Song Kang’s Underrated K-Drama Romance Was Totally Different From His Other On-Screen Couples

Song Kang has starred in several K-drama romances, but his role in the 2021 series Nevertheless is fascinatingly different from most of his other characters. Since appearing as Hwang Sun-oh in Love Alarm, Song Kang has made a name for himself as one of the best K-drama actors. His career, although relatively new, includes some great K-dramas, such as Sweet Home, My Demon, and Forecasting Love and Weather. Song Kang is even known as the “Son of Netflix” because of how many of his shows have become global hits on the streaming platform.

Based on a Webtoon of the same name, Nevertheless sees Song Kang's Jae-eon and Han So-hee's Yoo Na-bi begin a complicated relationship. Unlike most romantic K-dramas, Nevertheless doesn't have the usual tropes used in the genre, but instead sets itself apart by having a more grounded and slightly darker story. Although Song Kang is known for starring in more traditional romances and supernatural shows, his role in Nevertheless is a departure from the usual series audiences have seen him in.

Nevertheless Was A Slow-Burn, Complicated Romance K-Drama Starring Song Kang

Jae-eon And Na-bi's Romance Was Unique

Nevertheless introduces a new concept to the romantic K-drama genre: that of two people who are in love but aren't ready to commit to each other. Jae-eon, a good-looking and charming artist, loves to flirt but isn't looking to get into a serious relationship. On the other hand, there's Yoo Na-bi, a sculptor who just got out of a toxic relationship with an emotionally abusive boyfriend. Although Jae-eon and Na-bi have feelings for each other, the two don't instantly get together. Instead, they embark on a self-introspective journey where they learn how to navigate romantic relationships.

Nevertheless' lead characters are flawed, and the way their relationship unfolds is proof of that. Jae-eon isn't the typical K-drama prince charming who comes in and sweeps the leading lady off of her feet. In fact, sometimes his fear of commitment can be a little frustrating, more so because it's clear he has feelings for Na-bi. But it's all of these things that make Nevertheless a stand-out series because it shows the complexities of romantic relationships, instead of the fairytale romance that is usually seen in K-dramas.

Nevertheless Felt More Realistic Than Other Song Kang K-Dramas

Nevertheless Is A More Accurate Portrayal Of Romantic Relationships

Throughout his career, Song Kang has appeared in great romantic K-dramas, with some of them being traditional and employing tropes usually seen in the romance genre. For instance, Song Kang's character in Love Alarm, Hwang Sun-oh, is in a love triangle with Kim Jo-jo and Lee Hye-yeong, who also has feelings for Jo-jo. Forecasting Love and Weather also sees the South Korean actor’s character being involved in a type of romance that's been seen countless times before, but in this instance, it is a workplace K-drama relationship.

Song Kang K-Dramas	Character
The Liar and His Lover	Baek Jin-woo
Man in the Kitchen	Kim Woo-joo
Touch Your Heart	Deliveryman
When the Devil Calls Your Name	Luka
Love Alarm	Hwang Sun-oh
Sweet Home	Cha Hyun-soo
Navillera	Lee Chae-rok
Nevertheless	Park Jae-eon
Forecasting Love and Weather	Lee Shi-woo
My Demon	Jeong Gu-won

In My Demon, Song Kang plays Jeong Gu-won, a 200-year-old demon who falls for an heiress, Do Do-hee. In contrast, Nevertheless' romance isn't as straightforward or common as Song Kang's other on-screen relationships. The series is more realistic because its main characters don't immediately fall in love or jump into a relationship just because of how they feel about each other. It takes them longer to form a connection and open themselves up to love.

Nevertheless Is Not The Only Song Kang K-Drama To Stand Out From His Other Shows

Navillera Shows Song Kang's Acting Range

Song Kang's character in Nevertheless deviates from what audiences have come to expect from the actor. However, there's also another show that he has appeared in which doesn't have romantic love or action as its main premise. In the 2021 drama, Navillera, Song Kang plays Lee Chae-rok, a young adult who lost his mother at a young age and finds hope in ballet. The series also follows Shim Deok-chul, a 70-year-old man who wants to achieve his dream of learning ballet. Chae-rok and Deok-chul form a heartwarming friendship, with the two learning to lean on each other.

Netflix recently released a Nevertheless Japanese remake called Nevertheless: The Shapes of Love.

Although Navillera is an underrated show, it's one of Song Kang's best K-dramas because it proves he can do more than just romance and action. Navillera, like Nevertheless, includes scenes that show a more vulnerable side of the actor. Song Kang is riveting as Chae-rok, and his dynamic with Deok-chul elevates the series. While he definitely shines in Nevertheless, Navillera is another show that is worth watching because of the incredible performance Song Kang gives.