Dal Ri has a dignified air in her actions and speech. She is also a charismatic and considerate character who treats everyone equally. Dal Ri is completely in her own world when she is doing her research. She is so devoted to art that she forgets to eat and sleep. 
One person who played as a supporting character but so far her role is quite important so that she has her own quirky poster is Yeo Mi Ri, played by 
Her character poster is 
The Spirealm: Behind the Mysterious Doors
Warning: SPOILERS from Episode 1 - 4!
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First of all, I have to make a disclaimer. I love Kim Min Jae, having watched him in several Kdramas. If you've seen his role as Nurse Park Eun Tak in Dr. Romantic (2016) and Dr. Romantic 2 (2020), from which this GIF on the right is from, you will know why. So I ought to make this Currently Watching article and don't judge me if I'm biased for this drama because of him, lol!
Secondly, some information regarding the images on the section headers:
The image on the left is a classic oil on canvas painting titled Jeanne Hébuterne with Hat and Necklace (1917) by Italian painter Amedeo Modigliani. In this drama, the Female Lead Dal Ri is an art expert, and she adores paintings by Modigliani. In episode 1, there is a replica of this painting and it stirs up quite a hilarious incident.
The image on the right is gamjatang or pork back-bone soup, the specialty of a global restaurant chain run by the Male Lead, Moo Hak, and his family. Gamjatang is a Korean soup made from pork spine or neck bones, potatoes, transparent noodles, and spiced up with dried radish leaves, perilla leaves, green onions, hot peppers, and ground sesame seeds (Wikipedia). I have never eaten it, but when I was looking for pictures of gamjatang my mouth was watering since they all look so yummy!
Now you know the images represent Dal Ri and Moo Hak's interests and how they shape the polar differences between them: Dal Ri who knows nothing but art, and Moo Hak who knows nothing but money!
Left picture: Dondon F&B (돈돈), the group name of the global restaurant chain, means "money, money" with a pig wearing sunglasses logo.
 | Dali and the Cocky PrinceAlso known as Dal Ri and GamjatangNative title: 달리와 감자탕 Country: South Korea Genres: Comedy, Romance, Drama Episodes: 16 | Duration: 1 hr. 10 min. Aired: Sep 22, 2021 - Nov 11, 2021 Aired on: Wednesday, Thursday Subbed trailer: Kocowa TV Subbed drama: Kocowa, Viki OST (so far): 1. Opening theme song: MV "I Want You by My Side" (내 옆에는 너만 있었으면 해) by Ham Yeon Ji (함연지) 2. Ending theme song: "Straight" (직진) by DinDin (딘딘) |
Moo Hak and Dal Ri met by coincidence in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Moo Hak, a managing director of the global restaurant chain Dondon F&B, was on a business trip. Dal Ri, a visiting art researcher, was picking up an important guest. After a hilarious mistake ensued, they spent 2 days and 1 night together: started as strangers and departed as newfound friends. They met again in Seoul, South Korea, in a different circumstance. Dal Ri is called back because of her father's sudden death, and she has to face bankruptcy of the art gallery owned by her family. Moo Hak is the main creditor of the gallery. They continue their relationship as a creditor and a debtor over the art gallery. Will these two opposites understand each other and fall in love?
(Summary is excerpted from Viki as well as what I have seen in episode 1.)
