Dalja’s Spring is a 2007 Korean romantic comedy series, starred by Chae Rim as Oh Dal Ja. Dal Ja is a 33-year-old woman who is clueless in her love life and has a fairy-tale dream that one day, she is going to meet “the one” and she will just know it and will live happily ever after. She is successful and competent in her career as a managing director of a home shopping channel. She has stumbled her way through her twenties, making mistakes left and right and learning her lessons, it seems, a bit haphazardly. However, her strength, courage, and candidness are parts of Dal Ja’s character that are to be admired. She seemed like she would be a total blast to be around, someone people naturally gravitated towards but when it was game time, you know she would go out of her way and make every effort and sacrifice within her ability to help you. Dal Ja is such a strong female character that is totally different from other dramas who are wimpy and pathetic.
Dal Ja is the dreaded old maid of modern Korean society who is capable, attractive and self-sufficient, but still seen as somehow inadequate because she is without boyfriend or husband. She is kind of like Bridget Jones, except without all the alcohol, dating and sex to take the edge off spinsterhood. It all started when she was stood up in a date by a colleague of hers whom she knows very well and known for his “playboy” status. Out of embarrassment and anger she hired a man, who is 6 years younger than her to play and be her “boyfriend” for a month.
There were many insights as Dal Ja “ grows up”. There are a lot of times where Dal Ja learns to respect herself and finally realize that she is a person of value rather than allowing herself to be pushed onto the sidelines all the time where nowadays people are lacking of these aspects. There is one at the end of the drama where she says: “As long as a person is living, there is no ending. Although one cannot say that one will be happy forever, but each day is another new day.” (“Spring Comes (Around) Again, Flowers Bloom Again”) Trust in oneself is important. Everyday is a new day and even though if we fail the other day, today we can run again with new strength and new confidence. People tend to give up too easily when they are facing problem hence Dal Ja could be the role model to help others to improve their condition of life as well.
There is always a trend in her narrations but don’t be annoyed if she keeps mentioning that she is 33 as there is a reason for that. “I am 33 years old. I have learned how to lay down my pride with honor.” (“Show Must Go On!”) The quote really defines why most of the people look up to her. As for the past eight years, her pride is more important than love as to be at this age without a man, she has endured stubbornly holding into her pride. However, after having a fake boyfriend who taught her more about life, she has decided to take this life-changing choice and learnt to encourage herself to put down her pride at times and reach out and ask for help. She is no more struggle with something that she can’t change and holding out in her independence. Dal Ja is able to express a sense of ability to others that are also facing such situation to know that they’re able to overcome this obstacle too. Dal Ja can be a little crazy and unreadable at times, but ultimately she is a woman who knows herself and has her morals and priorities straight. There is once that with Dal Ja stepping up to her mean boss lady. She is the only one who is unafraid of that lady and she tells her straightforwardly that she could quit any time but that is the easy way out. She wants to stay and do a good job but in order for her to do that, her workload should be reasonable. (“It’s O.K. Even If You’re Not Superwoman!)
Most of the people enjoyed the series only because of her. As Dal Ja portrays many similarities to many other girls not just in that range of age that happens in real life. It relates to a single woman’s psyche and the choice she faces in her life regarding love and career. The relationships between people, the truth that everyone behaves the way they do for a reason and until you get to know someone, you really can’t judge them with any accuracy. What made Dal Ja to be outstanding from other cast was the interactions with everyone else. Her growth as a character wasn’t limited to getting her man, but devotion for her mother and grandmother, and for her friends. It wasn’t only about Dal Ja finding romantic love, it was about Dal Ja finding confidence in herself and through that, recognizing that love for herself comes first then eventually the rest will follow.
She is really 33 years old but she is not like other characters who are in their 30s and still act like in their 20s when they are pining over a guy. When Dal Ja pines, it is because she doesn’t realize she likes him yet; when she is sad, it is because she has good reason to; when she is angry, stay away from her path; when she is happy, just laugh along with her. The way she laughs, a bit hearty laugh and when she laughs she lights up. She has the ability to make others like her, to make people cheer for her and feel for her as she stumble her way in love and in career. There are numerous times when Dal Ja is in degrading moments but when she picks herself up again and fights back, people can’t help but exclaim loudly, “you go, girl!” Her actions and thoughts are able to make people burst out of laughter.
The main reason why people like Dal Ja is her thought processes and epiphanies were very realistic and honest, single woman in their 30s wanting to find a life partner so that you will not end up a lonely old spinster, but at the same time you are so comfortable living on your own already in this age and proud of your independence. It is a risk and a pain to compromise and try to live with someone else. It is really meaningful to see Dal Ja actually growing into her own person and also taught how people should be in life.