My Dearest Nemesis premiere: Moon Ga Young's True Beauty reunion sparks nostalgia; Choi Hyun Wook as CEO passes vibe check

The highly anticipated tvN K-drama My Dearest Nemesis premiered on Monday (February 17), and fans are thrilled to see the refreshing pairing of Moon Ga Young and Choi Hyun Wook. The new series introduces Moon Ga Young as Baek Soo Jung, a highly skilled team leader at a department store, and Choi Hyun Wook as Ban Joo Yeon, a nepo baby turned new director who just happens to be her old gaming buddy from 16 years ago.

What is the plot of My Dearest Nemesis?

The drama follows Baek Su Jeong, a top-performing team leader, also known as the director killer for her no-nonsense approach at the workplace, at Yongsung Department Store. Her life takes a turn when Ban Ju Yeon, the department store's successor, takes on the new role as the director. What Su Jeong doesn't expect is that Ju Yeon is the same person she met 16 years ago through an online game, where he used the ID "Black Dragon" while she played under the name "Strawberry."

Their past remains a bitter memory for her, as Ju Yeon had lied about his age to Su Jeong while she confided in him, thinking he was an "oppa" (older brother). Now, as adults, they must navigate their complicated history and work together, with Ju Yeon as Su Jeong's superior.

True Beauty reunion sends fans on a nostalgic ride!

In a surprise move, the makers of My Dearest Nemesis have tapped into the nostalgia of True Beauty fans by reuniting Moon Ga Young with her former co-stars. Im Se Mi, who played Moon Ga Young's sister in the 2020 drama, makes an appearance in the new series, alongside Oh Eui Shik, who previously played Moon Ga Young's character's homeroom teacher.

¡°you look like my homeroom teacher¡± i wonder why

true beauty x my dearest nemesis pic.twitter.com/vPy6NSd9ad

¡ª ? (@9697film) February 17, 2025

this true beauty reunion and IM SEMI OH MY GODD SHE¡¯S INSANEE#MyDearestNemesis#MyDearestNemesisEp1 pic.twitter.com/9KFeqnE0SY

¡ª lia ? (@avmelias) February 17, 2025

Choi Hyun Wook impresses fans with his acting chops

Choi Hyun Wook has once again proven himself as a star to look forward to with his portrayal of Ban Joo Yeon in My Dearest Nemesis. Initially, some fans were sceptical about his casting, given his relatively limited experience in the industry. However, with just one episode out, his ability to take on challenging roles has made him a fan favourite.

In the new drama, Choi Hyun Wook's character leads a double life: on one hand, he's a dutiful grandson who must navigate the expectations of his grandmother and earn his place, and on the other, he's a free-spirited rock enthusiast who finds solace and passion in music. As he balances these two contrasting personas, he brings a rich layer of depth and nuance to both, which has won widespread praise from fans.

choi hyun wook as ban ju yeon in my dearest nemesis (2025) pic.twitter.com/caRSonhnvC

¡ª kdrama diary (@kdramasdiary) February 17, 2025

'Hopes are high on this one': Fans react to My Dearest Nemesis premiere episode

On Reddit, K-drama fans are raving about the return of classic rom-coms with My Dearest Nemesis. Many are praising Moon Ga Young's perfect casting, while others are loving the nods to True Beauty and Choi Hyun Wook's impressive performance.

One user wrote, "Great start! This was my most anticipated new drama for months, and the first ep was solid. I really liked how they integrated the video game bits early on. I love MGY and True Beauty, so I was loving the True Beauty actors and references. 'You look like my homeroom teacher¡­' killed me. I liked Choi Hyun Wook in this and can see their characters' enemies-to-lovers is going to play out well. Hopes are high for this one. Lots of subtle hints to a darker past for the ML too."

Another added, "What a chaotic rollercoaster of fun that was for a first episode. Usually these shows put in 1-2 really short gags, but I was impressed by both the amount and how much screen time they gave us, especially the RPG portion. Also love our True Beauty sister reunion. I have to say, though, that this kind of age gap is going to take some getting used to, even if on paper it isn't that bad. Usually you see both characters who visually look a bit more mature, but I'm going to have to force myself to look past Ka-young's face, which never ages, and more impossibly Hyun-wook, who literally will be baby-faced to me no matter what cold character he plays."

A third commented, "Just hopped off Love Scout and into My Dearest Nemesis. First episode and already loving it. Love Moon Ga young in almost every show (exception was Interest of Love. But to be fair, I hated the whole series. It¡¯s also nice to watch Choi Hyun-wook after Twinkling Watermelon. And a strong female lead? Yes!"

"I initially thought Choi Hyun Wook would seem too whimsical as a CEO. Now that I¡¯ve watched the first episode, I know I was right¡ªbut that also seems to be the show's point. I mean, he records his voice at work as if he¡¯s a spy. Him being a kid in a suit feels completely fitting.

All this to say, I already have a soft spot for Ju Yeon. So, as much as I expect an enemies-to-lovers plotline, I hope Su Jeong isn¡¯t too harsh on him," added another Redditor.

Check out more reactions in the Reddit thread below:

My Dearest Nemesis [Episodes 1 & 2]
byu/Fatooz inKDRAMA

Meanwhile, the premiere episode scored a respectable 3.5% nationwide viewership rating, according to Nielsen Korea, setting a promising tone for the rest of the series.

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