3 Reasons To Watch The K-Drama ‘Destined With You’

Destined With You, starring former idol from K-pop group SF9 Rowoon, Jo Bo-ah, and more, is one of the top K-dramas that has been bewitching Singapore lately. Here’s everything you need to know about its plot, cast, and why you should add it to your watchlist. But if you're eager to know how this series concluded (i.e. spoilers!) skip to the end of this article.

Office drama with a dose of magic. (Photo from: @netflixsg)

Destined With You: trailer, plot, and cast

Destined With You is like your typical office drama infused with various magical elements. A lawyer named Jang Shin-yu (Rowoon) is bound by a creepy, centuries-old curse. After meeting with a shaman, he finds out that civil servant Lee Hong-jo (Jo Bo-ah or sometimes spelt as Cho Bo-ah) holds the key to changing his fate. The story takes an interesting turn when Jang Shin-yu mistakenly downs Lee Hong-jo’s love potion.

Both Rowoon and Jo Bo-ah aren’t strangers to the fantasy K-drama realm. Rowoon portrayed the role of a Grim Reaper in Tomorrow while Bo-ah took on the role of a star-crossed lover of a gumiho (a nine-tailed fox) in The Tale Of The Nine-Tailed. 

Other cast members to watch out for include Yura from the former K-pop group Girl’s Day, Ha Jun (Bad Prosecutor), Lee Bong-ryun (Crash Course In Romance), Park Kyung-hye (My Roommate Is a Gumiho), and more.

Destined With You first impressions review

Destined With You recently concluded with 16 episodes, so be sure to catch up on it if you haven’t yet. Here are three reasons why you should check it out.

1. You’ll fall for Rowoon’s cheesy lines

Rowoon will have you giggling with his scenes; he just keeps blurting out romantic confessions with a straight face. We aren’t 100% sure at this point if his character is catching genuine feelings for Hong-jo or if it’s all because of the potion. But it’s fun to see him trying and failing to fight against his rational side.

2. You can easily relate to Jo Bo-ah’s character

Jo Bo-ah’s character lives in a mundane world. Despite doing her best at work and her efforts to befriend her colleagues, she couldn’t seem to fit in. She’s a hopeless romantic, feels over the moon with the littlest things, and experiences pangs of loneliness at times too. It’s easy to empathise with her and root for her happy ending.

3. The series will grow on you

Personally, the first episode can be a bit hard to get into because it seems like 30 minutes have gone by and nothing interesting is happening. But once you get past that, you’ll find a hidden gem. Destined With You is able to blend multiple genres without being too dark or too shallow in its approach.

Destined With You: ending and brief thoughts

Destined With You ended on a satisfying note. Hong-jo's annoying bully from high school (who still causes trouble for her at work) and her creepy stalker are finally taken down. The chemistry between our main leads never fizzled out, and their love story (which had its tragic origins in the past) made watching the finale and the entire show worth it. Kwon Jae-gyeong, the second lead in the story and the one who sometimes made us doubt in the beginning about his intentions towards Hong-jo, shone in the end with his sincere heart.

In our opinion, Destined With You wasn't a perfect drama as it had several filler scenes. However, the show also had its strengths such as its harmonious blend of genres, the thrilling romance, and the impressive acting skills of the main cast.

Where to watch Destined With You in Singapore

Ready to be enchanted by the show? Catch the series right here on Netflix.

(Cover photos from: @jtbcdrama, @netflixkcontent)

This article was first published on 8 September 2023. Last updated: 20 October 2023.