K-Drama Flashback: ‘What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim’

The indisputable charm of What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim‘s (2018) lead characters is a major contributing factor to its phenomenal popularity. With their impressive stagings, Park Seo-joon and Park Min-young flesh out the characters. Their rapport on screen grows too inescapable to do away with, drawing one deeper into the enthralling scenario. That said, the fact that the characters have multiple dimensions is what sets them apart. They are complex, multilayered, and adeptly built, not merely flat stereotypes.

What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim steps in a different direction amid a sea of K-dramas, which often utilize clichés and formulaic plot lines. The quirky relationship between the handsome Lee Young-joon (Park Seo-joon), a conceited vice chairman of a major business, and his right hand, the highly competent Kim Mi-so (Park Min-young), his longtime secretary who abruptly decides to quit for self-care, is the beating heart of the story.

Overwhelmed by the abrupt shift in circumstances, Young-joon makes every effort to convince her to stay. Gradually, the two fall in love, and their love grows when Mi-so uncovers that Young-joon suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and has been a part of her childhood.

The drama’s attention to detail is an asset to its efficacy. It is sophisticated and chic, from the well-thought-out sets to the selected costumes. The opulent workspace and chic styling make for an exquisite visual backdrop for the plot as it develops. We get caught from the opening hour onwards through an immersive experience built around top-notch visuals, portrayals, and storytelling.

What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim is still not without its flaws, no matter its renown. Character development is, in my opinion, one place where the drama falls somewhat short. The secondary cast of the show suffers from a lack of nuance and growth, unlike the dynamic leads. For example, Kim Ji-ah, Young-joon’s rookie secretary, who’s being trained to succeed Mi-so, appears as a potential cause of intrigue and tension. Yet she doesn’t evolve across the series and serves as a plot device only.

The plot’s progressive pace also draws criticism. It drags at points; certain parts seem to go by more slowly than others. This erratic pacing throws off the drama’s flow. Even though you’ll find satisfying surprises in certain episodes, others seem to go in circles.

Plus, to keep up the suspense, the drama periodically turns to recurring story elements like misinterpretations and misunderstandings involving the main characters. When used excessively in the narrative, such elements become contrived and cliched, even if they may be effective in moderation. This reliance on formulaic storytelling techniques undermines the drama’s potential for originality and innovation.

Nonetheless, the gorgeous leads, their witty banter, and the sensual atmosphere of What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim suffice to enthrall us. One cannot help but be engrossed in Secretary Kim and her boss’s infectious chemistry and their passionate romance.

In striking an equilibrium between humor and emotion, it well captures the complexity of relationships at work. Beyond the surface level of office romance, What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim probes the subtleties of power dynamics in a corporate setting. It underscores the issues and ambitions of employees on different rungs while digging into the specifics of hierarchies. How it shows the power disputes and internal politics that most often exist behind the scenes gives the drama more meaning and credibility.

What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim has, I think, made a major mark on the K-drama scene. It affected upcoming dramas, encouraging creators to try out more novel themes and characters and laying the groundwork for a surge of office romance projects, many of which attempted to adopt its winning formula.

What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim appeals to viewers from all walks of life—through its relatable themes, engaging narration, and catharsis—transcending cultural boundaries and cementing itself as a classic K-drama.

Whether you like romantic comedies or simply want to catch a good drama, What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim is a fun but quite meaningful trip.