 Kim Dal Ri (Park Gyu Young)A woman who is intellectually polished and comes from an elite background but doesn’t know how to take care of herself. Kim Dal Ri is the only daughter of Kim Nak Cheon, coming from an elite family that owns Cheong Song Art Gallery. His father named her after the famous Spanish surrealist painter Salvador Dali. She was a visiting art researcher at a museum in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, before she is called back home to South Korea because of the sudden death of her father. Proficient in seven different languages, Her character poster is a parody of the Girl with a Pearl Earring (c. 1665) oil painting by Dutch Golden Age painter Johannes Vermeer. |
 Jin Moo Hak (Kim Min Jae)A man who lacks schooling and book smarts but is extremely good at making a living. Jin Moo Hak comes from a business family that grew a tiny gamjatang restaurant into the global food corporation Dondon F&B. He is now the managing director of the company, a brilliant entrepreneur who loves money. Having escaped from poverty, Moo Hak owns all kinds of precious and expensive items. He believes that if he spends money, people must notice it, and that whatever he buys must be worth the cost. His character poster is a parody of The Son of Man (1964) by Belgian surrealist painter René Magritte. The painting depicts an apple covering the subject's face. Moo Hak's poster shows a potato instead, one of gamjatang's key ingredients. |
 Jang Tae Jin (Kwon Yool)Jang Tae Jin is Dal Ri's first love. He is the Managing Director of Segi Group, that clashes with Moo Hak. Tae Jin and Dal Ri were supposed to get married, but they broke up before the wedding. Not sure what happened, we will find out later! Although they're no longer in a relationship, Tae Jin still cares about Dal Ri and even tries to help her financially. He also wants Dal Ri back, but she isn't interested in rekindling old flame. Same as Dal Ri, Tae Jin also comes from an elite family. Hence, his character poster depicts him as a medieval aristocrat, proud and chivalrous. |
 Joo Won Tak (Hwang Hee)Won Tak is an orphan from a welfare facility who was supported by Kim Nak Cheon, Dal Ri's father. He becomes like a family to them. Through their encouragement, he pursues a career as a police officer. Now he is a detective from the violent crime squad. He is fond of Dal Ri, who he regards as his older sister, and so broken-hearted when Mr. Kim dies. Since Won Tak is a police officer, his character poster shows him wearing a crisp uniform and a cape depicting a classy and reliable law protector. Find out in the drama how Won Tak and Moo Hak are closer to each other than they are with other characters, as you can see in the last GIF. |
 Ahn Chak Hee (Yeonwoo)A museum curator who likes Moo Hak. She is also the daughter of a National Assembly member. It appears Moo Hak and Chak Hee met on a blind date, not sure whether it was arranged by the family or not. But so far, they're not in a romantic relationship, and Moo Hak is not interested in her. From their meeting, they look more like bickering friends. Her character poster is a parody of the Lady with an Ermine (c.1489 - 1491) oil painting by Italian Renaissance painter Leonardo da Vinci. |
SUPPORTING CHARACTER
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 I love the boss-secretary dynamics between Moo Hak and Mi Ri. There are plenty of hilarious scenes between them. |
RELATIONSHIP CHART - Skip it if you don't want to be spoiled!
Credit: Kdrama Commenter
Dal Ri: Elegant and Artsy
I rarely fall for a female lead, but I did with Dal Ri. Before the drama was released, by looking at her pictures and reading about her character, I thought she was a snob. Dal Ri comes from "old money", and possesses an inherited wealth from an established upper-class family. Since she comes from an elite family, her social circle is only with other members of high-class society. I thought she would look down at people not from her social class like Moo Hak. But she doesn't. She is just an artsy person, who is very involved and enthusiastic throughout her life about arts.
Oh, if you don't like her hairstyle, sorry to tell you that Dal Ri has had the same hairstyle even when she was a high-schooler! So, I would say she won't have a hair make-over even until the end of the drama.
I haven't seen Park Gyu Young acting before, but I think she did a great job playing as Dal Ri. The makeup department transformed her into a character who comes straight out of a classic portrait painting! Someone with an aura of an aristocratic lady, elegant and delicate. In reality, someone who completely immerses herself into her work and forgets about things, a fool for art.
 The couple's poster is a parody of Dance in the Country (1883), an oil painting by French painter Renoir. |
Moo Hak: Loud and Flashy
Contrary to Dal Ri, Moo Hak is from "new money", and doesn't inherit wealth but earns it. Moo Hak is ostentatious, surrounds himself with bling, expensive clothing, jewelry, and furniture. He believes that if he spends money on something, it must be worth the cost and people must notice it. Hence, the bold colors and loud designs of all his belongings.
Moo Hak is a unique and interesting rich Male Lead. He tries to be an arrogant chaebol, but to the eyes of people who know him, like his secretary Mi Ri and the 'thugs', he fails miserably. You cannot hate Moo Hak. Although he can be rude and ignorant, he is also sweet and hilarious.
I have watched Kim Min Jae only in Dr. Romantic (2016), Goblin (2016), Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency (2019), and Dr. Romantic 2 (2020), in which he played all serious roles. This is my first time watching Kim Min Jae in a comedic role, and he nailed it as Jin Moo Hak!
Their Romance: Sweet and Compatible
Viewers probably wonder how two complete opposites like Dal Ri and Moo Hak can fall for each other and become a couple. The drama is kind enough for us to make the couple meet in episode 1 and develop some kind of special relationship. And as far as what we can see from episodes 1 to 4, despite of their differences, they are compatible with each other:
- With her language and world knowledge expertise, which Moo Hak doesn't possess, Dal Ri can fill in the gap. Watch her long and eloquent translation from Korean to English while Moo Hak is 'interpreting' art!
- Though sensible and composed, Dal Ri can be someone who is stressed out if things go seriously wrong with what she does or in her work. Moo Hak calms down her distress with his practical wisdom.
