K-Drama Flashback: ‘It’s Okay, That’s Love’

A lot of what It’s Okay, That’s Love can do is help you grasp and gain insight into some very complex yet relevant issues. So, how you connect with the story is also very important. While engaging and entertaining, it is what it is: a healing K-drama using fiction and simulation to build a secure setting for thoughts on serious, often taboo themes like mental health.

Released in 2014, which marks a decade of It’s Okay, That’s Love, director Kim Kyu-tae gifted a beautiful romance-medical-melodrama that speaks to this serious issue and is very much a part of Korean society like many other cultures—the stigmas around mental health problems while also covering the delicate dynamics of human connections and the power of love.

Going over this celebrity guy wrestling with past trauma and obsessive-compulsive disorder, the series intertwines his burgeoning love with a good doctor, one with inner conflicts herself. And amidst the two navigating their rough patches, It’s Okay, That’s Love vividly ranges over their emotional struggles, the obstacles to cultivating healthy relationships, and also what can come by—healing—through empathy and acceptance.

Without giving away too many details (in case you haven’t seen the drama), Jang Jae-yeol (Zo In-sung) is a successful author and radio DJ who has obsessive-compulsive disorder. The abuses he endured when young and his guilt over lying about his father’s death compound his twisted personality.

Meanwhile, Ji Hae-soo (Gong Hyo-jin), a devoted psychiatrist, comes across Jae-yeol and, as destiny would have it, lands in a transformative process with him—from contention to love—through realizing how deeply compatible they are. Nonetheless, a major challenge creeps in when Jae-yeol’s previously undiagnosed schizophrenia comes to the fore.

I do think It’s Okay, That’s Love was ahead of its time in addressing mental illness and mental health, which were not usually spoken about at the time, and I’m sure it helped people and still helps people see a narrative and relate to it. You relate to the characters in that you can see how they feel, their tough times, and their good times too. You share their sentiments. It’s an engrossing one, shattering stigma, bringing mental health to the mainstream, and advocating medical care.

When I watched the drama, I was living away from my family. I’ve been living alone for years, and at times loneliness gets to you very badly, especially when you’re going through something like failure, sickness, maybe a breakup, or whatever. But come to think of it, there’s loneliness, sorrow, stress, and concerns. They constitute part of our daily experiences, and we can get through them with understanding, love, and conversations—a major takeaway from It’s Okay, That’s Love. 

Of course, there’s heart-fluttering romance to offset the otherwise seriousness of what’s happening. I won’t say much except that the chemistry between Zo In-sung and Gong Hyo-jin is insane! Solid romantic moments abound in this one. Perhaps Zo is “the” romantic hero, pushing emotions to the surface with such intensity. I also want to add that his characters are so realistic, as if he forged a bond with Jae-yeol, serving him and the story best. His performance in the role won him the coveted Daesang (Grand Prize) at the third edition of the APAN Star Awards.

The series’ success comes from its superb characterization of both the stars and the supporting characters. Even its music, including the songs “Best Luck” by Chen (EXO) and the title track “It’s Okay, That’s Love” by Davichi, are classic K-drama OSTs that encapsulate the heart of the bittersweet love story.

Yet again, its exploration of mental health issues is noteworthy, targeting the prejudices and myths around OCD, depression, and schizophrenia. It’s Okay, That’s Love is thoughtful; its sensitive approach to complex subjects and its characters’ appeal attest to the richness and diversity of Korean storytelling.