleagues, but this felt different. Ji Hoon is an honest person who wears his heart on his sleeve, yet the team often treated his sincerity as a weakness. Whenever Ah Reum was involved, they would remark that Ji Hoon was a terrible husband and powerless in front of her. They even praised Ah Reum as a gutsy and intuitive woman whose only mistake was marrying Ji Hoon. Most of the taunting remarks were directed at him. Had the others been treated the same way, I would have simply assumed that this was how the team interacted with one another.

Another thing that disappointed me was how lenient the Interpol team was toward Ji Hoon after he hid the truth about Derek Hyun. This was a serious offense. Ji Hoon not only lied about Derek’s involvement in Ahn Sophie’s case, but he also edited the footage that placed Derek at the crime scene. Yet the chief of the Interpol team barely reprimanded Ji Hoon when he confessed and instead was overjoyed by this new info.  Considering the magnitude of Ji Hoon’s actions, I expected at least a suspension to be in order, if not something more severe. The team’s response felt unrealistic and did not align with how I would expect a professional Interpol unit to behave.

OST

I was particularly drawn to the soulful voice of Doko in the song Seeing You Again. Every time I listen to it, this incredibly captivating song melts my heart. I also loved a background track called Us At That Time by Park Yun Seo, which usually played during scenes filled with sad revelations. This piece blended seamlessly with those moments, making them even more memorable.

Rewatch Potential

The Spies Who Loved Me was an interesting Korean drama overall. However, certain aspects of the story were not executed particularly well, which reduced my desire to revisit it in the future.

Overall Rating

Favorite Quotes

“When you have a dark secret, you become a lonely soul.”

“It takes only one moment to break your spirit.”

“Bring yourself back to the happiest moment in your life.”

Trailer

Conclusion

The Spies Who Loved Me is a thrilling Korean drama filled with suspense, mystery, and complex characters. If you enjoy shows that blend action with intrigue, this is definitely one worth checking out. While the drama has a few shortcomings here and there, I genuinely had fun watching it and putting my detective skills to work.

Who was your favorite character in The Spies Who Loved Me? What are your thoughts on this K-drama? Feel free to share your opinions, theories, and even your rants—I would love to read them. Let’s have a friendly discussion about this drama in the comments.

Stay safe and healthy, people. I’ll return shortly with another honest review.

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