The 2022 K-drama Forecasting Love and Weather, featuring the popular actors Song Kang and Park Min-young, generated significant buzz but ultimately fell short of expectations. Developed by Kang Eun-kyung, this romantic series explores the evolving relationship between Lee Shi-won and Jin Ha-kyung, adding a touch of warmth and relatability to the narrative.
While Forecasting Love and Weather is certainly not a terrible drama, it faced criticism for lacking originality, particularly given the impressive backgrounds of its lead actors. K-drama enthusiasts who admire Song Kang and Park Min-young may find this series enjoyable, but it is difficult to categorize it among the elite offerings in its genre.
A Union of Beloved K-Drama Stars
Notable Performances by Song Kang and Park Min-young
With a track record of successful K-dramas, the pairing of Song Kang and Park Min-young raised considerable anticipation. Song Kang, who first gained recognition in The Liar & His Lover, has since become a household name thanks to hits like Sweet Home and Navillera, earning him the moniker “The Son of Netflix.”
Meanwhile, Park Min-young boasts an illustrious career with acclaimed roles in What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim and City Hunter. Her versatile performances have created high expectations for any project she undertakes, making the collaboration with Song Kang particularly thrilling.
The Challenges of Its Workplace Setting
Exploration of Common K-Drama Tropes
As typical of the genre, Forecasting Love and Weather employs familiar tropes, such as workplace romance and the age-gap relationship between its leads—35-year-old Jin Ha-kyung and 27-year-old Lee Shi-woo. While this setup is generally appealing, it competes with numerous other K-dramas that explore similar themes, diminishing its uniqueness.
Given its crowded genre landscape, the drama’s lack of a fresh premise can lead viewers to feel underwhelmed. It’s clear that audiences had hoped for something more inventive for the first collaboration between two esteemed actors.
Impressive Previous Works by the Lead Actors
Previous K-Drama Successes from Song Kang and Park Min-young
While Forecasting Love and Weather is far from being a poor K-drama, it pales in comparison to the previous works of both lead actors. For instance, What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim showcases how traditional tropes can still yield captivating narratives, proving to be a standout compared to this latest pairing.
Song Kang’s repertoire also includes standout performances in shows like Nevertheless and Sweet Home, where he has consistently demonstrated strong chemistry with his co-stars. Though the storyline of Forecasting Love and Weather may not be groundbreaking, the performances of Song Kang and Park Min-young are compelling enough to warrant a viewing.