Lee Ju-an Wraps First Lead Role in 'A Love Other Than Yours'

Actor Lee Ju-an has wrapped up his first lead role. In the KBS 2TV drama "A Love Other Than Yours", he played Han Tae-seung, a man who changes after falling in love.

The weekend miniseries aired its final episode on Nov. 1. In that episode, Lee Ju-an showed how Tae-seung has learned to understand other people's pain. He also showed the character finally opening up to the woman he loves.

The change showed up first in Tae-seung's work. In the finale, he takes on a case for free. At first he coolly tells his client to cry. Then he brings up the client's past hurt and offers comfort, saying he would have protected them if he had been there at the time. The scene turns his earlier promise to become a good person into action.

With his girlfriend, Lee Mi-do (played by Ahn Eun-jin), a different side came through. Behind his playful attitude, there was worry. Tae-seung teases Mi-do, but his face goes stiff when Namgung Ho (played by Seo Kang-joon) comes up. Lee Ju-an used small shifts in his expression and tone to show a man anxious to hear that he is loved.

In the end, Tae-seung tells Mi-do he wants the relationship to last. "Give me certainty," he says. He holds her and lets out how hurt he has been. Only after hearing how she truly feels does he share his own feelings honestly. When Mi-do then makes the first move, he looks surprised before quickly returning her affection.

The final scene took the couple one step further. Tae-seung openly tells Mi-do's family that the two are dating.

Across the series, Lee Ju-an built the character's change one stage at a time. Tae-seung starts out sharp and cold. Later he cries in the face of a breakup. By the end, love has taught him to look out for other people.

The show itself had a harder time. According to Nielsen Korea's nationwide household ratings, "A Love Other Than Yours" opened at 2.6% with its first episode. It hit its series high of 2.8% with the second. After falling to 1.9% in Episode 8, it stayed in the 1% to 2% range.

Critics also took aim at the story. Some pointed to its repeated focus on the characters' misfortune. Others said the characters' emotions were hard to relate to. Viewers were split on the ending, too.

For Lee Ju-an, though, the series marks a first chance to carry a story as its lead. The ratings were weak, but he leaves with a full character arc behind him.