Kang Han-gyeol makes his living writing music for Crude Play, one of Korea’s popular idol bands. He keeps his identity as the band’s composer hidden from the public and spends most of his time working behind the scenes.

Then he meets Yoon So-rim, a high school student with a voice that immediately catches his attention. So-rim has been singing with her two childhood friends for years, and the three eventually get the chance to pursue music professionally.

That meeting sets up The Liar and His Lover, a 2017 Korean drama about first love, songwriting, and the complicated world behind the music industry.

Han-gyeol and So-rim

Han-gyeol has spent years working with Crude Play. He previously played bass for the group before leaving shortly before its debut, eventually becoming the composer behind many of the band’s songs.

So-rim first meets him without knowing about his connection to Crude Play. Han-gyeol also keeps parts of his own life from her, creating a relationship built around information that neither of them fully understands at first.

So-rim’s feelings for him grow while she continues pursuing her own musical ambitions.

The relationship also becomes more complicated as their careers begin to overlap.

MUSH&Co. Enters the Music Industry

So-rim and her friends eventually form MUSH&Co., giving them the opportunity to turn the music they have made together into a career.

Their introduction to the industry changes their lives quickly. Recording, performances, management, and expectations from the people around them become part of their daily routine.

Han-gyeol has experience with this world from a very different position. His work involves composing and producing songs, while So-rim is learning what it means to perform them in front of an audience.

Their different experiences with music become an important part of the story.

Crude Play’s Story

Crude Play has its own problems running alongside So-rim’s career.

Han-gyeol’s history with the group continues to affect his relationship with the members, particularly Seo Chan-young, who took over as bassist after Han-gyeol left.

The band’s public image also becomes increasingly difficult to maintain as problems inside the group begin to surface. Later episodes bring the group’s relationships and professional choices into sharper focus, including a controversy surrounding live performances and the band’s use of substitute musicians.

This gives the drama another storyline beyond Han-gyeol and So-rim’s relationship.

Joy’s Music Is Part of the Drama

Joy, who makes her acting debut as So-rim, also performs several songs for the drama.

One of the notable tracks is “Yeowooya,” a cover of The Classic’s 1995 song. The song is performed by So-rim and was released as part of the drama’s soundtrack.

Joy also performs “I’m OK” with Lee Hyun-woo, who plays Han-gyeol. The soundtrack gives the two characters another way to express their relationship as the story develops.

The music is closely tied to So-rim’s character and her development as a singer, making the OST an important part of the series.

Based on a Japanese Manga

The Liar and His Lover is based on Kotomi Aoki’s manga Kanojo wa Uso o Aishisugiteru.

The manga began publication in 2009 and was previously adapted into a Japanese live-action film in 2013. The Korean drama brings the story into the Korean music industry while keeping the central relationship between a secretive musician and a young singer.

16 Episodes of Romance and Music

The Liar and His Lover originally aired in 2017 and has 16 episodes. Amasian TV currently lists all 16 episodes with English captions.

The cast includes Lee Hyun-woo, Joy, Song Kang, Sung Joo, Lee Jung-jin, Choi Min-soo, and Jang Ki-yong.

For viewers interested in K-dramas about music, the series brings together romance, songwriting, idol groups, and the work that happens behind a stage performance.

Watch The Liar and His Lover

The Liar and His Lover follows Han-gyeol and So-rim as their relationship develops alongside their growing involvement in the music ind