Our Sticky Love (2026) K-Drama Review: A Lovely and Sticky Romantic Comedy

I watched Our Sticky Love on Netflix, because I was in the mood for something light, romantic, and Korean. 

Of course, with Korean dramas, this is not just a cute romantic comedy. A criminal conspiracy is unfolding, a gangster has a secret heart of gold, and the heroine is trying to remember who she really is, and whether the man she is with is really her boyfriend. 

That is basically Our Sticky Love. And honestly, I loved it.

It also seems to have become something of a worldwide sensation. Many people in my own circle enjoyed it too, especially the K-drama lovers. I can understand why. It has romance, comedy, suspense, attractive leads, emotional confusion, and enough absurdity to keep things entertaining.

Plot summary

Our Sticky Love stars Ha Young, also known as Ahn Ha Young, as Go Ji-won, an ambitious prosecutor who loses her memory after she is brutally and savagely attacked while investigating a dangerous corruption case. She ends up under the protection of Jang Tae-ha, played by Jung Hae-in, a boxer turned gangster who is actually supposed to kill her but cannot bring himself to do it. 

Instead, Tae-ha hides her in a quiet village and pretends to be her boyfriend. Since Ji-won has no memory of her real identity, she is given a new life as Go Eun-sae (a name that she actually valued). 

Naturally, this leads to plenty of misunderstandings, romantic tension, small-town comedy, and moments where the truth almost comes out. 

It is an absolutely absurd set up if one thinks too hard about it. But that is also the fun of the drama. The show knows that its premise is slightly ridiculous, and it leans into the madness with warmth and charm.

What works best

What works best is the chemistry between Ha Young and Jung Hae-in.

Jung Hae-in is very good as Tae-ha. He has that calm, slightly sad, protective quality that works very well in this kind of romantic drama. Tae-ha is not just a tough man with a soft side. He is someone trapped between danger and conscience. He is supposed to be part of a violent world, but his actions slowly show that he is not as hardened as he appears.

Ha Young is excellent too. She is very pretty, and in a romantic comedy, strong good looks do matter. The camera clearly loves her, and the drama knows how to use that. But she is not merely decorative. She has real comic timing, emotional range, and charm. 

For example, I found it very funny and endearing that Eun-sae checked out her chest several times and even went to buy bra pads in one of the scenes. It was a silly running joke, but it worked because Ha Young played those scenes right. She was actually really funny showing off how confident she was. 

She also has to play two versions of the same person: the sharp prosecutor Go Ji-won and the confused but instinctively brave Go Eun-sae. That could easily become messy, but she makes it work. Even when the plot becomes quite wild, she keeps the character human. After all, we are all human. 

As an aside, this is where the recent controversy around Ha Young’s ancestry needs to be mentioned. 

From what has been reported, the controversy relates to her great-grandfather’s alleged pro-Japanese links during Korea’s colonial period. I understand why this is sensitive. Korea’s history is not easy. Korea was invaded many times by Japan, and its occupation by Japan from 1910 to 1945 remains a deeply painful part of national memory. These are not small matters, and they should not be treated lightly.

At the same time, I do not think Ha Young should be penalized for the mistakes of her forefathers. Yes, perhaps she could have been more sensitive and more aware of her own family history, especially in a country where such things do still matter so much. But that is different from saying that she personally deserves to be canceled over something done by an ancestor.

For me, that would be a pity. After all, we are all human, and we make mistakes. 

She is clearly a great actress and it would be a loss if she were cancelled. In Our Sticky Love, she gives a performance full of comic timing, vulnerability, beauty, and charm. Whatever one thinks of the controversy, it should not take away from the fact that this drama works, and that she is a big reason why it works. 

Coming back to the show itself, the romance is genuinely enjoyable. Tae-ha's and Eun-sae's relationship begins with deception, danger, and hidden motives. Somehow, it becomes more and more sweet. The more Tae-ha lies to protect her, the more we see that he really does love her. He listens to what she is really saying (this is not as easy as it seems in real life) and takes clear, concrete actions to show her that he loves her. Likewise, Eun-sae senses that his love for her must be genuine, despite her earlier misgivings. 

Conclusion and recommendation

Our Sticky Love is the kind of drama that reminds me why Korean romantic comedies can be so addictive. The setup is dramatic, the emotions are big, the romance is sweet, and the leads are very watchable.

I had some withdrawal symptoms when I completed the series. I watched it for the romance, the comedy, the suspense, and the performances. I stayed because Ha Young and Jung Hae-in made the whole strange story feel sweet, sticky, silly, and surprisingly lovely.

Overall, Our Sticky Love is one of the most enjoyable Korean romantic comedies I have watched recently. It is funny, heartfelt, slightly ridiculous, and very easy to love.

Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars

(All views are my own personal thoughts and reflections on movies and books that I read, on my blog Left Hand Column: Book and Film Reviews.)