SBS 'Mongle Counseling Center' Captivates Viewers with Heartfelt Journey of Love and Growth

SBS's 'Mongle Counseling Center' is making waves with its heartwarming narrative.

The SBS Special 'My Heart is Mongle Mongle - Mongle Counseling Center' (directed by Go Hye-rin), is a new venture by PD Go Hye-rin, who previously won the Baeksang Arts Award for her work 'Hakjeon and the Back Thing Kim Min-ki.' This program follows the journey of young adults with developmental disabilities, referred to as 'Mongle,' as they receive dating coaching from the 14-year married couple, 'Counseling Directors' Lee Hyori and Lee Sang-soon, in their quest to find their first love over an eight-week period.

In the first episode, which aired on the 8th, 'Counseling Directors' Lee Hyori and Lee Sang-soon met with three unique 'Mongle' individuals: Oh Ji-hyun, Yoo Ji-hoon, and Jung Ji-won. They helped them understand their challenges and assisted in their first blind dates. The distinct charms and pure, sincere nature of the 'Mongle' participants, along with their genuine consideration for others, provided viewers with a deep sense of healing and successfully dispelled prejudices against disabilities.

Following the premiere, social media platforms have been abuzz with praise, with comments such as, "As a social worker, this is an issue I've been contemplating. I'm so grateful for this wonderful program supported by Lee Hyori and Lee Sang-soon," and "It was more enjoyable than non-disabled dating shows. It's been a while since a romance without villains made my heart flutter."

The genuine portrayal of love and growth among young adults with developmental disabilities in 'Mongle Counseling Center' has captured significant attention, ranking 10th in Netflix's 'Today's Top 10 Series in Korea' as of March 10. Additionally, a video clip of participant Oh Ji-hyun's first blind date, released on SBS's official social media channels, surpassed 1.3 million views within 24 hours, showcasing the program's extraordinary popularity. As 'Mongle Counseling Center' continues to create waves of purity amidst a flood of dopamine, its impact remains to be seen.

Meanwhile, the second episode of SBS Special 'My Heart is Mongle Mongle - Mongle Counseling Center' will air on the 15th at 11:05 PM.

By Kim Se-ah, TenAsia Reporter haesmik@tenasia.co.kr