New Netflix K-drama rom-com offers recharge for world running on empty

A woman who gains the ability to electrocute people after being struck by lightning crosses paths with a chaebol heir whose heart runs on a battery — and who depends on her to recharge him to stay alive.

That fantastical, almost comical premise is at the heart of Netflix Korea’s new romantic comedy series "Take Charge of My Heart," starring K-drama romance veterans Chae Soo-bin ("The Fabulous," "Rookie Cops") and Kim Young-kwang ("Call It Love").

Yet beneath its whimsical setup, the series taps into a surprisingly timely idea: what it means to power someone up in a world where everyone is running on empty.

For director Park Soo-won, it was the notion of "charging" that made the project particularly appealing.

"Everyone reaches a point in life when they feel the need to recharge and longs for it," Park said during a press conference in Seoul on Thursday.

"I thought it would be meaningful if the drama could make viewers think, ‘I want to be recharged like that, too,’ or, ‘It would be worthwhile to live a life where I can recharge someone else,’" she said. "I think that sense of warmth and comfort is what makes this project special."

"Take Charge of My Heart" arrives amid a crowded K-drama landscape in which romances pairing chaebol heirs with spirited, ordinary heroines have become a well-explored formula. Acknowledging the trope, the director said the goal was not to reinvent the genre, but to put a fresh spin on its well-worn conventions.

"We knew this was a familiar story. But just because something is familiar doesn’t mean we have to force it into something completely different," she said.

"At the same time, I think there is something that inevitably works about working with a story that audiences already know," she added.

Rather than radically reworking the genre’s established ingredients, Park said the production focused on what could emerge from the chemistry among its cast and crew. It is precisely that chemistry, along with the emotional mix of conflict, comedy and romance, that Park believes will draw global audiences.

"Global viewers love watching characters clash before falling for each other, all while comedy and romance move together," she said. "Now, people turn to K-dramas almost like a guaranteed package."

Meanwhile, anticipation has surrounded the return of Chae — popularly known as the "rom-com queen" of K-drama — to the genre. Despite her track record, however, the actor said she initially hesitated to take on another romantic comedy, concerned that repeatedly playing romantic leads could pigeonhole her.

"I have a desire to act for a very long time," Chae said. "I’m grateful that I’m able to work in romance, but I was worried that if I became too associated with this genre, I might limit myself and have fewer opportunities to take on other kinds of roles."

Ultimately, she said, the confidence of the creative team and the warmth she felt from the project changed her mind.

"During our meetings, the director, writer and head of the production company completely convinced me," she said. "They told me, ‘It’s a familiar taste, but we’re confident we can make it really, really good.’"