| Native Title | 얄미운 사랑 |
| Also Know as | Annoying Love, Petty Love, Ugly Love, Mean Love, Yellow Love, Yal Ugly Love, Yalmiun Sarang |
| Director | Jung Yeo-Rang |
| Writer | Kim Ga-Ram |
| Air Time | Monday, Tuesday 20:50 |
| Content Rating | 15+ - Teens 15 or older |
| Runtime | 16 episodes |
| Genre | Comedy, Romance, Office |
| Language | Korean |
| Country | South Korea |
| Release Date | 2025-11-03 |
| End Date | 2025-12-30 |
"Nice to Not Meet You" is a witty romantic comedy about fame, typecasting, and office politics, starring global icon Lee Jung-jae in his first K-drama in six years. Directed by Kim Ga-ram, this tvN series promises sparks, scandals, and self-reinvention as an actor chases rom-com dreams and a journalist fights her demotion.
"Nice to Not Meet You" (Korean: "얄미운 사랑," lit. "Annoying Love," also known as "Petty Love," "Ugly Love," or "Mean Love") is a 2025 South Korean romantic comedy directed by Kim Ga-ram, known for "Good Partner" and "Nevertheless," and written by Jung Yeo-rang, acclaimed for "Doctor Cha." Produced by Studio Dragon, Studio & NEW, it consists of 16 episodes, each approximately 70 minutes long, rated 15+ for teens and older. The series airs every Monday and Tuesday at 20:50 starting November 3, 2025, until December 23, 2025, on tvN. It explores themes of identity, ambition, and unlikely romance in the entertainment world. Casting was confirmed in early 2025, with script readings in August showcasing lively chemistry.
Im Hyun-joon, a celebrated actor trapped in the role of righteous detective Kang Pil-gu from the long-running hit "Good Detective Kang Pil-gu," yearns to break free from typecasting and star in a heartfelt rom-com or melodrama. As he prepares for the series' fifth season, his mannerisms and frustration mount, craving a softer, romantic image.
Enter Wi Jeong-sin, an award-winning political journalist – the youngest recipient of a prestigious press award – who's ousted from her elite desk after tangling with a massive corruption scandal. Demoted to the entertainment beat at Sports Eunsung magazine, Wi Jeong-sin – now a reluctant fan of Im Hyun-joon's show – meets the real man and is dismayed by his off-screen quirks, far from his heroic persona.
Their prickly encounters ignite a love-hate dynamic amid backstage chaos, media scoops, and personal upheavals: Wi Jeong-sin's adjustment to celebrity fluff, Im Hyun-joon's quest for reinvention, and entanglements with his ex and rivals.
As scandals brew and ambitions clash, their "annoying" chemistry blossoms into something unexpectedly tender, questioning if opposites can rewrite each other's scripts.
Fans are buzzing over the "electrifying chemistry" from August 2025 script reading photos.
The September 2025 posters and teaser – featuring Im Hyun-joon's commanding detective strut and Wi Jeong-sin's phone-juggling intensity – have amassed millions of views, praised as a "hilarious rom-com return" for Lee Jung-jae post-"Squid Game."
Critics called the trailer a "meta delight," highlighting Jung-jae's action flips and Lim Ji-yeon's "piercing gaze."
Some news outlets noted the "explosive dynamic" among the quartet, while the others lauds the "fresh mismatched pair."
Early sentiment positions it as tvN's fall hit, blending "Doctor Cha"-style wit with "Good Partner" heart, though some await the full bloom of its love-hate arc.
After six years away from K-dramas (last in "Delayed Justice" 2021), "Squid Game" star Lee Jung-jae dives into comedy, channeling Im Hyun-joon's swagger in meta teasers.
Lim Ji-yeon, fresh from "The Glory," plays a disillusioned fan whose "bumpy adjustment" to entertainment news sparks humor, with posters showing her one-handed typing frenzy.
The August 2025 reading buzzed with laughs, as Lee Jung-jae nailed Im Hyun-joon's growth and Lim Ji-yeon amped Wi Jeong-sin's adaptation woes.
The trailer spotlights Im Hyun-joon's iconic "Kang Pil-gu," with him hiding behind a massive poster yelling, "I’m not Kang Pil-gu. I don’t know that man!"
Director Kim Ga-ram's rom-com flair meets writer Jung Yeo-rang's emotional punch, promising a "razor-sharp" blend of rivals-to-lovers.
Oh Yeon-seo's special appearance as Im Hyun-joon's ex-goddess adds spice, while Kim Ji-hoon and Seo Ji-hye's ex-lovers tangle with Lim Ji-yeon's Wi Jeong-sin gives multi-layered tension.
"Nice to Not Meet You" feels like a breath of fresh rom-com air, flipping typecasting tropes into a clever tale of reinvention and reluctant sparks. Lee Jung-jae and Lim Ji-yeon's mismatched duo, backed by a tangled supporting cast, promises the perfect mix of snark, swoons, and self-reflection. In tvN's stacked 2025 slate, it's primed to be a feel-good escape – proving that sometimes, the most annoying encounters make the best love stories.
On tvN in South Korea on November 3, 2025, airing Mondays and Tuesdays at 20:50 until December 23, 2025.
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