Korean Drama: Penthouse 1, 2 & 3

 
Year Released

2020 - 2021 (season 1), 2021 (season 2 & 3)

Genre

Family, Melodrama, Mystery

No. of Episodes

21 - running time of 1 hour 25 minutes per episode (season 1), 13 (season 2) & 14 (season 3) - running time of 1 hour 15 minutes per episode 

Starring

Uhm Ki-joon, Kim So-yeon, Eugene, Lee Ji-ah, Yoon Jong-hoon, Bong Tae-kyu, Shin Eun-kyung, Park Eun-seok

Storyline

Soprano Cheon Seo-jin (Kim So-yeon) dreams to be the successor of her father's Cheong Ah Foundation and Cheong Ah Art School. Pinning her hopes onto her own daughter, Ha Eun-byul (Choi Ye-bin), Seo-jin forces Eun-byul to win against her peers especially Joo Dan-tae's (Uhm Ki-joon) daughter, Joo Seok-kyung (Han Ji-hyun).

Seo-jin's world collapses when Oh Yoon-hee (Eugene) and her daughter Bae Ro-na (Kim Hyun-soo) appear in her life. Both Seo-jin and Yoon-hee had extremely bad past together back when they were in high school. Seo-jin snatched away Yoon-hee's title to be South Korea's best soprano as well as her then-boyfriend, Ha Yoon-chul (Yoon Jong-hoon).

At the same time, Seo-jin is jealous of Joo Dan-tae's wife, Shim Soo-ryun's (Lee Ji-ah) luxurious life as the Penthouse's owner at Hera Palace, the richest property in South Korea. Wanted to be the next owner, she had an affair with Dan-tae. Their affair was accidentally found out by Min Seol-a (Jo Soo-min). 

Soo-ryun happens to find out her real daughter that she had with her dead ex-husband was Seol-a. However, before Soo-ryun could reunite with her, Seol-a fell to her death at Hera Palace. Soo-ryun vows to search for Seol-a's murderer and little did she know every member of Hera Club seems to be involved in this crime.

My View

Initially, I wanted to write the storyline of all three seasons but I realise I would have provided the entire spoiler. Anyway, first season was acceptable all good. Then come second season, I was totally mind blown at some point. During the finale season, I became very angsty and cried so much towards the end. All I could say is the scripwriter is pretty creative and dramatic.

Rating

5/5 Stars

Korean Drama: The Ghost Detective

Year Released

2018

Genre

Horror, Mystery

No. of Episodes

32 - running time of 35 minutes per episode

Starring

Choi Daniel, Park Eun-bin, Lee Ji-ah

Storyline

Lee Da-il (Choi Daniel) and Jung Yeo-wool (Park Eun-bin) have a common goal that is to look for the ghost who killed Da-il's mother and Yeo-wool's younger sister. Seon Woo-hye (Lee Ji-ah) had a bad childhood and died after her suicide. 

Woo-hye uses the selfishness in humans to make them turn against themselves. Da-il eventually makes her realise her wrong perception.

My View

Plot is all good with a litte twist here and there but in the middle it starts to get kind of boring. But the ending is overall not too bad so I have decided to rate a 4 instead of 3.

Rating

4/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Graceful Friends

Year Released

2020

Genre

Family, Mystery

No. of Episodes

17 - running time of 70 minutes per episode

Starring

Yoo Joon-sang, Song Yoon-ah, Bae Soo-bin, Han Da-gam, Kim Sung-oh, Kim Hye-eun, Jung Suk-yong, Lee In-hye

Storyline

Plot revolves around a group of university mates who are there for each other even if it means to cover up for murder. Their relationship seems to be going strong but some of them have past unspeakble secrets. Due to jealousy, one started to plan the unthinkable.

My View

Not too bad a drama and I enjoy watching with all these veteran artistes. Hope to watch more of such genre.

Rating

4/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Watcher

Year Released 

2019

Genre

Crime, Mystery

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 65 minutes per episode

Starring

Han Seok-kyu, Seo Kang-joon, Kim Hyun-joo

Storyline

Detective Do Chi-kwang's (Han Seok-kyu) goal is to watch over other bad police officers and catch them. Kim Young-goon (Seo Kang-joon) joins Chi-kwang's team to find out his mother's murderer from fifteen years ago. Though his father, former detective Kim Jae-myung (Ahn Kil-kang) was imprisoned for being the murderer, Young-goon is still doubful about the truth.

