The Korean drama 'Love That Makes Your Hair Stand On End,' starring Park Eun-bin and Yang Se-jong, premiered on tvN on July 18, 2026, and was simultaneously released on Netflix. The drama is a remake of the 2011 film starring Son Ye-jin and Lee Min-ki, retaining the core setting of 'a woman who can see ghosts meets a man who is afraid of ghosts,' and adding elements such as chaebol families, prosecutor investigations, and suspenseful cases.
After the release of 'Love That Makes Your Hair Stand On End,' the viewership ratings were excellent, but online reviews were mixed. Some viewers found the combination of horror and comedy interesting, while others criticized the plot clichés, logical flaws, and even the actors' appearances and performances.
Park Eun-bin plays Cheon Yeo-ri, a representative of a top-tier hotel and a chaebol heiress. As a child, she experienced a near-drowning accident and has since been able to see ghosts. What's more, if she makes physical contact with someone, they may temporarily see ghosts as well.
To avoid putting those around her in danger, Cheon Yeo-ri has worn gloves for years and deliberately keeps her distance from the outside world. To outsiders, she appears cold and difficult to approach, even being called the 'reclusive princess,' but in reality, she chooses loneliness to protect others.
Yang Se-jong plays Ma Gang-ok, a prosecutor who is calm and strong during investigations but extremely afraid of ghosts in private. When he repeatedly encounters Cheon Yeo-ri at crime scenes, he gradually discovers that she seems to know many clues that the police have not yet obtained.
Originally suspicious of each other, the two are forced to cooperate, investigating unsolved cases related to ghosts while being drawn into the power struggle within the chaebol family, and their relationship gradually changes from mutual distrust.
The first episode of 'Love That Makes Your Hair Stand On End' started with a viewership rating of 3.0%, and the second episode rose to 5.3%, an increase of 2.3 percentage points, indicating that the theme successfully attracted some viewers to continue watching.
Unlike the film version, which focused on love and comedy, the drama version adds more investigation, murder cases, and family conspiracies, attempting to expand the story into a long-form work that combines the supernatural, suspense, and romantic love. The first two episodes also deliberately switch between horror and comedy. One moment, there is a gloomy ghostly shadow, and the next, Ma Gang-ok's reaction to being afraid of ghosts creates a comedic effect. Overall, it is not purely a horror drama but a romantic comedy disguised as the supernatural.
Viewers who like this drama believe that the combination of a chaebol heiress who can see ghosts and a strong prosecutor who is afraid of ghosts has a clear contrast and adds a comedic effect to common investigation dramas.
One netizen commented after watching, 'Funny and scary,' 'The setting still has a lot of contrast, the background setup of the first episode is a bit long, but let's see how it develops, overall it's quite interesting.'
Other viewers believe that while the work may not be particularly outstanding, it still has the attraction to continue watching, commenting, 'It's okay, I feel like I'll keep watching, the female lead is a bit distinctive.'
Park Eun-bin's appearance this time also attracted attention. She appears in the drama with well-tailored suits, luxurious jewelry, and various gloves, showcasing the image of a cold and capable chaebol heiress, different from the roles in her past works such as 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo Young-woo.'
Some fans praised, 'As long as the script is not too bad, I think every popular young actress should reward herself with a rich woman role, enjoy the exquisite and luxurious costumes and props, and this drama, for a reason, has many gloves, various women's leather gloves, under the dynamic beauty, highlight the capable and cold female image.'
However, there were also many critical voices. Some viewers believe that although the drama version adds prosecutor investigations and chaebol struggles, the story development is still quite clichéd, and the arrangement of the male and female leads frequently meeting at crime scenes is somewhat forced.
One netizen directly criticized, 'Not good, although it's a ghost movie but with many logical bugs. I have seen many of the female lead's expressions before.'
Other viewers pointed out that the first two episodes lack a truly surprising turn, and many plots can be predicted from the beginning, commenting, 'Basically, every plot can be predicted for the next step, the characters are pale, and her acting also becomes boring.'
