The Korean drama landscape is never short of bold ideas, but The Divorce Insurance (이혼보험), which premiered on tvN and streams on Prime Video, stands out for its audacious premise: a team of insurance professionals develops a policy to safeguard people against the emotional and financial fallout of divorce. With a star-studded cast led by Lee Dong-wook, Lee Joo-bin, Lee Kwang-soo, and Lee Da-hee, the series promised a blend of satire, romance, and office drama. But did it deliver on its potential? Let’s dive deep.
Premise & Plot
The story centers on No Gi-jun (Lee Dong-wook), a product developer at an insurance company who’s been through three divorces himself. Rather than hide his past, he wears it openly, which both isolates and liberates him. Inspired by his own experiences and the rising divorce rate, he assembles a team-meticulous underwriter Kang Han-deul (Lee Joo-bin), risk surveyor An Jeon-man (Lee Kwang-soo), and financial mathematician Jeon Na-rae (Lee Da-hee)-to create a groundbreaking divorce insurance policy.
The show’s early episodes are peppered with sly, deadpan humor and a satirical take on how society views marriage and separation. The concept of treating divorce like an unpredictable disaster, worthy of insurance, is both subversive and timely.
Characters & Performances
- Lee Dong-wook as No Gi-jun: Lee Dong-wook brings his signature blend of deadpan comedy and quiet introspection to the role. While his character is intentionally awkward and emotionally scarred, some viewers found him lacking in charisma and depth, making his centrality to multiple romantic subplots a stretch.
- Lee Joo-bin as Kang Han-deul: As a newly divorced underwriter, Han-deul’s skepticism and eventual buy-in to Gi-jun’s vision add a relatable arc. However, her chemistry with the male lead often feels underdeveloped.
- Lee Kwang-soo as An Jeon-man: Kwang-soo’s comedic timing shines, especially in his “bromance” with Lee Dong-wook. Their dynamic is a highlight, providing much-needed levity.
- Lee Da-hee as Jeon Na-rae: Playing a sharp-tongued financial analyst, Da-hee’s confrontational energy sometimes veers into the grating, with her character’s motivations occasionally muddled.
Special appearances, such as Jo Bo-ah’s cameo, inject brief excitement, but these moments are fleeting.
Strengths
- Unique Concept: The show’s willingness to tackle divorce-a subject often stigmatized in Korean society-and reframe it as a practical, even insurable, life event is refreshingly bold.
- Initial Satirical Edge: Early episodes balance humor and social commentary, poking fun at both the insurance industry and societal expectations of marriage.
- Cast Chemistry: The camaraderie among the main team, especially the comedic exchanges between Lee Dong-wook and Lee Kwang-soo, delivers some of the series’ most enjoyable moments.
Weaknesses
- Execution Falters: After a promising start, the series loses its satirical bite, opting for safer, more conventional melodrama. The narrative becomes predictable, and the pacing drags, especially in the latter half.
- Forced Romance: The central love lines, particularly between the leads, lack spark. The love triangle involving two divorced women vying for the affections of a rather bland male lead strains credulity and fails to generate real emotional investment.
- Business Jargon Overload: The show leans heavily on insurance lingo, which, while explained, can bog down the story and alienate viewers not interested in corporate minutiae.
- Inconsistent Tone: The series oscillates between satire, office comedy, and sentimental drama, never fully committing to any, which undercuts its impact.
Reception & Ratings
Despite its high-profile cast and intriguing premise, The Divorce Insurance saw a steady decline in viewership. It debuted with a respectable 3.4% nationwide rating but dropped to 1.4% by episode four. Online, reactions have been mixed: some praise its creativity and performances, while others criticize its lack of narrative depth and forced humor.
Final Verdict
The Divorce Insurance is a drama that dares to be different but ultimately plays it too safe. Its initial promise-a sharp, quirky satire about love, loss, and the business of heartbreak-quickly gives way to familiar rom-com tropes and undercooked emotional arcs. While the cast, especially Lee Dong-wook and Lee Kwang-soo, injects moments of charm and humor, the show’s inconsistent tone and lackluster romance prevent it from reaching its full potential.
Watch if: You’re a fan of the cast, enjoy workplace comedies with a twist, or are curious about a drama that treats divorce as both a punchline and a business opportunity.
Skip if: You’re looking for a consistently sharp satire or a romance with genuine sparks.
“Divorce Insurance sets out to be sharp, strange, and subversive. But after a promising start, it quickly trades its edge for something safer and more familiar… At least you can’t say it didn’t try… for a little while.”
In the end, The Divorce Insurance is a pleasant, occasionally funny, but ultimately forgettable addition to the 2025 K-drama lineup-worth a try for its novelty, but unlikely to leave a lasting impression.