Former prosecutor and now lawyer Han Tae-joo (Kim Hyun-joo) is determined to get her revenge when she was being attacked during her re-investigation about Young-goon mother's murder case. The trio work as a team to locate actual killer and a ledger about bad deeds of high-ranking police officers and prosecutors.

My View

Though the plot moves on steadily slow, I don't find it boring at all. The drama is so confusing that I don't even know what the confusion was. This makes me even more curious to find out what's next.

Watcher is well-written and you will definitely miss out the gist of it if you fast-forward a little. 

Rating

4/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Reset

Year Released

2014

Genre

Mystery

No. of Episodes

10 - running time of 60 minutes per episode

Starring

Chun Jung-myung, Kim So-hyun

Storyline

Prosecutor Cha Woo-jin (Chun Jung-myung) has been trying to unlock his forgotten memories about a girl Seung-hee (Kim So-hyun) who was murdered fifteen years ago. Fast forward to present day, Woo-jin's memory is being triggered when he meets Jo Eun-bi who resembles exactly like Seung-hee. To make matters worse, Woo-jin vaguely recalls himself shooting Eun-bi's father, Jo Bong-hak (Jang Hyuk-jin).

My View

Story was pretty good at the start but towards the ending was kind of repetitive. I was totally not paying attention during some of the scenes. 

Rating

3/5 Stars

Korean Drama : The Village: Achiara's Secret

Year Released

2015

Genre

Mystery

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 65 minutes per episode

Starring

Shin Eun-kyung, Jang Hee-jin, Moon Geun-young, Yook Sung-jae

Storyline

Han So-yoon (Moon Geun-young) has been staying with her grandmother in Canada. After her grandmother passes away, So-yoon discovers a letter sent from her hometown Achiara's village in South Korea. The content is about an old newspaper article of her family's car accident during her childhood days.

This letter prompts So-yoon to return to Korea in search of her relative. So-yoon is hired as an English teacher of a middle school. During an outing, she accidentally falls down a slope and finds a corpse. While So-yoon works with police officer Park Woo-jae (Yook Sung-jae) on clues of the corpse's identity, it turns out to be her older sister. So-yoon's late sister has changed her name to Kim Hye-jin (Jang Hee-jin). 

So-yoon uncovers more secrets about Hye-jin's death which are entangled with Assemblyman Seo Chang-gwon's (Jung Sung-mo) wife, Yoon Ji-sook (Shin Eun-kyung).

My View

This drama has quite a number of twists which I like. As it is amazing, I have decided not to write any spoiler here. All I could say is every character plays a part with secrets to hide. Things are not what it seems to be.

Special mention about Shin Eun-kyung because of her superb acting in this show. I did not really like her when she is in The Last Empress but she shines very brightly here. *Applause*

Rating

4/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Awaken

Year Released

2020 - 2021

Genre

Mystery, Thriller

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 70 minutes per episode

Starring

Namkoong Min, Kim Seol-hyun, Lee Chung-ah, Yoon Sun-woo

Storyline

Team leader Do Jung-woo (Namkoong Min) heads the special team of Seoul Metropolitan Police agency together with inspector Gong Hye-won (Kim Seol-hyun). 

FBI investigator Jamie Leighton (Lee Chung-ah) has been invited to join special team as well. They are trying to track down serial killer Moon Jae-woong (Yoon Sun-woo) who has been making the victims commit suicide by having lucid dreams.

All of the victims play a part supporting a foundation in experimenting serum of immortality. They use young children below 14 years old as test subjects at White Night Village. 

However, a tragedy happened one night where everyone killed each other in the village. A few children manage to escape and survive until they are adults. Now they are plotting revenge against those evil scientists and members of White Night foundation.

My View

The idea of killing people by making them have lucid dreams is somewhat creative to me. It's like one is unable to differentiate between reality or fantasy.

