Reborn Rich is a really good example of people assuming romance in non-romance stories is unnecessary – when in most cases is not the romance itself that’s the issue, it’s how it’s written. 
While it’s difficult to predict how this story will end, some recent articles I’ve seen about the romantic relationship subplot between Do Jun and Min Young being unnecessary made me compelled to touch on the topic.
More and more often we’re seeing romantic plot lines in action, mystery, or any genre other than “romance”, being eliminated. And this is in part because romance in non-romance genres tends to be poorly written.
Particularly for actions or thrillers with male leads, the female romantic partner has historically been reduced to nothing more than something pretty to look at and somebody to give the hero a kiss after he saves the day.
The romances that have no major influence on the plot, the message, the character development, or the theme, are often pointless to the story. Which has led to this uprising of eliminating all romance from those genres, and condemning any story that includes it.
Action or thrillers will be praised for not having romantic subplots because most romantic subplots in actions or thrillers tend to be forced, lifeless, distracting, or are only there to check a box.
But the issue isn’t that there is romance in these other genres, the issue is how they’re written. Romances that are tacked on with no influence to the plot, or where one half of the pairing has no agency in the story, can be nails on a chalkboard to watch.
But that doesn’t mean romance in action or thriller stories as a concept is the problem. There are many movies and shows that have proven otherwise - The Mummy series and Vincenzo being great examples of how to do it successfully.
Reborn Rich as it currently sits (which at the point of writing only has 8 eps) is having a pointless romance plot line problem. Currently, nothing in the dynamic between Do Jun and Min Young has had any influence on the plot, and Min Youngs character is barely acting as a cameo.
If this same set up continues to the end, (which it doesn't appear to be the case), it will be a difficult sell to justify why this plot line is in the script at all, and most people’s arguments against it, and romance in actions/thrillers stories in general, would be valid.
However, if some changes are made then it could prove the point that romance in non-romance genres can actually be a really wonderful element to a story of a different genre. Acting as another color to the canvas that we wouldn't otherwise see.
For example, if Min Young has more agency in the narrative and her actions and choices actually change the trajectory of the plot. Or if their relationship causes Do Jun to act differently than he might have otherwise and it’s the cause of his character development.
But to say that romance in non-romance genres is unnecessary is, I think, a flawed view. When in reality it’s not the romance that people tend to hate, it’s the superfluous plot line that feels like a gecko tail stuck on the butt of a dog that people hate.
Reborn Rich is a great example of why people are wary of romance in non-romance genres, but if the writing in regards to their dynamic changes before the end, it could become a great example for why romance in non-romance genres is actually really great and should be encouraged.
The dynamic between the two has a lot of potential, and they currently act as a really great foil for one another. There is also a lot of potential for them to communicate the themes of the story to the audience and be a source of character development and emotional release.
Currently, I do agree that it’s struggling to be necessary to the story. But I hope by the end it can pull through and prove that romance in non-romance genres can be a wonderful addition.
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