Kim Chiu and Paulo Avelino may be involved in an office romance in the Philippine adaptation of What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim? but it looks like they won’t be dating IRL anytime soon.

In the show, Kim will act as Secretary Kim. She will catch his boss, Brandon Manansala’s (Paulo) attention when she decides to resign from her work as his secretary. Brandon’s curiosity about why Secretary Kim is leaving will then lead to the couple falling in love.

During their project’s press conference on March 9, 2024, Paulo acknowledged that falling in love with your workmate is not impossible. But he noted that as for him, he has always preferred to be professional at work.

“It is always to be professional. I know in some cases, you can’t help but fall in love with someone in your workplace. But maybe, just choose an appropriate setting. But for me, I always want to be professional,” Paulo explained during the press conference.

The same goes for Kim: She stressed that the job is more important to her. She declared that she would never let personal matters like romance distract her from doing her best at work.

“Hindi maiwasan ganon, lalo na kung magkakilala kayo, ilang oras sa isang araw siya lang kausap mo. Pero mas importante siguro mas maayos trabaho kaysa personal na buhay mo. Siguro mag-suffer work… baka hindi ka makapag-concentrate sa work. Mas priority ‘yung trabaho,” Kim added.

Kim’s statement also comes months after her breakup with boyfriend Xian Lim, whom she met through work. They were together for 12 years.

Kim Chiu and Paulo Avelino’s work relationship

Despite their thoughts on workplace romance, Kim and Paulo connect well, especially at work.

Paulo boldly praised Kim, declaring how wonderful it was to have worked with the actress. He told everyone at the press conference how much he respected and loved working with Kim.

“I think everything is going well with her. It is just one aspect but everything is going well for her. I think she knows. She just has to be more positive. I don’t see anything wrong with Kim… She is beautiful, she has a wonderful and beautiful career as well,” Paulo said.

Before teaming up for the K-drama remake, Kim and Paulo worked together as leads in the teleserye Linlang. Their show received good reviews because of the intense confrontation scenes and interesting takes on its perplexing story.

Kim also revealed during the press conference that Paulo is portraying an entirely different character from his Linlang role. Gearing away from the serious and melodramatic roles, Paulo is set to give us a narcissistic yet funny and romantic character in ‘What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim?’

“He is very professional and funny now. What’s right about Paulo is [him] being himself. And that is what makes him right [for the role], Kim noted.

Paulo Avelino admits Kim Chiu made him accept his new role

This is the first time Paulo will play a funny character and top-bill a local adaptation of a K-drama series. So why did he accept his role in What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim?

“I think if it was offered to me and if it wasn’t Kim, I would probably have second thoughts,” he first said. Paulo believed that accepting the project was his way of giving back to Kim who was dedicated and hardworking during their Linlang stint.

“Siguro ano, itong Secretary Kim. Dahil sa pagmamahal ko bilang ka-trabaho ka, at sa trabahong ibinigay mo sa Linlang so, pang-bawi sayo. So I’m here at Secretary Kim to give back.”

Joining Kim and Paulo as cast are Jake Cuenca, Janice De Belen, Angeline Quinto, Pepe Herrera, Kaori Onuma, Gillian Vicencio, and many more. What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim? will be aired on March 18, 2024, exclusively on Viu Philippines.