10/10   - I recommend this wonderful drama 100% - You don't have to read all of this review to understand how good this drama is if you like this genre.
2 years after my original viewing, I happened to click on this drama again while sifting through MDL.   After a re-watch, I hopped back to my list and upgraded my rating from  7 to 8.5/10.  7? What was I thinking?  Then I had the urge to watch it again.  A few days later I watched it yet again then hopped back to MDL and upgraded my rating to 9.5/10.   A week later while browsing, I  suddenly had the urge to watch it again, then I watched it again after that.   This  weekend, after updating all the on-going dramas I've been watching,  I watched Lovers again and came back to MDL to do a whole new review and give it my final rating of 10/10 because apparently, this drama just does it for me.    It's my ideal perfect drama.  The MC pairing is so endearing and emotionally powerful they are HANDS DOWN my favorite pairing of all. This is now my #1 Drama period because of it's re-watch-ability and the OTP.

IT'S A BIRTH SECRET PLOT DONE MOB STYLE  but unlike a lot of these kinds of dramas, this one presents itself in a more down to earth and believable way.   That's what makes it so compelling.  The characters are written with maturity and we watch while every effort is made to make right choices even when they are the most difficult and heart-wrenching ones.   No matter how many times I watch it, the plot twist still manages to make me say "wow"  I may not be surprised like I was the first time I saw the drama but I'm still left shaking my head.  It's really great stuff!  Everyone plays their roll to perfection in this drama.  
THE ACTION segments are really on point as well.  Gang war/fight choreography  is fantastic quality.  The highlight for me was the land and sea battle when a rival Chinese gang captured the heroine, carrying her off in one of the  escaping motor boats and the hero dashes to her rescue.  ...Has me screaming every time!  
LOCATIONS & CINEMATOGRAPHY are simply stunning.  The way they captured a twilight ocean view from a window as our OTP finally surrender to their feelings in a tension packed hotel room scene that makes you want to peak through your fingers like a girl as you watch the sweetest most awkward romantic scene play out.  They make it seem like the pair are actually sitting outside on the beach in the dark with the blue and white foam waves rolling right to their feet even as they sit on the floor together high up in the suite.   Amazing camera work from inside that suite.
THE OST is one of the BEST  I've ever heard throughout an entire drama.  Every single vocal/Instrumental song is a perfect fit for the mood.  I think two of the songs were mainstream pop hits as well and made their way to my ipod for repeated play.  You'll definitely recognize when you hear.  

THE CAST as a team, I can't rave about enough especially LEE SEO JIN!  An actor with the ability to scream any emotion by simply being still  without saying one word.  We all get to watch as he achieves Kang-Jaes' character grown purely through his growing love for Mi-Joo, going from Mob boss-icy , unsmiling, unhappy reserve to the real hidden man of shyness, warmth and passion where every smile she wrings from him is gift to us.  Mi-Joo alone is capable of bringing out his true feelings that he hides away from everyone else.   KIM JUNG EUN's portrayal of Yoon Mi-Joo is wonderful.  Her rash, impulsive "girl-next-door"ordinary looking character is a breath of fresh air that adds brightness in an otherwise dark drama. She manages to capture a hardcore loyal, serious and gruff gang man like Kang-Jae away from beautiful Park Yu-Jin without even trying or doing anything underhanded.  Instead she was even willing to sacrifice her heart for the sake of doing what's right.   KIM KYU RI plays the soft spoken-but-not-a-door mat, pretty Park Yu-Jin, Kang-Jae's 8 year (empty relationship) steady girlfriend who does everything in her power to hold on to the man she truly loves.   I found her appropriately cloying and annoying while still finding lots of room to sympathize with her situation.  Her character was just a bit too m  Then to finish the square JUNG CHAN does an admirable job with Sae Yeon.  A spoiled mama's boy who was given the best of everything growing up except the one thing he truly pined for - his father's love and acceptance, a thing he noted was freely given to his adopted brother from the orphanage who was not even "blood!"   Jung Chan found a way to portray Sae-Yeon with dignity and class even as he pouted his way through and in his less favorable but understandable moments as he tried hard to hang on to Mi-Joo.   I can't forget A big nod to the fantastic KIM ROE HA  who played nasty baddy Chang Ba, the main antagonist who will make you grit your teeth just at the sight of him, ugh!  He was masterful at playing a cowardly but viscious and despicable greedy gangster.

It's all here.  The bad, bad guys VS. the good, bad guys.  The passionate romance, heavy on the chemistry.  Great comic relief.  The struggles of everyday living.  The fight against greed and corruption and a family legacy battle that all wraps up as it should and leaves you (with the exception of one regretful loss) very very satisfied nevertheless!
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