“Squid Game” Actor And “The Glory” Actress’s Chemistry Triggers Overwhelmingly Negative Reactions
Squid Game star Lee Jung Jae and The Glory actress Lim Ji Yeon are set to appear together in a new K-Drama… but their first official photoshoot has left many viewers unimpressed.
The new photos, meant to tease their upcoming project Nice to Not Meet You, has become a hot topic online for all the wrong reasons.
In the recently released pictorial, Lee Jung Jae wears an all-denim outfit while Lim Ji Yeon matches in a pink vest and pants set.
The two pose side by side, meant to reflect their characters’ contrasting personalities in the drama — Lim Hyun Joon, a washed-up actor trying to reinvent himself, and Wi Jeong Sook, a seasoned journalist forced to cover entertainment.
However, instead of sparking curiosity about their dynamic, fans flooded online forums like TheQoo with criticism about their lack of chemistry.
Korean netizens commented that the pairing feels awkward and unnatural, with some pointing out that even the styling and lighting choices made things worse. Others felt that the production should have leaned into their age gap rather than trying to make them seem like equals.
- “They look like a father and his second daughter.”
- “There’s absolutely zero chemistry…”
- “Setting aside the age gap and chemistry issues, the hair, makeup, costume, and lighting — everything’s a total mess.”
- “Even the actors themselves look awkward.”
- “Honestly, like the comment above said, it would’ve been much better if they’d used the age difference as part of the concept. But since they’re trying too hard to make them seem like the same age, the lack of chemistry stands out even more.”
The controversial K-Drama pairing has been met with backlash from netizens from the start.
