First Impressions: "My Lovely Journey" Is A Quiet Coming-of-Age Tale For Those Feeling Left Behind
It’s well known that it’s not easy to debut as a K-pop idol. And on average, even among those who debut, many disband within just a few years. But what happens when, even during that short-lived idol career, you were never the star, just a glorified backup dancer, until the group quietly faded into obscurity? What happens when the only thing you’ve known since you were a pre-teen is how to be on camera, and now you cannot even do that?
Channel A’s Saturday-Sunday drama “My Lovely Journey” explores the story of one such former K-pop idol.
Warning: spoilers for the premiere ahead!
Based on Harada Maha’s novel “Tabiya Okaeri,” “My Lovely Journey” follows Kang Yeo Reum (Gong Seung Yeon), a former girl group member who never once got to stand center stage. While the group’s center went on to become a huge celebrity and the other members moved on to build new lives, Yeo Reum remains at her company. She eventually becomes the host of a travel program called “One Day Travel,” visiting a new location each episode.
Despite dedicating herself to the show for five years without a single break, the program gets abruptly canceled after a sponsor backs out. Just as she’s left in limbo, Yeo Reum receives an unusual request: to travel to Buyeo on behalf of a Korean woman currently living in the United States. Initially hesitant, Yeo Reum accepts the offer after her CEO, Oh Sang Sik (Yu Jun Sang), tells her to return home, claiming she’s not cut out for the industry. Determined to prove him wrong and find a new sense of direction, she heads to Buyeo alone.
The Korean title of the drama literally translates to “I’ll Take Your Place on the Trip.” It hints at its episodic format, but it’s the English title, “My Lovely Journey,” that perfectly captures the heart of the story. Yeo Reum’s journey serves as a poignant reflection on the K-pop trainee system and its negative long-term effects.
She was only 13 when she left her hometown and moved to Seoul with the CEO of her agency to pursue idol training. While she was fortunate that her CEO turned out to be kind and supportive, almost like a father figure, the early years of her life were entirely shaped by others. In one scene, she admits that she doesn’t know how to do anything outside of being on camera. She has never even bought a train ticket on her own. Having lived under constant guidance since age 13, she’s now nearly 30 and unsure how to navigate life outside the entertainment industry.
This kind of “sheltering,” as some might call it, is a common experience among K-pop trainees. Many grow up in highly controlled environments, missing out on basic life skills and the chance to build independence, leaving them emotionally and practically unprepared for life beyond the spotlight. And this uncertainty isn’t unique to our female lead, Yeo Reum. So while the show is structured around substitute trips for clients, it’s also about Yeo Reum’s personal growth. “My Lovely Journey” becomes a quiet but moving coming-of-age tale for a woman who has spent nearly two decades in the Neverland.
Thankfully, Yeo Reum isn’t completely alone on this path. While she was previously always accompanied by producers and staff who dictated every move during filming, this time she travels with Lee Yeon Seok (Kim Jae Young), an aspiring director who is more like an equal than a boss or a subordinate. Their dynamic is a refreshing change: Yeo Reum is the quiet, compliant type who has always tried to stay in everyone’s good graces, while Yeon Seok is direct, principled, and unafraid to speak out.
A great example of this contrast plays out when Yeo Reum chooses not to tell her CEO that the failure of their final “One Day Travel” episode was actually the producer’s fault. But Yeon Seok wastes no time in confronting the situation, presenting raw footage as evidence to clear Yeo Reum’s name. It’s a small but meaningful moment that shows how their opposing personalities fit perfectly together.
As the series progresses, it’ll be interesting to watch how Yeo Reum and Yeon Seok influence one another and how “My Lovely Journey” continues to unpack what it means to start over, even when you feel like it’s too late.
Start watching “My Lovely Journey”:
Hello Soompiers! What are your thoughts about the premiere week episodes of “My Lovely Journey”? 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 clichés are the way to her heart. As a music fanatic, she listens to multiple artists across different genres and stans the self-producing idol group SEVENTEEN. You can talk to her on Instagram @javeriayousufs.
Currently watching: “My Girlfriend is the Man!” and “My Lovely Journey“