* * *

〈Dongdaemun Romance〉 truly rewrote the history of PPL advertising.

Because it portrayed better than anyone else the magic of how the entire world starts looking special the moment you fall in love.

It was as if Hwang Boseok intended to demonstrate exactly what the experience of a top-tier writer looked like.

[♨︎DongdaemunRomance Episode 8 Discussion Thread♨︎ If you want to see Jeon Segye, the real. loser. male. lead. ranked No.1 in the world -_-^^^]

-Ah seriously the cringe flirting is fucking insane T_T LMAO

-I haven’t clenched my toes this hard from secondhand embarrassment since 〈ParCheHi〉...

↳ Seriously they won’t unclench

Jeon Segye, who had stopped by a convenience store to buy coffee, suddenly froze after seeing a poster.

[Merong Meroni Flavored Milk]

A woman who looked exactly like Nam Pyeonghwa was smiling brightly among melon prints.

“You like her too, huh?”

“Huh?”

The convenience store owner spoke to Jeon Segye casually.

“She’s unbelievably popular these days.”

“...I guess so....”

“Ah, just looking at her makes everything feel sweet, doesn’t it?”

Since it was obviously a celebrity who resembled Nam Pyeonghwa, whoever she was, it made sense she’d be popular.

Without realizing it, Jeon Segye nodded.

“Yeah....”

“They even changed the printing, so it’s tiny and cute too.”

The woman who resembled Nam Pyeonghwa beside the melon milk really did look small and adorable.

Jeon Segye stared at the pale green milk cartons lined up on the shelf.

[Cheering for You] [You’re Mine] [I Like You]

[Muah Kiss] [Become a Hit] [Sweet]

[Mood Up] [Stay Strong] [Thumbs Up]

Jeon Segye abandoned the idea of buying coffee and switched to Meroni flavored milk instead, lingering in front of the refrigerator for ages.

“This one is... too... direct....”

Holding the [Muah Kiss] carton, Jeon Segye’s face reddened.

“This one’s... not right either... too much pressure....”

Holding [You’re Mine], his expression stiffened.

“This one... has the best... packaging. Yeah....”

All the packages were exactly the same.

But while holding [I Like You], Jeon Segye rationalized it to himself as though he had no other choice.

At some point, Little Nam Pyeonghwa suddenly hopped onto the Meroni milk carton again.

“You’re mine!”

“Mwah~ kiss!”

“Stay strong!”

Each Little Nam Pyeonghwa spoke to Jeon Segye from atop the milk cartons.

“I like you.”

The moment he heard that, Jeon Segye jumped in shock.

Flustered, he grabbed every milk carton within reach into his arms and sprinted toward the register.

“Customer, you must really like her, huh?”

“Y-yesyesyesyes?”

“Wow. Not just like—looks more like you’re in love!”

“N-no. No, that’s not true.”

“What do you mean it’s not? It totally is.”

The convenience store owner watched Jeon Segye flee while clutching armfuls of milk cartons, then looked back at the poster.

“Damn. Cute and sweet. No wonder it’s popular.”

There was no celebrity resembling Nam Pyeonghwa on the poster.

Only Meroni flavored milk itself had been printed there.

It was a hallucination created entirely by Jeon Segye’s lovestruck delusions.

“This is it....”

“Ah... I seriously think I’m gonna cry....”

The Smile Dairy marketing team was deeply moved by Hwang Boseok’s skill in naturally weaving PPL into Jeon Segye’s character.

Changing the text on the packaging exactly as requested had truly paid off.

Back at the company, Jeon Segye pretended to act normal while handing milk cartons to Daniel and Emily.

“Become a Hit? Oh, thanks.”

“Mood Up. Cute~.”

Then Jeon Segye extended a milk carton toward Nam Pyeonghwa with trembling hands.

“Thumbs Up? Hahaha. I’ll enjoy it.”

But because of his clumsy fumbling, he accidentally handed her the wrong one.

Returning to the CEO office, Jeon Segye punched the empty air before digging through the still-overstuffed bag and pulling out his own carton.

[I Like You]

That message alone was more than enough to convey his feelings.

-Holy shit they’re handling PPL so fucking perfectly

-If ads are this good I’ll gladly overlook blatant promotion T_T LMAO

-Seo Eden’s jump-scare acting keeps evolving every episode LMAO fuck

“I’ll put the leftovers in the break room refrigerator.”

After regaining control of his expression, Jeon Segye exited the office and announced it.

Daniel asked curiously,

“But sir, don’t you usually not drink milk? Why the sudden milk obsession?”

“There was a celebrity on the poster who looked like Ms. Nam Pyeonghwa, so while I was staring at it....”

Jeon Segye unconsciously started talking before abruptly realizing what he’d said and clamping his mouth shut as he fled to the break room.

“A celebrity who looks like Pyeonghwa?”

“Who could it be?”

