Review of Korean Drama “The Secret Life of My Secretary”

Introduction

If you are a fan of romantic comedy K-dramas, then “The Secret Life of My Secretary” should be at the top of your watchlist. This 2019 South Korean television series is a captivating blend of romance, mystery, and comedy that keeps viewers hooked from the very first episode until the end. Created by Park Young-soo and written by Kim Ah-jung, this drama stands out for its engaging storyline, strong character development, and stellar performances by the cast.

Plot and Characters

The series revolves around Do Min-ik, brilliantly portrayed by Kim Young-kwang, who is a demanding director at a mobile media company. After an attack leaves him with prosopagnosia or face-blindness, he must rely on his secretary, Jung Gal-hee (played by Jin Ki-joo), to navigate his professional and personal life. As they work together to uncover mysteries and secrets, their relationship evolves into a heartwarming love story.

The dynamic between Do Min-ik and Jung Gal-hee is at the core of the series, with their contrasting personalities creating compelling on-screen chemistry. Supporting characters such as Veronica Park (Kim Jae-kyung) and Ki Dae-joo (Koo Ja-sung) add depth to the narrative with their own intriguing storylines and interactions.

Themes and Impact

One of the standout features of “The Secret Life of My Secretary” is the exploration of themes such as friendship, loyalty, and the complexities of human relationships. The portrayal of face-blindness adds a unique twist to the storyline, offering a fresh perspective on the challenges faced by individuals with such conditions.

Moreover, the series successfully blends humor with heartwarming moments, creating a perfect balance that keeps viewers engaged throughout its 32 episodes. The character growth and emotional arcs of the protagonists make the narrative relatable and resonate with audiences on a deeper level.

Production and Soundtrack

The production quality of the series is top-notch, with visually appealing cinematography and well-executed direction by Lee Kwang-young. The series effectively captures the bustling yet glamorous world of a media company while also delving into the personal lives of the characters with sensitivity and nuance.

Adding to the overall viewing experience is the exceptional original soundtrack, featuring tracks by talented artists such as Peppertones, Sandeul, and Sondia. The OST perfectly complements the mood of each scene and enhances the emotional impact of pivotal moments in the series.

The Secret Life of My Secretary (Trailer 1 w/ Eng Subs)

Watch This on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCe5fBo4k4A

Conclusion

In conclusion, “The Secret Life of My Secretary” is a must-watch K-drama that ticks all the boxes for romance, comedy, and mystery enthusiasts. With a strong cast, engaging storyline, and memorable soundtrack, the series delivers a truly captivating viewing experience. Whether you are a seasoned K-drama fan or new to the genre, this series is sure to captivate your heart and leave a lasting impression.

Review by People

As overdone as secretary/assistant and boss romcoms have started to seem to me recently I decided to still give this one a try, and I’m glad I did. Along with all the usual clichés about an overworked and underappreciated secretary and a hypercritical perfectionist boss, there is an interesting twist to the story that at least makes it feel a little different from others.

I had no idea how to feel about this drama after the first episodes, but soon I found myself looking forward to the next episodes, tropes and all.

What got me looking forward to watching every episode was not the story but rather the two main characters. The best way to describe their chemistry is extremely cute, like giggling while watching cute. I think that is mainly because of Kim Young Kwang as Director Do Min-Ik.

Even at his worst behavior, there was just always something super charming, sympathetic, and cute about him, and it really is an interesting role. He is matched by Jin Ki Joo as his personal secretary Jung Gal-Hee, who despite being the kind of doormat that usually annoys me, she was also very cute in a way that made me want to root for her.

Together, their super cute chemistry kept me involved from the very beginning, and I couldn’t help but get hooked just from wanting to see them together, which never got old for me. At times the romance is super cheesy, but it’s delicious cheese in my opinion, which made me overlook a lot of the show’s other flaws.

The rest of the cast is pretty entertaining too (especially Gal-Hee’s blind brother and the campy Veronica Park), with one major exception… Koo Ja Sung as Ki Dae-Joo. I don’t know if it’s due to inexperience or not but I found Koo Ja Sung to be extremely boring to have such a major role. Many of the actors knew how to play up the comedy and the drama but he seemed one note throughout.

It was extra noticeable whenever he was in scenes with Veronica Park, who was such an over the top character, and in comparison, his character fell completely flat. There was an ambiguous nature to his character which did work for the story but he still never had much of a personality or depth in a show full of so many broad characters.

As for the story, it’s mostly everything you’ve already seen in this type of drama with a random twist that at first seemed silly but it definitely made things more interesting. I also loved the way that part of the story unfolded visually.

There is also a mystery element to this drama that was intriguing enough to make me want to know what was really going on, but it was the cheesy romance that really kept me watching. This is also a generally lighthearted story. Even though there are serious elements nothing is ever taken too seriously, even when characters are in tears or in danger.

