Rowoon announced his exit from the boy band SPF 9 in September 2023 to focus on his acting, a move that saw him carry the hugely popular drama Destined with You up the ratings chart. Then, barely a month after it ended, he headlined the highly-rated The Matchmakers with Choi Yi Hyun.
As the drama headed into its 16th and final episode on Christmas day, it had a strong 5.0 percent of the audience share that made it the 10th most-watched TV show of the day in South Korea. International fans following it on streaming site Viki had been raving about it, with almost 2,500 users giving it a rating of 9.4 out of 10.
The drama is well written, with a unique premise and a quirky narrative, multi-layered characters, loads of humor, and is beautifully acted. Rowoon’s charisma and his chemistry with Choi Yi Hyun (All of Us are Dead) spice up the episodes as the contrasting characters they play hit it off on the wrong footing, but eventually find themselves falling in love.
The gorgeous cinematography and the elaborate rituals the couples follow during the matchmaking rites, the beautiful costumes and elaborate sets also enhance the overall appeal of The Matchmakers.
And while the drama takes itself seriously with its progressive storyline taking swipes at how marriage as a social institution was a means to forge political or family alliances, rather than being a matter of individual choice, it does so in a very light-hearted manner. It also depicts the spunky and sassy women of Joseon defying the norms of patriarchal Joseon society. The mothers or wives are also the chief decision-makers in family matters, but also subtly exercise their influence on the men.
The Matchmakers follows the story of Shim Jung Woo (Rowoon) and Joon Soon Deok (Choi Yi Hyun). Jung Woo is an arrogant, brilliant, handsome young man with ambitions to become premier. He tops the civil service exam, but just as he is about to realize his goal, his father tells him that the king wants him to marry the crown princess. Jung Woo is not pleased with the news because under Joseon law, the king’s son-in-law is not allowed to hold a government position. But he is left with no choice because it is treason to refuse the king’s command.
Soon Deok is a young widow from a noble family who lives a double life as a matchmaker. Her family has no idea that she is one of the best matchmakers in Hanyang. She is very intuitive and can tell by their body language and aura whether or not a couple is well-matched. She is spunky and does not let interfering mothers get in the way of her finding the best partners for their daughters. Her belief in love and happy endings is what drives her to make the best matches.
The writer of The Matchmakers, Ha Soo Jin, deftly combines romance with humor while remaining historically accurate. A reluctant Jung Woo agrees to a marriage ceremony with the princess, but the princess mysteriously dies before it is completed. Jung Woo then lives a lonely life as a widower in the mansion the king built for them. He is still the son-in-law of the king so he can neither remarry nor join the government. Left increasingly bitter and cold, he earns the reputation of being the most angry man in Hanyang.
In the ensuing years after the princess’s death, Jung Woo has been trying to get to the bottom of his wife’s death while trying to have his marriage annulled, but the laws do not allow this. The king gives him a chance at an annulment—that is, if he finds a solution within two months to the spinster problem in Hanyang that stops the king from getting his own son married. To do this, he must find suitable matches for the three Maeng daughters, of a nobleman, who are past the marrying age.
The fierce Maeng sisters are in no hurry to marry, however, and to them, being single is a matter of personal choice. Their blind mother, also a secret matchmaker during her prime, tells Jung Woo that she would rather have her daughters look after her than become a slave to a stranger and his family.
Jung Woo soon finds that he also has a most difficult task, because according to the matchmakers of the city, no one wants to marry the Maeng spinsters. The oldest is rumored to be possessed by a demon, the second has a foul mouth and speaks harshly, and the third daughter was seen dressed in a man’s clothing. She actually disguises herself thus and uses a pseudonym because she writes erotic novels. No one is willing to help him marry off the three, but the folk suggest that Soon Deok might be able to help.
However, the first few meetings between Soon Deok and Jung Woo have been awkward, so she’s the last person he would ask for help. But time is running out, and he is desperate. They first meet in a bookstore where Jung Woo is engrossed reading a novel that is very popular among the women of Hanyang. In a cute reversal of roles, it is Soon Deok who catches Jung Woo as he falls literally. Despite getting off to a bad start and disliking each other, Jung Woo starts getting chest pains whenever he thinks of Seon Deok—a throbbing heart, apparently.
The two are not allowed to get married since both their spouses are dead, but their love story and how they overcome the law, their differences, and the obstacles is the focus of The Matchmakers.
The drama does not really tell a new story. It is the classic girl meets boy who gets on her nerves then falls for him—the stuff of K-drama romcom. But the quirky narrative and the twists in every episode as Jung Woo and Soon Deok eventually get the right couples to marry, the directing by Hwang Seung Gi, the excellent acting and chemistry of Rowoon and Choi Yi Hyun, and the rest of the ensemble contribute to the gem that is The Matchmakers.
What the audiences say:
“This historical drama brought a fresh and original script to the table, a rarity in the genre. The narrative bravely delves into the hidden aspects of society during that period, shedding light on topics often overlooked… One of it’s most compelling aspects was it’s unapologetic confrontation of societal norms particularly the discrimination against women.” – hanalisss, IMDb.com
“This episode (15) was so good and wonderful for all of the sisters and their matches. I believe those couples will come together and save our leads in the most surprising and clever way. Clever solutions have been the hallmark of the show so far.” – TILenthusiast, reddit.com
“Rowoon has come a long way as an actor, and The Matchmakers proves his versatility and growth as a performer. He gets his comedic timing on point, and his straight-laced dry wit and bumbling ways are fun to say the least… And his chemistry with Choi Yi Hyun is natural as it grows from irritation to admiration and fondness.” – Puja Talwar, soompi.com
“I’m impressed with the show’s consistency at balancing its fun parts and the serious ones… Overall, The Matchmakers was a fantastic watch on all counts. And having it’s concluding episode air on Christmas day made it all the more memorable.” – Unit, dramabeans.com
