K-Drama Couple’s “Awkward” First Kiss Scene Triggers Mixed Reactions
In the latest episode of tvN‘s K-Drama Resident Playbook, lead couple Go Youn Jung and Jung Jun Won made their relationship official with a first kiss. However, the kiss scene, as highly anticipated as it was, has since triggered some mixed reactions from the viewers.
The “elevator kiss” scene shows Yi Young (Go Youn Jung) and Do Won (Jung Jun Won) heading home—except when Do Won realizes the two have the entire apartment to themselves. He backs out and lies that he has to sleep at the hospital.
Seeing through his lies, Yi Young asks Do Won if he feels uncomfortable going inside. While letting him have his way (by telling him she’ll drop him back off on the first floor), she still surprises him by giving him a big smooch on his cheek. This encourages Do Won to be brave and, once the two are in the elevator, he pulls her in for a real kiss.
This significant development in their relationship had Resident Playbook viewers screaming…
- “Well done, team. How we held on to see this scene! 😂😂😂”
- “Because it’s Oh (five) Yi Young, we got her confession in episode 5. And now, because it’s Goo (nine) Do Won, we got his confession in episode 9… I’m so happy for them. So please open that elevator door already, I’m begging you!”
- “Oh my gosh… I’m losing it. Why does it make me so happy just to see the two of them holding hands?!”
- “Goo Do Won getting all shy before kissing—seriously insane. My long wait paid off! Rooting for their happily-ever-after!”
- “Getting this far on the first day of their relationship? Wild.”
…but at the same time, the elevator kiss scene has been dubbed one of the worst K-Drama kisses for looking awkward, cliché, and even “obviously fake.”
- “Should’ve kissed for real. This looks so obviously fake and awkward.”
- “IDK why people hate the male lead so much. Watch an episode and you’ll see he’s fine. I mean, I’ve only seen the shorts too, but they surprisingly do have some chemistry.”
- “Why does the directing for this scene feel so old-fashioned? LOL.”
- “Stop casting unattractive male actors in lead roles.”
- “They should’ve closed the door when he turned his body!!! That part was disappointing. I liked everything leading up to it.”
- “Kiss scenes are like action scenes. You really need solid body acting to pull that off, and this was so awkward. Wow… LOL.”
- “…?”
Some of the more scathing reviews also argued that casting Jung Jun Won to play alongside Go Youn Jung was a mistake, making malicious comments about his looks and how Go Youn Jung is too pretty to be his love interest.
- “Ugh it could have been so good but the directing is such a letdown.”
- “I just don’t think these two look good together.”
- “Just straight-up unpleasant.”
- “Why…? I thought it was fine.”
- “I can’t stand how some people are bashing the male actor’s looks just because he’s not their type… There are seriously so many nasty people.”
- “What was that? LOL. Why was he moving so awkwardly? It felt like a comedy skit pretending to do a kiss scene.”
- “Why would you show someone’s back during a kiss scene? LOL”
Regardless, Resident Playbook has peaked with an all-time high viewership rating of 6.2% as of May 10, 2025 (KST).
You can watch the whole scene here:
