Honestly, if you haven’t seen My Love from the Star, you’ve probably at least seen the lipstick. Or the fried chicken.
It’s been over a decade since Kim Soo-hyun teleported onto our screens as Do Min-joon, the stoic alien who’s been stuck on Earth since the Joseon Dynasty. Back in 2013 and 2014, this show wasn't just a hit; it was a total cultural takeover. You couldn't walk through Seoul—or even parts of Shanghai and Singapore—without seeing Jun Ji-hyun’s face on a billboard.
People were literally obsessed.
But why are we still talking about it in 2026? Most K-dramas have the shelf life of a ripe banana. They’re sweet for a week, then they’re mush. Yet, this one sticks. It’s got that weird, staying power that defies logic. Maybe it’s the chemistry, or maybe it’s just the fact that we all secretly want a grumpy neighbor who can stop time when we’re about to fall off a cliff.
What Actually Happens in My Love from the Star?
The premise sounds like a fever dream. An alien lands in 1609 Korea, saves a girl, misses his ride home, and waits 400 years for the next comet. While waiting, he becomes a billionaire, a lawyer, a doctor, and eventually a grumpy college professor.
Then he meets Cheon Song-yi.
She’s a Hallyu superstar who is, frankly, a bit of a disaster. She’s loud, she’s vain, and she thinks garlic prevents aging because she misunderstood some historical fact. She’s the exact opposite of Min-joon’s "quiet, logical library" vibe.
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The Hook That Worked
The show works because it balances two very different gears. On one hand, you have this incredibly silly romantic comedy. On the other, there’s a dark, murderous subplot involving a sociopath with a spinning ring.
It shouldn't work. It really shouldn't.
But it does because of the leads. Jun Ji-hyun plays "annoying" so well that she becomes lovable. It’s a talent. Most actresses would make Cheon Song-yi insufferable, but she makes her human. You see her loneliness. You see the pressure of being a child star who never grew up.
The "Chimaek" Effect and Real-World Impact
You can't talk about My Love from the Star without talking about the fried chicken. "Chimaek" (chicken and beer) became a global phenomenon because of one line Song-yi said. In China, the demand for Korean-style fried chicken skyrocketed so fast that traditional restaurants couldn't keep up.
It sounds fake, but it's 100% real.
The fashion impact was even crazier. The YSL lipstick (specifically Rouge Pur Couture No. 52) sold out globally. People were calling it the "Cheon Song-yi lipstick." Even the shoes—those sparkly Jimmy Choo pumps—became the most sought-after item in Asia.
By the Numbers (The Real Ones)
- Viewership: It hit a peak of 28.1% in South Korea. That’s massive for a weeknight drama.
- Streaming: On the Chinese platform iQIYI, it racked up over 14.5 billion views by early 2014.
- Awards: Jun Ji-hyun took home the Daesang (Grand Prize) at the Baeksang Arts Awards.
Why the Ending Still Divides Fans
Okay, let's talk about that finale.
Min-joon has to leave. If he stays, he dies. The atmosphere of Earth is basically poisoning him after 400 years. So he goes back to his home planet, but he finds a way to "wormhole" back.
Basically, he's like a bad Wi-Fi connection. He flickers in and out.
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Some fans hated this. They wanted a wedding, three kids, and a white picket fence. Instead, they got a guy who might disappear in the middle of dinner. But honestly? It’s kinda poetic. It fits the theme of the show: making the most of the time you actually have.
"Meeting someone is a strange thing. It means that their past, their present, and their future all come along with them."
That’s a real sentiment from the show, and it’s why the ending—as frustrating as it is—actually holds up. It’s about the "preciousness" of a moment.
Common Misconceptions (Let's Clear These Up)
1. It's just a copy of "Twilight" or "The Man from Earth." Nope. While it shares some DNA with the "immortal guy" trope, the writer, Park Ji-eun, actually pulled the idea from the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty. There’s a real record from 1609 about a UFO sighting in Gangwon Province. She just asked, "What if one of them stayed?"
2. Kim Soo-hyun and Jun Ji-hyun didn't get along. This one always pops up. Actually, they had worked together before in the movie The Thieves. Their chemistry was so good there that fans practically begged for them to be reunited in a drama. They’re professional peers who clearly "get" each other's timing.
3. There’s a Season 2. Sorta. Not really. Every year, a "Season 2" rumor goes viral on TikTok or YouTube. As of right now, there is no official second season. There have been various adaptations—like the 2017 Philippine version or the 2022 Japanese one—but the original story with the original cast is a one-and-done deal.
How to Watch it Properly in 2026
If you're diving in for the first time (or the tenth), don't just binge the main episodes.
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The epilogues are the secret sauce of My Love from the Star. Every episode ends with a tiny 2-minute clip after the credits. Sometimes it’s a funny interview, sometimes it’s a heartbreaking revelation. If you skip those, you’re missing half the character development.
Practical Next Steps for Fans:
- Check the Soundtrack: "My Destiny" by Lyn is the big one, but "Every Moment of You" by Sung Si-kyung is the one that really hits the feels.
- Visit the Locations: If you’re ever in Gapyeong, the "Petite France" village is where that famous "stop time" kiss happened. It’s still a huge tourist spot.
- Watch the Writer’s Other Work: If you liked the "bickering couple" vibe, Park Ji-eun also wrote Crash Landing on You and Queen of Tears. You’ll see the same DNA of strong, slightly crazy women and the men who somehow survive them.
My Love from the Star isn't just a drama about an alien. It's a study on how humans are weird, annoying, and ultimately worth sticking around for—even if you have to travel across the galaxy just to say hello.