“If it’s a milk model, they’d probably be cute.”

“Right~.”

Daniel and Emily both looked at Pyeonghwa while speaking.

Usually expressionless, Pyeonghwa’s lips curved into a shy little smile.

But on the way home after work—

“....”

“....”

“....”

The celebrity on the poster the three of them saw at the convenience store was actually:

[Bursting with juicy flavor! Smile Dairy Lemon100 Sparkling]

A giant image of Kwak Cheolsik raising his fist on a sparkling drink poster.

“Sir. Are there any other posters besides this one? Like with a person on them?”

“Huh? Nope! That’s the only one!”

“...No wonder he suddenly stopped talking earlier....”

Staring directly at Kwak Cheolsik’s face, Nam Pyeonghwa’s lower lip trembled with betrayal.

-I’m fucking dying LMAOOOOOO

-Smile Dairy must’ve been losing their minds when the PPL first got approved

-What the hell are you supposed to do if you tell your crush she looks like Kwak Cheolsik

* * *

Smile Dairy wasn’t the only one celebrating.

Sansung Electronics was crying tears of joy too.

Nam Pyeonghwa worked incredibly hard.

She repeatedly met with influencers while endlessly creating new designs.

[CEO Jeon Segye: Tonight’s walk...]

So it was only natural that she couldn’t immediately check Jeon Segye’s messages on time.

The real Jeon Segye and all the Little Jeon Segyes gathered together in despair.

Even Beopsun circled around his feet repeatedly as if reflecting Jeon Segye’s complicated emotions.

“Maybe she just didn’t see the message?”

“Ang!”

After the real Jeon Segye, the Little Jeon Segyes, and even Beopsun put their heads together to think—

“Sir, what’s all this?”

“Wow.”

The result was buying GLX Watches for everyone equally.

“Since orders have increased lately, I figured it must be difficult to check messages and emails promptly during work. So as part of employee welfare, I prepared smartwatches that sync with your phones.”

He even distributed newly released watch straps to everyone as “employee benefits.”

Then Jeon Segye stared through the narrow gap in the blinds of the CEO office.

At Nam Pyeonghwa taking the watch out of its box and holding it against her wrist.

-He’s dumb as hell but his loyalty is absolutely perfect. Literally just a stupid puppy

↳ Seriously feels like he’d bring you things he can’t even eat himself

-Seo Eden’s casting was genuinely god-tier.. I literally can’t imagine any other actor anymore T_T

Little Nam Pyeonghwa appeared again atop Jeon Segye’s watch, which had been placed on the desk charging.

“Kyaa! I love it soooo much.”

“The CEO is so cool....”

“It’s couple items, right? I have to wear it every single day!”

The Sansung Electronics marketing team shivered with exhilaration.

Their sales were climbing in real time.

“Seriously, choosing Han Yeoreum as our model was the best decision ever....”

“I officially retract every insult I ever said about Jegal Rok.”

“I’m never calling him ‘Damn Rok’ again.”

From Episode 1, when PPL first appeared in 〈Dongdaemun Romance〉, all the way until now—

The buzz kept steadily increasing.

Because the adorable chemistry of Little Jeon Segye and Little Nam Pyeonghwa continuously rode the short-form video algorithms.

There were generally several types of advertising.

First: the type that leaves a strong first impression and triggers impulse buying.

Second: the type naturally blended into everyday life until you buy it without realizing.

Third: the type spread by word of mouth so that you remember it when you eventually need something.

Fourth: the type you neither particularly want nor need, but still desire simply because it’s pretty.

And among these, 〈Dongdaemun Romance〉 was simultaneously achieving both the second and third categories.

And now even the fourth.

“Team Leader. Strap orders are increasing in real time.”

“Which design?”

“The same product Han Yeoreum is wearing!”

Sansung’s official products—especially cases and straps—were never designed to stimulate the purchasing desires of women in their twenties and thirties.

The focus had always been practicality.

But even with such simple designs—

-Holy shit I just went to buy the strap and it’s sold out already

-It didn’t look pretty in stores but somehow I bought one without realizing LMAO

↳ Same LMAO

Consumer perception changed dramatically depending on who wore the product.

The GLX Watch sitting on Han Yeoreum’s wrist was proof of that.

It was the moment they truly felt the power of a model.

* * *

〈Dongdaemun Romance〉 was a drama that made viewers fall in love not only with the characters, but with everything inside it.

Watching Jeon Segye’s absurd flirting as the unprecedented loser male lead, Aetami grinned from ear to ear.

“Just because they’re dogs doesn’t mean they don’t have preferences or standards.”

“Bark bark bark!”

“Since they live in packs, belonging and a sense of connection are very important.”

What Jeon Segye held out was matching outfits.

“Huh? A sense of belonging through clothes?”

“There’s a reason companies hand out matching team shirts. The feeling of being part of society. Of occupying a place within the company.”