That definitely made it hard to take this drama too seriously or expect too much from the plot. There is also dual identity part of the story that is very far-fetched but was still fun to watch. I honestly had no real complaints while watching, but the ending did feel rushed. Still, I appreciated that they didn’t add unnecessary new conflicts and rivalries to try to fill in the time, and stuck to telling one storyline without a lot of distracting sideline stories.

Would I watch this again? If I’m in the mood for a cute romcom, then yes. The cute parts are definitely rewatchable, and the short episodes are constructed well enough to not get too boring. However, I’d much rather see Kim Young Kwang cast as another male lead in a new romcom soon!

Overall I recommend this drama even though it’s not joining my official list of favorites. It’s more like a guilty pleasure drama. I think the key to enjoying it is to not expect too much or overanalyze the plot. There is also a reoccurring theme about what’s really important in life and relationships that I liked. This drama may not have been what I expected at first sight, but I’m definitely glad I kept watching.

So what does this drama have to offer? Well, it does give a new perspective on face blindness as an illness which is never seen in dramas before. The main leads have a great chemistry that I really enjoy watching, as well as the second leads chemistry which rarely happens in dramas. Every osts fits very well to specific scenes shown with music and it’s enjoyable to listen to. There is comedy in this drama but I would say it’s mostly because of a certain secondary character was why I laughed a lot.

Here are the issues I have with this drama. The relationship between Min-Ik and his adoptive mom seem fake towards the end. All of the sudden this 180 degree change? Never throughout this drama do you see a character progression in his adoptive mom so this wasn’t believable. It was monkey wrench threw in by the writers to not make her look like an evil witch. As much as I like the main leads when they’re together, they’re pretty stupid.

I don’t usually mind when either the male or female lead is a bit dumb but when you have both at the same time, it can get pretty annoying and frustrating. So many hints and clues reveal in this drama to the main lead characters but yet the writer makes the leads brush over it like it was nothing or being not smart about it. The acting is just okay overall.

There are some scenes where the characters shine but a lot of times, it’s just cringy to watch and hear that “awesome” word. A lot of filler episodes that dragged the progression of the plot. The ending did felt rushed but at the same time, the last 2 weeks of episodes were a bit boring to me.

Overall, you will get a good share of comedy and romance since the chemistry with the main & secondary leads are on point. It’s just that the plot & the progression of the plot wasn’t handle well in my opinion.

Just fluff with a side of drama

Damn this drama was easy to watch! It’s been so long since I’ve gotten to enjoy a fluffy romance!

Before watching this, I had no idea that face blindness was an actual thing so I wasn’t super keen on a make-believe illness. However, by being assured it is a real thing, I was more open-minded whilst watching knowing that Min-ik’s situation could actually happen to someone.

I really liked all of the main characters. Gal-hee – what wouldn’t she do for you!? She was so kind, caring and understanding, and the way she carried around that duffel bag 😭 BUT, I cannot excuse the whole lying to her boss thing. I mean, one time, okay that’s a joke, but to keep it going?

That’s just so much effort and makes the let-down so much worse! Obviously this show had to have some ‘drama’ and that was going to be part of it, and the audience is made to question her morals. Thankfully it didn’t take too long for the dust to settle and for Min-ik to trust her again so we got to enjoy some good fluff towards the end.

Having understood the realistic situation of face-blindness, I really felt for Min-ik’s character in the moment when he realised what Gal-hee had done. In the beginning I wasn’t entirely sure if I liked how he treated Jung Gal-hee/Veronica Park. I understand that one was in a working relationship and the other was personal, but something didn’t sit quite right, and it made me question how/why Jung Gal-hee could become attracted to Min-ik knowing just how differently he could treat two women depending on his relationship with them.

Even if Min-ik wasn’t face blind, I could see how he might get confused. At first glance Gal-hee really does look different.

I quite liked Veronica Park’s character – normally I would get annoyed and irritated by a character like hers but she was just so ridiculously funny and also kind of cute in a way. I feel like her relationship with Dae-ju humbled her a bit, and definitely towards the end she did feel humbled exclaiming that she felt like Gal-hee’s minion 🤣

The driver – omg, in the last episode I felt so bad for him! 😭 The whole situation with Eul-wang and her secret organisation she created was so suss, but once brought to light made sense. It’s a controversial topic though – a bit like Robin Hood – stealing from the rich and giving to the poor.

The comedic relief in this drama was far more than I was expecting. There were so many funny moments that made me LOL e.g. when Min-ik was putting on/taking off the compression stockings 🤣

One of my favourite swoon moments was when Min-ik and Gal-hee were on the beach and he got the call that he wasn’t being dismissed and she hugged him, and then HE pulled her back in for a hug – first time I swooned!

There is so much more I could say about this drama!

I would definitely recommend this to anyone who wants to switch off and enjoy some light-hearted fluffiness!

-E