October 11, 2022

Our Take: A refreshing and relatable slice of life romcom

Going into this drama, I had no expectations since I was not sure what the premise of the show was nor was I familiar with the main cast. However, after watching the drama, I was genuinely blown away by how enjoyable and delightful Run On was. While there is no clear plotline or linear development, I found all the characters highly relatable and felt that the writers did an amazing job of capturing the sentiments of young adults navigating through their daily lives. After being disappointed earlier in the year by Record of Youth, another K-drama with a similar concept, Run On was truly an endearing and heartwarming show.

What I really loved about Run On was the mature way in which the life lessons and sensitive topics in the show were handled. There were so many layers to Run On and so much depth to each character. Often times, side characters are placed into a show as props for the main characters, but Run On was one of those rare gems in which all the characters served a legitimate purpose and brought value to the show. Even the supposed “villains” did not feel toxic or over the top.

Run On was such a comforting show for me that it’s quite difficult to put into words how I felt after watching it. So instead, I will review the drama through the life lessons I learned and attempt to convey why they left me assessing my personal growth and development.

*Warning: Major Spoilers Ahead*

It’s okay to be selfish sometimes and put yourself first.

Ki Seon Gyeom (Im Shi Wan), a national runner from a prominent family, grew up always living for other people and doing what was expected of him. However, after meeting Oh Mi Joo (Shin Se Kyung), a movie translator, he slowly learns how to put himself first and love himself. His transformation from someone who lost himself through years of giving to others at his own expense to someone who is able to clearly communicate his needs and do work that he found meaningful was amazing to watch. In Asian culture especially, we are taught to put our communities first and ourselves last, so it was refreshing to see Seon Gyeom learn to establish boundaries and fight for what he wanted out of life.

We do not always have to please others.

One of my favorite lines from the show is when Seon Gyeom’s mother says to her husband/Seon Gyeom’s father, “My life isn’t yours. I worked really hard to get to where I am… I am the star of my life.” Throughout the show, Seon Gyeom’s father treats his family as props to his own political career and expects their personal and professional lives to revolve around him. However, each family member, including Seon Gyeom’s older sister, gradually learns that it’s okay for them to take the spotlight in their own lives and prioritize their own wants and needs. This message resonated deeply with me because there have been countless times where I neglected my health and wellbeing for the sake of other people because that was what I was taught to do and I’m sure many people have also done the same.

Don’t be a bystander. Speak up for those who don’t have a voice.

After witnessing a teammate, Kim Woo Sik (Lee Jung Ha) get severely bullied while the teammates who bullied him get away scot-free, Seon Gyeom decides to take matters into his own hands. This in turn gives Woo Sik the courage to speak up against his assailants instead of letting things get swept under the rug at his expense. Unfortunately, people without influence or money are typically not given a voice and get overlooked, so it was very powerful to see Seon Gyeom acknowledge his privilege and use it to help a fellow teammate out.

Always pick yourself up after falling down.

Woo Sik’s recovery from surgery due to his injuries from being bullied, as well as his label as a whistleblower, was remarkable and inspiring. As a runner myself, I've had countless injuries over the years which often eroded my confidence and performance. However, Woo Sik’s journey from the bottom up showed that no matter how many setbacks we face or how far we get set back, as long as we have the support and determination to get back up, we can move forward and reach new highs.

Women can be successful CEOs too.

In East Asian culture, men are valued over women and seen as breadwinners, while women are expected to prioritize marriage and family over their careers. However, CEO and rightful heir to Seomyung Group, Seo Dan Ah (Choi Soo Young) challenges this outdated notion. She runs a successful sports agency with prominent athletes under her label and eventually becomes the Vice President of Seomyung Group after her father’s passing. Seeing such an independent, confident, and resilient woman defy her family’s expectations and establish a place at seat at the table for herself sends such a strong message of hope for women everywhere.

Actively communicate with people you care about.

There are no grand gestures of love that’s often typical in romance dramas, but the raw and honest dialogues between the main characters are more beautiful and touching to watch. There have been so many kdramas in which characters’ lack of communication led to frustrating misunderstandings and excessive drama, but there is none of that in Run On. The relationships between Seon Gyeom and Mi Joo, as well as Seo Dan and painter and student, Lee Young Hwa (Kang Tae Oh) are mature and realistic. They actively communicate with each other and are open and honest about how they feel and what their goals are — which is how every relationship should be like. There are no love triangles, no over the top drama, no tropes — only young adults learning how to love themselves and how to love others.

There is nothing wrong with men being vulnerable or emotional.

When Mi Joo tries to run away from her relationship with Seon Gyeom after getting verbally abused by his father, Seon Gyeom breaks down and cries in front of her after realizing how important she is to him. Every time Seo Dan insults Young Hwa, whether intentional or not, he is visibly upset and expresses his frustration through his facial expressions and words rather than aggression. The lack of toxic masculinity is such a welcome change from so many other kdramas that perpetuate and normalize abusive behaviors (Hint: Boys Over Flowers, Playful Kiss, Heirs). Seon Gyeom and Young Hwa’s openness and willingness to be vulnerable around the people they love break down the stereotypes that men need to be “tough all the time.”

Relationships are not everything.

In the last episode, when Seo Dan Ah’s father passes away, she has two choices — either stay in a relationship with Young Hwa and risk getting into a career-damaging scandal or fight for her rightful spot in Seomyung Group. Unsurprisingly, she chooses the latter. This goes to show that relationships are great, but they are not the only thing in the world worth fighting for. People can and do have other priorities in life that are not revolved around relationships or marriage. There is absolutely nothing wrong with focusing on your career. What matters most is identifying your priorities, the tradeoffs you are willing to make, and acting accordingly.

Bonus: Amazing LGBTQ representation

The LGBTQ portrayal in Run On was probably years ahead of our time, even in American standards, in terms of maturity in execution and thought that was put in. In one of the episodes, Mi Joo’s friend is revealed to be asexual but her relationship with Seo Dan’s secretary is accepted as perfectly normal and okay. Near the end, it is revealed that Young Hwa’s best friend, Go Ye Joon (Kim Dong Young) is gay and Young Hwa was his first love. When Ye Joon confesses to his younger sister, she accepts him with open arms and tells him that she likes guys too and there is nothing wrong with that. When he confesses to Young Hwa, rather than getting upset or acting disgusted, Young Hwa cries for him because his love was not reciprocated. Seo Dan Ah also ends up apologizing to Ye Joon for lying about her outing and pretending to be a lesbian to get out of an arranged marriage. The way in which these scenes were carried out was so respectful and will hopefully help to pave a positive road for future LGBTQ representation on TV.

Final Thoughts

While Run On may not be for everyone due to its slow pace, if you are looking for a slice of life drama that focuses on self discovery and self love, I would highly recommend watching this. If you are seeking comfort or healing or feel lost, this drama is for you. At the end of the day, we are the protagonists in our own lives and need to love ourselves and run on no matter what we are faced with.