My Mister asks a simple question: what happens when two people who have never had anyone on their side meet each other? The answer is a drama that refuses to romanticize hardship and chooses to honor it instead. Lee Sun-kyun plays Park Dong-hoon, a middle-aged man carrying deep personal wounds, while IU plays Lee Ji-an, a young woman burdened by debt and hardship as she struggles to support her ailing grandmother. Their bond forms slowly, across episodes of workplace mistreatment, betrayal, and the weight of family obligation.
The series premiered on tvN on March 21, 2018, airing Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:30 KST. It ran for 16 episodes, concluding on May 17, 2018. Created by Park Hae-young and Kim Won-suk, the show was directed by Kim Won-seok, written by Park Hae-young, and produced by Chorokbaem Media. It received critical acclaim, winning Best Drama at the 55th Baeksang Arts Awards.
Trailer, via Viki Global TV.
Dong-hoon and Ji-an
Dong-hoon is the kind of character TV rarely spends time with: a man whose life has been defined by failure and disappointment. His workplace mistreatment runs deep, and he carries a history of betrayal that shapes every decision he makes. Ji-an is younger, more fragile, and far more hopeful. She works a temporary job to support her grandmother, and her debt hangs over her like a constant threat. Together, they find a kinship that neither expected.
Their bond is not romantic in the conventional sense. It is a friendship built on mutual need and mutual understanding. The show trusts its audience to see the depth of their connection without resorting to cliché.
The Supporting Cast
The ensemble around Dong-hoon and Ji-an gives the series its texture. Goh Doo-shim plays Byeon Yo-soon, Song Sae-byuk plays Park Gi-hoon, and Park Ho-san plays Park Sang-hoon. Lee Ji-ah appears as Kang Yoon-hee, Jeong Young-joo as Cho Ae-ryeon, and Son Sook as Lee Bong-ae. Jang Ki-yong plays Lee Gwang-il, Ahn Seung-gyun plays Song Ki-beom, Kim Young-min plays Do Joon-young, and Shin Gu plays CEO Jang.
Each of these characters brings their own pain to the story. The show does not soften their edges; it lets their flaws breathe. That honesty is what makes the central relationship feel earned rather than manufactured.
The Weight of Responsibility
One of the strongest threads in My Mister is the way both characters are weighed down by family obligation. Dong-hoon’s responsibility to his family is heavy, and it colors every choice he makes. Ji-an’s devotion to her grandmother is equally demanding. The show does not offer easy answers to these burdens. Instead, it watches as Dong-hoon and Ji-an learn to lean on each other.
The drama also explores the cost of those responsibilities. Both characters are exhausted, and the show does not pretend otherwise. Their exhaustion is part of what makes their bond so moving. They are tired, but they keep showing up for each other anyway.
The Craft Behind the Story
The direction from Kim Won-seok is patient and precise. He knows when to let a scene sit in silence and when to push it forward. The writing by Park Hae-young keeps the emotional beats honest without leaning on sentimentality. The pacing holds together across 16 episodes, and the final stretch lands with real weight.
IU and Lee Sun-kyun carry the series on their shoulders. IU brings a quiet strength to Ji-an that feels genuine, and Lee Sun-kyun’s performance as Dong-hoon is understated and deeply moving. Their chemistry is the engine that drives the whole story.
Where It Falls Short
No drama is perfect, and My Mister has moments where the supporting plotlines feel like filler rather than essential narrative. Some of the secondary characters get less attention than they deserve, which weakens the overall tapestry. The show’s commitment to realism means it does not always resolve conflicts cleanly, which can frustrate viewers who want closure.
| Character | Role | Relationship to Dong-hoon/Ji-an |
|---|---|---|
| Lee Ji-an | Young woman burdened by debt | Central bond |
| Park Dong-hoon | Middle-aged man carrying wounds | Central bond |
| Byeon Yo-soon (Goh Doo-shim) | N/A | Family member |
| Park Gi-hoon (Song Sae-byuk) | N/A | Workplace |
| Park Sang-hoon (Park Ho-san) | N/A | Family |
Final Word
My Mister succeeds because it treats its characters with dignity. Dong-hoon and Ji-an are not victims waiting to be rescued. They are people doing the best they can with what they have, and the show honors that effort. The Baeksang Arts Award win is a mark of how well the story was told.
This is a drama about finding warmth in a cold world. It does not promise a happy ending, but it promises a moment of peace. That is a rare gift in television, and it is one My Mister delivers.
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