Please Don't Date Him

Please Don't Date Him (Korean: 제발 그 남자 만나지 마요) is a 2020 South Korean romantic comedy television series, starring Song Ha-yoon, Lee Jun-young, Yoon Bo-mi and Gong Min-jeung.^[1] Directed by Oh Mi-kyeong, the story of this series revolves around Seo Ji-seong (Song Ha-yoon) a household appliances developer who dreams to live a life like a well-designed algorithm.^[2] The series was premiered on MBC Every 1 on November 10, 2020, and aired every Tuesday at 22:40 (KST) till January 12, 2021.^[3]

Please Don't Date Him
Promotional poster
Hangul	제발 그 남자 만나지 마요
Literal meaning	Please Don't Meet That Guy
Revised Romanization	Jebal Geu Namja Mannaji Mayo
Genre	Romantic comedy Science fiction
Created by	Yoon Sung-ho
Written by	Yoon Kim Kim Jeong-hee Jung Jae-in Songpyeon
Directed by	Oh Mi-kyeong
Creative director	Choi Yoon-jeong
Starring	Song Ha-yoon Lee Jun-young Yoon Bo-mi Gong Min-jeung
Theme music composer	Kang Ming-uk Lim Hyun-ji
Country of origin	South Korea
Original language	Korean
No. of episodes	10
Production
Executive producer	Song Jae-young
Running time	70 minutes
Production company	Corner Stone Pictures
Original release
Network	MBC Every 1
Release	November 10, 2020 (2020-11-10) – January 12, 2021 (2021-01-12)

Synopsis

An AI-controlled, household appliances developer in Pelican Electronics, Seo Ji-seong, has dreams of living a perfect life like a well-developed program.

Working on an Artificial Intelligence refrigerator with voice-activated features, she inserts a super sensor chip which was lost by National Intelligence Service into a refrigerator, and an "Ancestral Spirit" program that picks scums instead of telling the freshness of vegetables is developed. So, Ji-seong finds out that her deemed perfect fiancé Jeong-han was actually not her Prince Charming.

One day, Jung Kook-hee, a firefighter, with no social media record, whom the program couldn't analyze, shows up. Ji-seong is skeptical about him, as there is no trace of his past on the internet.

Cast

Main

• Song Ha-yoon^[4] as Seo Ji-seong, Manager of Pelican Electronics 'Voice Recognition Smart Home Appliance Ubiquitous Innovation Development Team' a programmer of the AI controlled home appliances.
• Lee Jun-young^[5] as Jung Kook-hee, Whale Fire Station Life Safety Rescue Team Firefighter for 3 years, no social media, no digital convenience.
• Yoon Bo-mi as Moon Ye-seul, Seo Ji-seong's friend, a Pelican quarantine staff.
• Gong Min-jeung as Tak Ki-hyun, owner of organic cafe near Pelican Electronics^[6]

Supporting

Pelican Electronics

• Kang Mal-geum as Hwang Ga-eul, telegram girl, Pelican Electronics secretive girl
• Jeong Min-sung as Oh Byung-Gil
• Kim Ki-ri, as Jegal Su-won, team manager who always raises ideological problems^[7]
• Nam Min-woo as Ok Dong-jin, an employee of the development team, a coding man^[8]
• Kim Hyun-myung as Cho Yong-hwan, no one knows when he goes to work and when he leaves.
• Park Han-sol as Byun Ha-ri, a subjective intern who takes care of what he did not do.

Dentist friends

• Lee Si-hoon as Bang Jeong-han, the man likes Facebook, Dentist. Ex-boyfriend of Seo Ji-seong.
• Joo Woo-jae as Han Yu-jin, an Instagram-like man, dentist.

Tak Ki-hyun's husband

• Kim Tae-gyeom as Kim Sang-sik, Tak Ki-hyun's husband, old blogging man, an office worker.

Whale Fire Station

• Kim Gyeong-il as Gam Oh Joong, the man likes Tinder, from Whale Fire Station, has three children but always needs love, and finds that love outside.

Others

• Lee Ji-ha as Jung-han's mother
• Shin Ji-yeon as Nurse
• Jung In-gi
• Hwang Young-hee as Lee Eun-hwa
• Choi Baek-gu as Kim Jin-soo

Voice appearance

• Kim Myung-jun
• Kim Su-ji

Guest appearance

• Jo Jae-yoon

Production

Casting

In June 2020, Song Ha-yoon was cast for her comeback series.^[9] Lee Jun-young was cast as the main male lead of the series in the same month.^[10] Later in October, Yoon Bo-mi and Gong Min-jung were cast to play supporting roles.