Rating 

5/5 Stars

 

Korean Drama : Special Affairs Team TEN 1 & 2

Year Released

2011 - 2012 (season 1), 2013 (season 2)

Genre

Crime, Mystery

No. of Episodes

9 - running time of 72 minutes per episode (season 1), 12 - running time of 74 minutes per episode (season 2)

Starring

Joo Sang-wook, Kim Sang-ho, Choi Woo-shik, Jo An

Storyline

Yeo Ji-hoon (Joo Sang-wook) starts a "Special Affairs Team TEN" to deal with difficult crime cases. Ji-hoon was a former ace detective but quitted his job to be a police academy professor.

However, he returns as a detective again when a serial killer (who killed his wife) whom he was unable to catch, re-appears suddenly. To understand the criminal's thoughts, Ji-hoon becomes "the monster who catches monsters".

Ji-hoon recruits Nam Ye-ri (Jo An) a profiling specialist, Baek Do-shik (Kim Sang-ho), a veteran cop whose nickname is "venomous snake" and Park Min-ho (Choi Woo-shik), a rookie who is often lucky in finding clues to crimes.

My View

There are a mixture of simple, straightforward crimes and complicated ones. 

Sad to say, until the last episode of season 2, I'm still clueless as to who is that "F" serial killer. 

The whole Min-ho kidnapping saga involving detectives and higher police force makes me confused as well.

I seriously feel like rating a 3 but I'm giving it a 4 because of all those great cases.

Rating

4/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Children of Nobody

Alternative Title

Red Moon Blue Sun

Year Released

2018 - 2019

Genre

Mystery, Thriller

No. of Episodes

32 -  running time of 30 minutes per episode

Starring

Kim Sun-a, Lee Yi-kyung, N, Joo Suk-tae

Storyline

Child counselor Cha Woo-kyung's (Kim Sun-a) life seems perfect until a little girl whom she doesn't know has been appearing in her subconcious mind. From then on, her life starts getting from bad to worse. 

Her husband has an affair, her second child is stillborn and she accidentally knocked a child down which ended up killing him.

Detective Kang Ji-hyun (Lee Yi-kyung) is someone who believes that every life matters be it a criminal or civilian. He crosses path with Woo-kyung when he is investigating some murder cases connecting to child abuse.

My View

I have not watched such an awesome thriller drama in a long time. 

For the first four episodes, my heart was racing as everything seemed spooky and mysterious. At the end of the first episode when Woo-kyung completed the poem, my heart skipped a beat.

Throughout the entire show, I just cannot wait to find out what's next. The plot is too good that I'm unable to write any spoilers. Lol..

Rating 

5/5 Stars

 

Korean Drama : Who Are You: School 2015

Year Released

2015

Genre

School, Teen, Mystery

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 60 minutes per episode

Starring

Kim So-hyun, Nam Joo-hyuk, Yook Sung-jae

Storyline

Go Eun-byul and Lee Eun-bi (Kim So-hyun) are identical twins, separated after one is adopted at the age of 5. Eun-bi lives at the Love House, an orphanage in Tongyeong. She is always being bullied at school by a gang of mean girls led by Kang So-young (Cho Soo-hyang), while teachers turn a blind eye.

On the other hand, Go Eun-byul is studying at Sekang High School, the most prestigious private high school in Seoul. Only Eun-byul is aware of the other's existence. Unlike the cheerful Eun-bi, Eun-byul is prickly and secretive. 

One day, Eun-bi decides to end her life due to constant bullying but is saved by Eun-byul. Eun-byul then goes missing and her adoptive mother Song Mi-kyung (Jeon Mi-seon) mistakes Eun-bi as Eun-byul.

Eun-bi starts attending school in Eun-byul's place but So-young transfers to Sekang High shortly after. Their family has to move to Seoul as So-young is being accused of causing Eun-bi's death back in Tongyeong. An astonished So-young meets Eun-bi and she starts to investigate on her real identity.

My View

I guess school bullying is one of the most problematic issues in society these days.

So much so that the media is constantly focusing on this topic and turning it into dramas.

Rating

4/5 Stars

Korean Drama : VIP

Year Released

2019

Genre

Mystery

No. of Episodes

32 - running time of 30 minutes per episode

Starring

Jang Na-ra, Lee Sang-yoon, Lee Chung-ah, Kwak Sun-young, Pyo Ye-jin, Shin Jae-ha

Storyline

The story revolves around Sung Un Department Store's VIP team. Team leader Park Seong-joon (Lee Sang-yoon), Na Jeong-seon (Jang Na-ra), section chief Lee Hyeon-ah (Lee Chung-ah), Song Mi-na (Kwak Sun-young), On Yoo-ri (Pyo Ye-jin) and new member Ma Sang-woo (Shin Jae-ha).

