The newly released JTBC K-drama Beyond The Bar (Korean title Esquire) is drawing flak after bringing in an unexpected romantic plot twist between its two main characters, even as initial teasers did not suggest workplace romance.

The series, which premiered on August 2, 2025, is still only showing a handful of episodes.

In a recent episode, Kang Hyo Min, played by former DIA member and actress Jung Chaeyeon, blushes remembering the night it rained with her boss Seok Hoon, played by Lee Jin Wook a scene some viewers assumed was the start of a "love line."

One Twitter user (then known as X) posted, "Thinking about getting wet in the rain with Seokhoon yesterday, Kang Hyomin's face is turning red? No way, this is totally... a love line... keeps planting flags...Why...?"

A second post described the scene:

"So, Kang Hyo Min is thinking about what happened in the rain yesterday. She starts blushing while remembering how Seok Hoon truly served justice, and maybe it made her heart skip a beat or whatever.

And then, after mentioning her blushing, Seok Hoon jokes that she might've caught a cold after being caught in the rain with him.

She runs off and he smirks about it. The interaction ends with her still unaware of her feelings. If this ain't the flow of a love line, then what is...?"

The scene was thought charming by some fans, though the majority were uncomfortable with the romantic coupling, citing the actual 16-year age gap between the actors.

Critics argue that the abrupt romance has been staged, with some wondering why such a shock twist was needed in a legal drama.

Comments on theqoo echoed the backlash:

"If you're going to include romance, at least make it believable. I hate it when they just shove it in there like some random kiss scene from an American TV show."

"Forget about the age gap... Literally who gets butterflies over their boss at work?"

"A 16-year age gap and you're calling it romance???"

"Wait, there was an article saying this drama had no romance, but there is romance?"

The drama was already being criticized even before Jung Chaeyeon's performance as an actress was met with mixed reactions earlier this month.

Currently, Beyond The Bar is still being broadcast on JTBC and Netflix, but the controversy surrounding its direction and the age gap romance is still a hot topic of debate among viewers.