Filming

The script reading was done in October 2020 as new stills were released.^[11] The first teaser was released in the last week of October 2020.^[12]

Original soundtrack

Please Don't Date Him
Soundtrack album by Various
Released	2020–2021
Genre	Soundtrack
Language	Korean English
Label	Danal Entertainment

Part 1

Released on November 24, 2020 (2020-11-24)^[13]

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"100% (feat. Outsider)"	Kang Min-hyung Outsider Ryu Byung-im	Kang Min-gook Kang Min-hyung Kang Chang-eui	XUM	2:44
2.	"100%" (inst.)		Kang Min-gook Kang Min-hyung Kang Chang-eui		2:44
Total length:					5:28

Part 2

Released on December 1, 2020 (2020-12-01)^[14]

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"End Game"	Kang Min-gook	Kang Min-gook	Susan	3:50
2.	"End Game" (inst.)		Kang Min-gook		3:50
Total length:					7:40

Part 3

Released on December 8, 2020 (2020-12-08)^[15]

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"To You Who Will Be Tired" (지쳐있을 너에게)	Lee Jong-soo Na Byung-soo	Lee Jong-soo Na Byung-soo	Lee Jun-young	3:20
2.	"To You Who Will Be Tired" (inst.)		Lee Jong-soo Na Byung-soo		3:20
Total length:					6:40

Part 4

Released on December 15, 2020 (2020-12-15)^[16]

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"Who I Am"	Lee Jong-soo Na Byung-soo	Lee Jong-soo Na Byung-soo	Choi Jin-soul	4:01
2.	"Who I Am" (inst.)		Lee Jong-soo Na Byung-soo		4:01
Total length:					8:02

Part 5

Released on December 22, 2020 (2020-12-22)^[17]

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"Dream"	Lee Yi-rang Zion	TM Lee Yi-rang	Cignature	3:11
2.	"Dream" (inst.)		TM Lee Yi-rang		3:11
Total length:					6:22

Part 6

Released on December 24, 2020 (2020-12-24)^[18]

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"I'll protect you"	noovv	TM noovv	DANI (Dani)	4:10
2.	"I'll protect you" (inst.)		TM noovv		4:10
Total length:					8:20

Part 7

Released on December 28, 2020 (2020-12-28)^[19]

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"You know that"	Maljuk Street Brother	Maljuk Street Brother	Z ye	3:09
2.	"You know that" (inst.)		Maljuk Street Brother		3:09
Total length:					6:18

Part 8

Released on December 31, 2020 (2020-12-31)^[20]

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"Disgrace" (with Seodo)	Byeongsoo Na, Minok Jung	Jongsoo Lee, Byungsoo Na	Goonia	3:34
2.	"Disgrace" (inst.)		Jongsoo Lee, Byungsoo Na		3:34
Total length:					7:08

Part 9

Released on January 4, 2021 (2021-01-04)^[21]

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"Nice to see you"	Maljuk Street Brother	Maljuk Street Brother	Jihee Lee	4:30
2.	"Nice to see you" (inst.)		Maljuk Street Brother		4:30
Total length:					9:00

Part 10

Released on January 7, 2021 (2021-01-07)^[22]

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"All beautiful"	Hojung Kim, 30 Billion	Hojung Kim, Youngmin Kim (Eyelisten), 30 Billion	J.niz	3:09
2.	"All beautiful" (inst.)		Hojung Kim, Youngmin Kim (Eyelisten), 30 Billion		3:09
Total length:					6:18

Ratings

Average TV viewership ratings

Ep.	Original broadcast date	Average audience share
		Nielsen Korea[23][24][25]
		Nationwide	Seoul
1	November 10, 2020	0.2%	—
2	November 17, 2020	0.3%
3	November 24, 2020	0.2%
4	December 1, 2020	0.4%
5	December 8, 2020	0.6%
6	December 15, 2020	0.3%
7	December 22, 2020	0.4%
8	December 29, 2020	0.2%
9	January 5, 2021	0.2%
10	January 12, 2021	0.2%
Average		0.3%	%
The blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings.