“Bark!”

Jeon Segye, Nam Pyeonghwa, and Beopsun.

The three of them walked together in matching outfits like a real family.

It was the only way cowardly Jeon Segye could express feelings he couldn’t bring himself to say aloud.

He just failed to communicate them properly.

But he meant every word sincerely.

I like you.

I like you.

Every moment, it felt like his feelings toward her could practically be heard.

“Look at how happy he is.”

“Ang.”

“Isn’t that just because he’s on a walk...?”

“Bark bark bark!”

“I told you that’s not it.”

-What the hell is this genius dog?? Did he attend acting academy LMAO

-The matching outfits are ridiculously cute TT_TT

-I own a dog and I swear I’m absolutely dressing them in that outfit. These lunatics are too good at advertising

Their hands brushed against each other again and again while walking.

Neither could gather the courage to hold hands first.

Then—

“Huh?”

“Ah...!”

Beopsun suddenly started circling around their ankles.

The leash wrapped around their legs, pulling Segye and Pyeonghwa close enough to practically embrace.

An early autumn evening.

In a park filled with the sound of insects.

Under the streetlights.

The two of them froze at a distance close enough for their hearts to touch, unable even to swallow.

A ticklish soundtrack began playing.

Shyness filled Jeon Segye’s gaze as he looked down at Nam Pyeonghwa.

His arms awkwardly hovered, unable to fully wrap around her.

And just as Pyeonghwa lifted her head and their eyes met—

[!Warning!]

[Your heart rate has exceeded the range set from your stable condition.]

[Heart rate has remained above 120 BPM for 10 minutes.]

[If your elevated heart rate continues, consult a doctor.]

Segye’s watch started blaring alarms.

Startled, he stumbled backward away from Pyeonghwa and nearly fell over twice.

“Th-th-this! Exercise! It’s an exercise alarm! At this time I always exercise! I have to maintain my exact rou-routine, so, uh, run. Anyway. Anyway!”

Jeon Segye hurriedly ran off with Beopsun.

Left alone, Pyeonghwa placed her hand over her heart.

[!Warning!]

[Heart Rate: 180 BPM]

The watch on Pyeonghwa’s wrist was ringing too.

Unaware of that fact, Segye kept running.

And running.

Until his heart felt ready to explode.

-Ahh this loser couple is so adorable T_T I’m literally crying

↳ Fuck LOLOLOL they started as “kindergarten couple” and now everyone calls them “loser couple”

↳ Guys please remember they’re the Telephone Couple

↳ Nah they’re clearly just the Real.Couple now

↳ Wait omg “real couple” sounds way too good... / / /

↳ Holy shit Jeon Segye’s thought process;

And finally.

-Waaaaaaaahhhhhh

-TT___TT

-It’s coming it’s coming

Inside the storage room where only the two of them remained.

Rain softly pattered outside.

After confessing their wounds to each other, their lips slowly drew closer, layered with unmistakable trembling.

The kiss itself was clumsy to anyone watching.

But the damp sounds mixed with the rain made viewers’ hearts itch unbearably.

The shot filmed from behind the shelves, showing only Jeon Segye and Nam Pyeonghwa’s jaws as they kissed, instantly caused the comment thread to explode.

Over Nam Pyeonghwa’s tiny hands clutching the edge of Jeon Segye’s coat, Jeon Segye’s trembling hand slowly covered hers.

I like you.

I like you.

It felt as though both of them were saying it with their entire hearts.

Aetami covered her mouth with both hands, overwhelmed with emotion.

This was the second officially released kiss scene.

The first kiss scene had already been perfect even without narrative buildup, but the second kiss scene—with all the emotional context behind it—was equally incredible.

Jeon Segye treating Nam Pyeonghwa as more precious than anything else in the world perfectly amplified the tenderness of the scene.

“This is definitely getting clipped and reposted everywhere later.”

Aetami could stake her entire drama-fan life on it.

This scene would absolutely go down as one of the legendary kiss scenes in K-drama history.

“Ha....”

Her chest swelled with emotion.

As expected of the promised Episode 8.

“So if things continue like this—”

But the moment the preview started, Aetami’s expression froze.

“What? What the hell is this?”

The opponent was veteran undefeated writer Hwang Boseok.

“Why did their relationship suddenly fall apart?!”

He was absolutely not an easy writer.

“Are you insane... you can’t do this....”

Yet despite her words, Aetami’s heart pounded violently.

-Today’s kiss scene was insane but is that preview seriously a betrayal TT_TT

-Ahh this is so fucking fun. I’m glad I chose DongRom from the start. My dramaaa

-Holy shit holy shit next week’s gonna be crazy

Even the solid core fandom of 〈Dongdaemun Romance〉 felt exactly the same.

Viewer drop-off: zero.

It was the moment Hwang Boseok’s fortress became a barrier as solid as a magical domain.