- At an event in the Netherlands, Moo Hak was observant, and he knew Dal Ri didn't eat the whole day. Since Dal Ri is devoted to art and research, she doesn't eat three meals a day and only junk food. On the other hand, Moo Hak eats proper meals and is also a skilled cook. Dal Ri praised his simple omelette as "grand".
- When Dal Ri has financial problems with the art gallery, Moo Hak gives her advices. Though it sounds harsh and straight-forward, but he has more experience and skills in business/money than Dal Ri does.
 Watch the drama to find out what 3000 geops mean! |
Art, Food, and Fashion: Bold and Beautiful
Art and food go together in the drama. For example, we see classical paintings but also paintings on pigs (principal ingredient of gamjatang) amongst them. We watch funny scenes with classical music in the background. The gamjatang eating scene with the famous Spanish opera Carmen as the background music is just epic!
Credit for Moo Hak's suit collection: enewswide
Since the plot revolves around art, Dal Ri, who is a fashionable high class lady, and Moo Hak, who likes to show his expensive clothes, we see a feast of bold and colorful costumes and props in this drama. The couple picture on the top left attracted me to this drama initially, and I love Dal Ri's blue dress. All clothes in the picture are only from episodes 1 to 4! But 4 episodes in, I found my favorite below:
Moo Hak's comfortable clogs are so cute with charm buttons customized for the drama: heart (romance), crown (medieval art), lollipop and ice cream (Dal Ri's junk food she likes to eat), piglets (gamjatang), and stashes of money (Moo Hak's favorite). I squealed when I found out the buttons light up in the dark!
I have presented you with all the cute stuff in the First Impression section. Since I want to be objective, below are some of my forethoughts of what may negatively influence your enjoyment of watching this drama:
Cliché, Cliché Everywhere!
As usual with romcoms, there are clichés pertinent to love and romance. It really depends on your watching experience and tolerance, the clichés may or may not turn you off. I forewarn you who hasn't seen this drama: there are clichés everywhere. So far from episodes 1 to 4: Rich man, poor woman? Checked. Mistaken identity? Checked. Shower scene? Checked. Drunken scene? Checked. Broken stiletto? Checked. Male Lead who knows how to cook and cooks like a chef and Female Lead who doesn't know how to cook? Double checked, and he washes dishes, too! Party A fell on top of Party B? Double checked. ML follows/stalks FL? Multi checked. Near missing (or near finding)? Too many, checked.
Love Triangle? Love Square? Or What?
Rarely romance or romcom dramas have zero love triangles or other shapes. Unfortunately, this drama may have a love triangle, love square, or whatever shape you will call it. As you read my description of the main characters above, you may be able to picture some distractions happening to Moo Hak and Dal Ri's love life. Although I'm not too worried that a third party can be a major obstruction since Moo Hak and Dal Ri are already interested in each other when they meet in the first episode. And sexual attraction as you've seen in the picture above!
 Did you see Moo Hak's smug face? |
There is a Mystery
There is a huge mystery looming in this drama! Since it's not in the synopsis nor genre, I won't spoil you on what it is. By watching episode 1, you will find out the existence, yet we may not know the resolution of the mystery until the end of the drama. So, just in case you may not like a pure romcom, you will love the tinge of mystery spicing up this drama. Or, if you don't like mystery, at least you are warned, and after the first episode you can decide if you want to watch further or not. Of course, with the mystery plot, there are also shady characters. So far we don't know if there is any villain and the identity.
Finally, here comes the million-dollar question: should you watch Dali and the Cocky Prince or not? Personally, I love it, and not only because of Kim Min Jae. The interesting romance plot that goes together with the big mystery, amazingly quirky characters, hilarious comedy, great acting, beautiful art, yummy food, and bold fashion. Like the gamjatang dish with various ingredients itself, the drama cooks up a nice plot with a variety of aspects that makes it delightful to watch. Then should you watch it now when it's currently airing or not? I can say it's safe to watch it now. As usual with romcom Kdramas, I can bet that it will have a happy ending despite of some melodramatic scenes and secretive events. So, as the amusing GIF below suggests, if you haven't watched it yet, start watching it now!
I cannot wait for the budding bromance between Moo Hak and Won Tak! |
Thank you for reading and happy watching!
Acknowledgement and credits: Thank you to the editors who edited this article. I do not own any of the images; credits go to their respective owners. The images are from Internet search, drama poster, stills, and screenshots. Kim Min Jae's GIF source: Tumblr, other GIFs are self-made from drama scenes.
Edited by: devitto (1st editor)
