My Demon

Do Do-hee (Kim Yoo-jung) is a young heiress with a cold and determined personality who became CEO of Mirae F&B after losing her parents when she was a child. Adopted by Joo Cheon-sook (Kim Hae-sook), chairwoman of the powerful Mirae Group, she finds herself caught up in a family where rivalries over the inheritance make her a target. Her life is turned upside down when she meets Jeong Gu-won (Song Kang), a 200-year-old demon who maintains his immortality by making deals with desperate humans in exchange for their souls. Following a mysterious accident, Gu-won suddenly loses his powers, and the tattoo that is the source of those powers is transferred to Do-hee’s wrist. Now dependent on her to use his supernatural abilities, he is forced to stay by her side.

As Do-hee becomes the target of a series of threats linked to the Mirae Group, the two reach an contract marriage which is meant to serve their respective interests. Their alliance of convenience gradually turns into a true love story, but their relationship turns out to be deeply intertwined with a tragic past dating back to the Joseon era, when their fates had already crossed under the identities of Wolsim (Kim Yoo-jung) and Seo Yi-sun (Song Kang). Amid a battle over an inheritance, murders, supernatural powers, and past lives, the couple must uncover the origin of their connection and determine how far each is willing to go to protect the other.

Impact and Success

My Demon has had a rather mixed reception, ranging from its South Korean TV ratings to its significant international success. On SBS, the series averaged a national rating of 3.9 %, with a high of 4.7 % and a low of 2.9 %; its final episode drew 3.5 % of viewers.

Its impact was significantly greater in streaming: My Demon reached the No. 2 on Netflix's global ranking of non-English-language series, thanks in large part to the international popularity of Song Kang and Kim Yoo-jung. The press has also frequently highlighted the chemistry between the lead couple; ; The Straits Times gave it 4 out of 5 stars, praising in particular the cast and the way the plot unfolded. The series was also particularly popular with Asian audiences and remained among the most-searched-for programs on Google in the Philippines in 2024.

At the 2023 SBS Drama Awards, Song Kang and Kim Yoo-jung won the Top Excellence Awards for Male and Female Lead, respectively, in the romance/comedy category, as well as the Best Couple Award. Seo Jeong-yeon and Jeong Soon-won also won the awards for Best Supporting Actor and Actress.

Despite relatively modest domestic viewership, My Demon It has thus established itself as one of the most internationally recognized Korean fantasy romances of the 2023–2024 season, driven in particular by its aesthetic, its lead couple, and its blend of contractual romance and fantasy.