The plot is stuffed with the supernatural, investigations, chaebol conspiracies, and love lines, making some viewers feel that there are too many elements. If the family struggle continues to increase, the originally most distinctive 'ghostly romance' may be diluted.
Spicy comments are also directed at the casting of 'Love That Makes Your Hair Stand On End': talking about love really makes people 'hair stand on end.'
In addition to the plot, the casting and appearance of Park Eun-bin and Yang Se-jong have also become the most heated topic among netizens.
Some netizens bluntly stated, 'Korean drama male leads are now ugly to the extreme, and it is indeed 'hair standing on end' to fall in love with them. Is Park Eun-bin in debt? She is so accepting of the script and acts so lazily.' 'The male lead is too ugly.' 'The male lead is still swollen and fat, and Park Eun-bin's cheekbones are also swollen, I can't tell if it's edema or weight gain.'
However, such comments are mostly subjective feelings of the audience about the actors' appearances and cannot directly represent the quality of the work. Compared to appearance itself, the lack of obvious sparks between the male and female leads in the first two episodes may also be the main reason why some audiences have difficulty immersing themselves in the love line.
Park Eun-bin's acting has been criticized for being repetitive, and the shadow of 'Extraordinary Attorney' is seen again.
Park Eun-bin has gained high popularity through works such as 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo Young-woo' and 'Diva on the Island,' but this time her new role has been criticized by some audiences for lacking breakthroughs in acting methods.
Some audiences have discovered that her expressions, speaking rhythm, and body movements in the drama are similar to those in her past roles, directly pointing out, 'The same body movements as 'Extraordinary Attorney.' Especially since Cheon Yeo-ri is set as a chaebol heiress who has long been alienated from others and has a cold personality, if the actor does not further present the emotional layers of the role, it is easy to only leave a cold face, pauses, and fixed expressions, making the audience feel 'performing the same role again.'
However, some audiences believe that only two episodes have been broadcast so far, and the role's traumatic background and emotional changes have not been fully unfolded. Whether it is really a repetition of acting still needs to be observed in the subsequent performance.
Is 'Love That Makes Your Hair Stand On End' worth watching?
From the first two episodes, the advantages of 'Love That Makes Your Hair Stand On End' are that the setting is easy to understand, and there are elements of horror, comedy, love, and investigation, and the pace is not slow. Park Eun-bin's chaebol heiress appearance and Yang Se-jong's portrayal of a prosecutor who is afraid of ghosts are currently the most obvious highlights.
The disadvantages are that the plot is clichéd, the characters' meetings are too coincidental, and the supernatural rules and case logic are not yet complete. The emotional sparks between the male and female leads have not yet been established, making the romance, which should be the most attractive part, lack conviction.
If you expect rigorous reasoning, strong horror, or suspenseful dramas full of twists, the first two episodes may be disappointing; if you prefer light, romantic comedies with supernatural settings, you can continue to observe.
Netflix Korean drama 'Love That Makes Your Hair Stand On End' online viewing: https://www.netflix.com/title/82682401
Park Eun-bin and Yang Se-jong's 'Love That Makes Your Hair Stand On End' four major flaws at a glance
Flaws Content Summary
1. Clichéd plot, insufficient logic
The plot is easy to predict, the male and female leads frequently meet coincidentally, and the supernatural setting is not fully explained
2. Too many themes, main line out of focus
Adding the supernatural, investigations, love, and chaebol struggles simultaneously, making it seem messy
3. Lack of sparks between male and female leads
Insufficient emotional buildup, interaction, and casting that cannot convince all audiences
4. Lack of breakthroughs in acting and roles
Park Eun-bin is criticized for her expressions and movements being similar to those in her past roles, lacking freshness
FACT BOX
- Source: PR Times
- Category: News
- Organizations: Netflix / tvN
- Products / services: Netflix