First Impressions: "Motel California" Is A Story About Body Image & Self-Love

After captivating K-drama viewers with their respective performances in “What Comes After Love” and “Marry My Husband” last year, Lee Se Young and Na In Woo now share the screen in the Friday-Saturday MBC romance drama “Motel California.” Based on the novel “Home, Bitter Home” by Shim Yun Seo, “Motel California” tells the bittersweet story of a woman who leaves her home for Seoul to find herself, only to return 10 years later and discover she’s right back where she started.

Warning: spoilers for episodes 1-2 ahead!

The opening scene of “Motel California” sets the stage for our female lead Ji Kang Hee (Lee Se Young). In a flashback, we see a young Kang Hee (played by Oh Eun Seo) standing in a forest, staring up at the gloomy gray sky as children around her chant, “She’s a mutt,” over and over like a curse. The camera pans to reveal her front profile, explaining the reason behind the scrutiny; Kang Hee, though surrounded by a small group of friends, stands out with her freckles, curly hair, and distinctive eye color, all evidence of her biracial identity.

While media often highlights racism, it’s rare for K-dramas to explore bigotry experienced by biracial main characters. The story and dialogue perfectly address the body image issues stemming from childhood racism, while the casting choice for Kang Hee adds a compelling layer. Instead of casting someone conventionally unattractive to illustrate body image struggles, the show subverts expectations with Lee Se Young’s striking beauty. Her freckles and wavy hair enhance her appearance rather than detract from it.

Yet Kang Hee’s deep-seated insecurities are evident. She’s so self-conscious that she won’t let Cheon Yeon Soo (Na In Woo) see her naked with his glasses on, despite having been intimate with each other. This highlights how body image issues often stem less from appearance and more from the psychological scars inflicted by others’ judgments.

The drama also examines the paradox of self-perception. As said before, after an intimate encounter, Kang Hee insists Yeon Soo not put on his glasses until she’s dressed, revealing her own vulnerabilities. However, just moments after that, she tells Yeon Soo, “Don’t lose weight, don’t take off your glasses in front of others, don’t smile with your eyes either,” affirming that she loves him exactly as he is.

After their shared intimate moment where Kang Hee tells Yeon Soo she wants to be his first, it’s clear she loves him. While he remains somewhat oblivious, Kang Hee is aware of her feelings for him. Yet, she leaves for Seoul, vowing never to return to her hometown. Unfortunately, the Seoul she dreamed of doesn’t welcome her as she’d hoped.

10 years later, she works in construction as a laborer, where she faces sexism instead of racism this time. Even though Kang Hee has earned an interior design degree, she struggles to find work due to not being an alumna of a prestigious university. Despite a strong portfolio, job applications go unanswered. Even when she lands a role at a top interior design firm, she’s not taken seriously because of not graduating from a well-known university.

One standout aspect of “Motel California” is its unconventional main couple, who defy gender stereotypes—a recurring trend in K-dramas, as seen in “Brewing Love” last year and “Love Scout” this January. Yeon Soo, once a chubby, bullied child, was often saved by Kang Hee. In the present, he’s a veterinary student who defends himself when needed but retains a tender heart, finding joy in helping animals. Meanwhile, Kang Hee is bold and outspoken, unafraid to speak her mind, the complete opposite of Yeon Soo.

The undeniable love between Kang Hee and Yeon Soo makes it easy to root for them. The premiere episodes reveal that Yeon Soo has been traveling to Seoul every week for almost a decade in search of Kang Hee. Meanwhile, Kang Hee imagines and talks to him whenever she feels lonely. She even daydreams about their marriage after seeing him for the first time in years.

Despite being only two episodes in, “Motel California” is shaping up to be a potential classic in K-drama history. Its breathtaking cinematography turns every scene into a work of art. However, one thing that keeps viewers on edge is Yeon Soo’s misunderstanding that Kang Hee loves Geum Seok Gyeong (Kim Tae Hyeong). The question remains: how long will this misunderstanding last before Yeon Soo realizes Kang Hee’s true feelings?

Start watching “Motel California”:

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Javeria is a binge-watching specialist who loves devouring entire K-dramas in one sitting. Good screenwriting, beautiful cinematography, and a lack of cliches are the way to her heart. As a music fanatic, she listens to multiple artists across different genres and stans the self-producing idol group SEVENTEEN. You can talk to her on Instagram @javeriayousufs.

Currently watching: “Namib,” “Love Scout,” “Motel California,” and “Doom At Your Service.”
Looking forward to: “Reborn” and “Weak Hero Class 2.”