References

1. "'제발 그 남자 만나지 마요' 송하윤 이준영 공민정 윤보미 4인 4색 캐릭터 포스터가 공개됐다" ['Please don't meet that man' Song Ha-yoon, Lee Jun-young, Kong Min-jung, Yoon Bo-mi, four-person four-color character poster was released.]. iMbc. November 2, 2020. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
2. "Please Don't Date Him". HanCinema. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
3. Kim, Soo-hyun (November 5, 2020). "제발 그 남자 만나지 마요' 송하윤♥이준영, 조상신이 주선한 로맨스? 호기심 자극" [Please don't meet that man' Song Ha-yoon Lee Jun-young, a romance arranged by Ancestor Sang-shin? Curiosity stimulation]. Chosun. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
4. "송하윤, '제발 그 남자 만나지 마요' 주인공 확정… 판타지 로맨스 예고". IMBC (in Korean). June 18, 2020. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
5. Kim, Hye-jeong (November 3, 2020). "'제발 그 남자 만나지 마요', AI냉장고 '조상신'이 나쁜 남자를 골라준다고?(ft. 송하윤×이준영×공민정×윤보미)" ['Please don't meet that man' and AI refrigerator'Ancestral Shin' picks a bad guy?]. Sports Khan.
6. "Song Ha-yoon and Lee Jun-young in "Please Don't Date Him"". HanCinema. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
7. "Kim Ki-ri to Star in "Please Don't Date Him" @ HanCinema :: The Korean Movie and Drama Database". HanCinema.
8. Jang, Ji-min (October 29, 2020). "'제발 그 남자 만나지 마요' 남민우 합류, 내달 10일 첫 방송" ['Please don't meet that guy' joins Nam Min-woo, first broadcast on the 10th of next month]. The Korea Economic Daily.
9. Kim, Hyun-rok (June 18, 2020). "송하윤, MBC에브리원 '제발 그 남자 만나지 마요' 주인공" [Song Ha-yoon, MBC Every1's'Please Don't Meet That Guy']. SPORT TV NEWS.
10. "이준영, '제발 그 남자 만나지마요' 출연 확정…10월 방영 [공식]" [Lee Jun-young confirmed to appear in'Please Don't Meet That Guy'... Aired in October [Official]]. The Celeb. June 18, 2020.
11. "[Video + Photos] First Teaser and Script Reading Stills Added for the Upcoming Korean Drama "Please Don't Date Him" @ HanCinema :: The Korean Movie and Drama Database". HanCinema.
12. Park, Hyun-sook (October 28, 2020). "'제발 그 남자 만나지 마요' 송하윤 앞에 나타난 조상신?" ['Please don't meet that man' Ancestor Sang-shin who appeared in front of Ha-yoon Song?]. Sports Khan.
13. "제발 그 남자 만나지 마요 OST Part.1" [Please Don't Date Him OST Part.1]. Melon. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
14. "제발 그 남자 만나지 마요 OST Part.2" [Please Don't Date Him OST Part.2]. Melon. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
15. "제발 그 남자 만나지 마요 OST Part.3" [Please Don't Date Him Part.3]. Melon. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
16. "제발 그 남자 만나지 마요 OST Part.4" [Please Don't Date Him Part.4]. Melon. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
17. "제발 그 남자 만나지 마요 OST Part.5" [Please Don't Date Him Part.5]. Melon. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
18. "제발 그 남자 만나지 마요 OST Part.6" [Please Don't Date Him Part.6]. Melon. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
19. "제발 그 남자 만나지 마요 OST Part.7" [Please Don't Date Him Part.7]. Melon. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
20. "제발 그 남자 만나지 마요 OST Part.8" [Please Don't Date Him Part.8]. Melon. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
21. "제발 그 남자 만나지 마요 OST Part.9" [Please Don't Date Him Part.9]. Melon. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
22. "제발 그 남자 만나지 마요 OST Part.10" [Please Don't Date Him Part.10]. Melon. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
23. "Nielsen Korea". AGB Nielsen Media Research. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
24. "제발 그 남자 만나지 마요 시청률" [Please don't meet that guy 2020 ratings]. Naver. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
25. "1월 12일 지상파 시청률, 강은탁X엄현경X이채영 '비밀의 남자' 1위" [Jan. 12 terrestrial viewership rating, Kang Eun-tak x Uhm Hyeon-kyung x Lee Chae-young'Secret Man'] (in Korean). January 13, 2021.

External links

• Please Don't Date Him at HanCinema
• Please Don't Date Him at IMDb
• Please Don't Date Him at Daum (in Korean)