While mental illness is no longer considered taboo in media, dissociative identity disorder (DID), commonly known as split personality disorder, is a lesser represented condition in K-dramas. And even when mainstream media presents a story about a person with DID, the genre is more often action, mystery, or horror, so it is a rare occurrence to come across a romance drama where the female lead has multiple personalities.
Airing every Monday and Tuesday, “Dear Hyeri” tells the story of Joo Eun Ho (Shin Hae Sun), a news reporter who developed DID after a mysterious traumatic event involving her sister. Following her breakup with her boyfriend of eight years, Hyun Oh (Lee Jin Uk), Eun Ho has been dissociating again. From 4 a.m. to 4 p.m., she is Eun Ho, but as the sun sets, she becomes Hye Ri, a dreamy 28-year-old with childlike innocence who works at a parking lot.
The premiere week of “Dear Hyeri” was near perfect, but here are the four things we particularly loved about episodes 1 and 2.
Warning: Spoilers for episodes 1-2 ahead!
Shin Hae Sun’s phenomenal acting
One of the biggest challenges an actor faces while portraying a character with DID is playing multiple personalities and making them look distinct. Without sufficient skill, these characters can easily blend together, making it difficult for the audience to differentiate between them. Fortunately, with over a decade of acting experience, viewers expected nothing short of perfection from Shin Hae Sun—and perfection is exactly what she delivered!
Both of Shin Hae Sun’s characters, Joo Eun Ho and Joo Hye Ri, have identifiable wardrobes and hairstyles to help viewers tell them apart, but it is her top-tier acting that truly brings these characters to life. Not only does she deliver each character’s dialogue with a unique tone, but her entire body language shifts when the personalities switch, making both characters feel equally real and distinct.
No exposition dump
An info or exposition dump is a common pitfall in pilot episodes of television shows or the opening acts of movies, where creators choose to explain the characters’ and world’s history verbatim rather than showing it naturally. This is often a concern for shows like “Dear Hyeri,” which feature complex storylines.
Some viewers were worried that “Dear Hyeri” might over-explain the backstory of Joo Eun Ho and Joo Hye Ri, making the premiere episodes feel sluggish. Thankfully, the show’s premiere week avoided this trap successfully. Instead of over-explaining Eun Ho’s illness, the story throws viewers directly into the action, allowing the characters to unfold organically. This lack of exposition made the characters feel more genuine.
Two love stories and three love interests
Ordinary love triangles can be cliché, but two simultaneous love arcs for one person with two personalities? Now that’s entertaining!
First, we have Eun Ho, who was in an eight-year relationship with Jung Hyun Oh. After he rejected her marriage proposal, they broke up, leaving Eun Ho heartbroken. However, since they work at the same news channel, they see each other every single day. While Hyun Oh acts indifferent toward Eun Ho, he clearly still cares for her, often giving her projects to help advance her career. Eun Ho also pretends to be over him, but her lingering feelings make it hard for her to move on.
Eun Ho’s coworker, Moon Ji On (Kang Sang Joon), also has a crush on her and seems eager to help her move on, creating the potential for both a love triangle and a second-chance romance between Eun Ho and Hyun Oh.
Meanwhile, Eun Ho’s second personality, Hye Ri, has a crush on news announcer Kang Joo Yeon (Kang Hoon), who works at a different channel. Joo Yeon fits the classic “tsundere” (cold on the outside but warm and caring on the inside) archetype, but he’s also dealing with his own emotional trauma involving his brother’s death. Although there’s potential for a romantic subplot, the show hints that he might be homosexual, suggesting that Hye Ri and Joo Yeon could ultimately bond as close friends, supporting each other through their healing journeys and bonding over their trauma.
Presence of logic
Media often glamorizes DID, turning the illness into something fantastical. For example, in the Hollywood movie “Split,” the main character suffering from DID gains superpowers as a result of his condition. As only two episodes of “Dear Hyeri” have aired so far, it’s still too early to determine whether this K-drama will provide an accurate representation of DID. However, based on the first two episodes, the show seems grounded in logic and reality.
Typically, DID develops due to extreme childhood trauma, and it appears that Eun Ho developed her second personality after being separated from her sister Hye Ri, with whom she was very close. Another realistic aspect is how Eun Ho experiences fatigue despite maintaining a somewhat regular sleep schedule—a common symptom of DID.
While the plot has been logical so far, several mysteries are keeping viewers on the edge of their seats. If Hye Ri has a job, does that mean she also has a government-issued identity card, which is necessary for employment? She lives in a separate apartment—who bought it for her, and how is it conveniently located in the same building as Eun Ho’s? Lastly, why is there a 10-year age difference between Eun Ho and Hye Ri? Was Hye Ri suppressed when Eun Ho started dating Hyun Oh, causing her age to freeze during those eight years, or is there another reason?
Start watching “Dear Hyeri”:
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Hello Soompiers! Did you enjoy the premiere episodes of “Dear Hyeri?” What do you think is the reason behind Hye Ri and Eun Ho’s age difference? Let us know in the comments section below!
Javeria is a binge-watching specialist who loves devouring entire K-dramas in one sitting. Good screenwriting, beautiful cinematography, and a lack of cliches are the way to her heart. As a music fanatic, she listens to multiple artists across different genres but believes no one can top the self-producing idol group SEVENTEEN. You can talk to her on Instagram @javeriayousufs.
Currently watching: “Dear Hyeri,” “Love Next Door,” and “What Comes After Love.”
Looking forward to: “Squid Game Season 2,” “Good Boy,” and “Reborn.”