Choi Soo-jong & Ha Hee-ra Step Into Marital Reality on New Show
Veteran Korean actors Choi Soo-jong and Ha Hee-ra, long celebrated as the nation's ideal couple, are shaking things up in the new reality show "We Are Not a Perfect Couple" on tvN STORY. Departing from their usual squeaky-clean image, they take on the roles of a struggling couple navigating real-life marriage problems in a format that blends fiction and real counseling.
Rather than glorifying marriage, the show dives into common marital conflicts, dramatizing real-life cases and presenting practical solutions through a team of legal experts, psychologists, and professional counselors. The aim? To make viewers feel seen, understood, and perhaps a little less alone in their own struggles.
Reality Check vs. Public Scrutiny: The Dual Edge
Building Empathy Through Realism
"We Are Not a Perfect Couple" offers something rare in couple-focused television: honesty. By reenacting real conflict scenarios inspired by true stories, the show opens a door for viewers to reflect on their own relationships. It’s not just drama for drama's sake – it’s about sparking real conversations at home.
Professionals like attorneys, therapists, and comedians add multi-layered perspectives, offering legal, emotional, and even humorous insights into the quarrels. It’s entertainment with a purpose — similar to how Dr. Phil in the U.S. built a loyal audience by turning private family pain into public healing.
People seeing their own stories reflected back at them with both gravitas and guidance can have a quietly transformative effect. It’s therapy, masked as television.
But at What Cost? Ethical Potholes Ahead
Critics are quick to raise eyebrows, and not without reason. Depicting relationship trauma — even if fictionalized — based on real submissions raises concerns about privacy and sensationalism. How much is too much?
Some worry that the show could slip into soap-opera territory, exploiting human drama for ratings and turning raw, emotional problems into digestible TV bites. Situations could easily be edited to promote shock rather than substance.
Then there’s the couple themselves — Choi and Ha have built a career on being Korea’s textbook "happy couple." Watching them portray a crumbling relationship might feel off-brand or even disheartening to longtime fans. Could this artistic pivot shake their legacy?
Striking the Balance: Innovative or Invasive?
The show’s premise is commendable — exploring marriage without rose-colored glasses — but the execution must tread carefully. While a fresh take on marriage is appreciated, missteps in sensitivity or over-dramatization could backfire fast.
This is a meaningful experiment in blending counseling, narrative, and reality TV. Done well, it could set a new standard for programming that not only entertains but educates. Done poorly, it becomes just another example of reality TV losing its compass.
Why This Format Matters
Modern marriages face all kinds of pressure — career fatigue, parenting disagreements, financial stress. Navigating these waters is complicated. Creating space for public reflection, with expert input, is a smart and timely move.
The show emphasizes that even the most admired couples have rough patches. That message alone can be healing for viewers who feel shame over their own issues. If Choi and Ha — married for over three decades — can crank through conflict publicly, maybe the rest of us are allowed to struggle in private.
Still, the show’s success hinges on authenticity and ethical storytelling. Overshadowing humanity with ratings will quickly erode any potential good. It's walking a fine line between cultural contribution and reality-TV cliché.
The Verdict: Reception and Reflections
Public response has been largely split. Some applaud the bravery and openness of the format. They find the show refreshing and believe it fills a void in Asian entertainment where marriage is often romanticized or ignored.
Others, however, are skeptical. They fear the deterioration of cherished public personas and worry that the show will become yet another example of personal pain commodified for clicks and sponsors.
Ultimately, this project challenges norms — not just about marriage, but about what entertainment should be. Whether it triumphs or fails, it’s got the industry and the audience talking. And maybe that’s the whole point.
