This drama is a cute, innocent love story between Louie, a naïve chaebol who loses his memory after an accident, and Go Bok-sil, a warm-hearted country girl who tries to find her brother. Both meet in Seoul, not knowing how to navigate through city life. Bok-sil takes care of Louie after she founds him on the streets with her brother's clothes on and not having any memory about who he is. Although he seems to exploit her, as she goes to work, and he doesn't do anything else than spending her money because habits survive amnesia, it's clear from the beginning that both characters have very warm, loving personalities. Whenever he can, Louie gives a thousand times back, and the way they care for each other is just cute and heart-warming.
I really enjoyed this light-hearted romance with non-toxic main characters. They act so loving around each other that you totally believe being with each other just gives them happiness. They don't try to hide their feelings or play games or whatever characters do in dramaland to drag the story. In the second half, I felt Go Bok-sil acted a bit out of character for a while, overall, the writers kind of loose focus on her and concentrated more on Louie. Her character and story could have been integrated better into the main plot in the last few episodes, and, besides being cute together, the two main leads need some deeper conversations to show their relationship has more to it. Still, I enjoyed them together, and apart from the always present jealousy in K-Dramas, their relationship felt honest and genuine. From all the K-Dramas I've seen so far, it's the first one were the main characters don't get drunk.
I didn't care much for most of the side characters. Even the second leads aren't that deeply developed. Yoon Sang-hyun does a great job in portraying Cha Joong-won as the second male lead and boss of Go Bok-sil, but, apart from his rude behavior, he felt annoying over time. I'm sorry but I can't root for a man around his forties falling for a twenty-year-old girl who doesn't have any feelings for him, and I think it would have been so much better and meaningful portraying him as a fatherly figure rather than a second love interest. His interfering with Bok-sil's and Louie's relationship is cringe and overstepping, but at least it creates some funny scenes.
Overall, "Shopping King Louie" is a light watch with two very warm and giving main leads, lots of cute moments and a few sadder ones as well. Still, the plot never feels dark, so it's perfect for a rainy weekend when you need something to lift you up.