One day, Jeong-seon receives an anonymous text message about her husband Seong-joon's affair with one of the VIP team's colleagues.

My View

I have not seen World of the Married yet and I know it is more of a higher scale in terms of love affairs thingy.

But for now I think VIP is so exciting that I don't even dare to look at the spoilers. 

Rating

5/5 Stars

Korean Drama : The Last Empress

Alternative Title

Empress' Dignity

Year Released

2018 - 2019

Genre

Mystery, Action

No. of Episodes

52 - running time of 35 minutes per episode

Starring

Jang Na-ra, Choi Jin-hyuk, Shin Sung-rok, Lee Elijah, Shin Eun-kyung

Storyline

Oh Sunny (Jang Na-ra) is a musical actress who marries Emperor Lee Hyuk (Shin Sung-rok) of the Korean Empire. Hyuk has an affair with Imperial head secretary Min Yoo-ra (Lee Elijah).

In order to seek revenge on his mother's death, Na Wang-sik (Choi Jin-hyuk) changes his identity to Chun Woo-bin. He then becomes Hyuk's most trusted imperial bodyguard. 

Sunny is involved in an investigation about the death of Grand Empress Dowager Jo (Park Won-sook).

My View

The story has a number of twists and turns.

A not too bad drama.

Rating

3/5 Stars

 

Korean Drama : She Knows Everything

Year Released

2020

Genre

Mystery, Crime

No. of Episodes 

4 - running time of 70 minutes per episode

Starring

Kang Sung-yun, Jo Han-sun

Storyline

It all started with a murder case at an apartment complex which is about to go under re-construction. Lee Goong-bok (Kang Sung-yun) where everyone calls her Miss Lee is a real estate agent who is in charge of the apartments there.

In Cheol-ho is a veteran detective in charge of the homicide case.

My View

Quite a few twists in this story and things really not as what it seems to be.

A good watch as well since it is only 4 episodes.

Rating 

4/5 Stars

 

Korean Drama : My Secret Hotel

Year Released

2014

Genre

Romance, Mystery

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of about 63 minutes per episode

Starring

Jin Yi-han, Namkoong Min, Yoo In-na

Storyline

Nam Sang-hyo (Yoo In-na) is the head of the wedding planning division of The Secret Hotel. One day, she faces a biggest challenge of her job when her client turns out to be her ex-husband, Gu Hae-young (Jin Yi-han).

The couple were once madly in love but their marriage was short-lived. They were unaware that their misunderstanding was caused by Hae-young's stalker, Joo Jung-eun (Hwang So-hee).

On the day of Hae-young's wedding, hotel employee Hwang Dong-bae (Kim Byung-choon) falls to his death from the ceiling in the wedding hall. While Hae-young and Sang-hyo come together to investigate the murder, they realise they still have feelings for each other.

At the same time, Sang-hyo is being pursued by her new boss Jo Sung-gyeom (Namkoong Min). Hae-young competes with Sung-gyeom to win back Sang-hyo's heart.

My View

Not bad a watch this drama.

A romance genre with some mystery twist to it.

Rating

3/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Let's Fight, Ghost

Alternative Title

Bring It On, Ghost

Year Released

2016

Genre

Horror, Mystery

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 60 minutes per episode

Starring

Ok Taec-yeon, Kwon Yul, Kim So-hyun

Storyline

Park Bong-pal (Ok Taec-yeon) is able to see ghosts and he uses his ability to work as an exorcist. At a haunted high school, he encounters Kim Hyun-ji (Kim So-hyun) who is a high school student ghost.

Hyun-ji has no memories on her former life. In order to be freed from wandering endlessly on earth, she convinces Bong-pal to let her stay in his house. The two become ghosts fighting partners.

However, both of them are unaware that they are being stalked by an evil spirit that was the cause of Hyun-ji's accident and Bong-pal's ability to see ghosts.

My View

When the part where Kwon Yul is revealed to be an evil spirit, I really thought I died right then.

Had goosebumps all over, he is terribly spooky!

Rating

5/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Graceful Family

Year Released

2019

Genre

Family, Mystery

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 80 minutes per episode

Starring

Im Soo-hyang, Lee Jang-woo, Bae Jong-ok

Storyline

Mo Seok-hee (Im Soo-hyang) is the only daughter of MC Group which is founded by her grandfather Mo Wang-pyo (Jun Gook-hwan). He is the major shareholder of MC and Seok-hee's father, Mo Cheol-hee (Jung Won-joong) is the President.

When Seok-hee was still a teenage girl, she was forced by her father to move to the United States after her mother was murdered. Fast forward to 15 years later, Seok-hee returns back to Korea upon learning that her grandfather is in coma.

Heo Yoon-do (Lee Jang-woo) is a lawyer who helps the residents of his neighbourhood. He has a makeshift office at his adoptive father's restaurant. When Seok-hee meets Yoon-do at a police station, she decides to hire him as her lawyer. Yoon-do starts working for TOP Team at MC Group. TOP Team which is led by Han Je-kook (Bae Jong-ok) manages Mo families' affairs. 

Seok-hee finds out that Yoon-do's mother is a housekeeper for the Mo family. She has been convicted of murdering Seok-hee's mother. Convinced that Yoon-do's mother was framed, the pair join forces to reveal the truth behind Seok-hee's mother's death. During their investigations, they slowly uncover the secrets that Je-kook and TOP hide. 

My View

GF is worth a watch and I intend to re-watch if I really can spare some time.

This is a modern day power struggle with mysterious twist to it.

Rating 

5/5 Stars

 

Korean Drama : Hello Monster

Alternative Title

I Remember You

Year Released

2015

Genre

Mystery, Thriller

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 70 minutes

Starring

Seo In-guk, Jang Na-ra, Choi Won-young, Park Bo-gum

Storyline

Profiler Lee Hyun (Seo In-guk) returns to Korea when he receives an email about a case which triggers his lost memory. Together, he solves crimes with police inspector, Cha Ji-an, (Jang Na-ra).

Cha Ji-an is looking for Lee Joon-young (Choi Won-young), a convicted prisoner who has escaped from confinement. Ji-an's father is said to be the last officer who has seen Joon-young.

Lee Hyun is in search for his long-lost brother Lee Min (Park Bo-gum). Lee Min is in fact a serial killer Jung Sun-ho under the guidance of his mentor, Lee Joon-ho (Choi Won-young).

The fact that Lee Min turns into psychopath is partly due to Lee Hyun's lost memories when they were young. 

My View

The characters this show chooses are really good. 

Choi Won-young and D.O. are truly scary. 

The way they stare at you calmly or even smirk is just damn frightening.

D.O. acts as young Joon-ho.

Rating

4/5 Stars

 

Korean Drama : Untouchable

Year Released

2017 - 2018

Genre

Action, Mystery, Thriller

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 60 minutes per episode

Starring

Jin Goo, Kim Sung-kyun, Jung Eun-ji, Go Joon-hee

Storyline

Detective Jang Joon-seo (Jin Goo) determines to find out the truth behind his wife's death. 

He is met with hidden secrets and entangled with power games of his Jang family who rules for three generations in fictional city of Bukcheon.

My View

An interesting drama which keeps me captivated wanting to find out more.

Rating

4/5 Stars

 

Korean Drama : Solomon's Perjury

Year Released

2016 - 2017

Genre

Thriller, Teen, Mystery, School

No. of Episodes

12 - running time of 60 minutes per episode

Starring

Kim Hyun-soo, Jang Dong-yoon, Seo Ji-hoon, Cho Jae-hyun, Seo Young-joo

Storyline

The story begins with Lee So-woo (Seo Young-joo) who falls to his death in school. The school's teachers and principal do not wish to alert any media and hope to close this case secretly.

Go Seo-yeon (Kim Hyun-soo), Han Ji-hoon (Jang Dong-yoon) and Bae Joon-young (Seo Ji-hoon) together with a few other classmates decide to hold a school trial to find out So-woo's murderer.

My View

The suspense is there as you wait for every episode to unravel itself.

Rating

4/5 Stars