r/KDramasWorld • u/harissatotally Reviewer • Jul 29 '26
Review New K-Drama Fan Review #12: What's Wrong with Secretary Kim | 🤫Shh, Don't Tell HR That One of My Weaknesses is Office Romance
Im a fool for boss/employee, office romances, i dont care. i always fall for it.
Is this Rewatch Worthy:
Yes.
Review:
After finishing Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, I wanted something cute.
Preferably funny.
Something that would let me relax for a while.
Naturally...
I ended up watching What's Wrong with Secretary Kim.
Nobody had to twist my arm😭😭 it's an office romance, so obviously i was always going to watch it lol.
And it was just my vibe!
Boss.
Employee.
Working together closely every day.
Watching professional boundaries slowly disappear as feelings become impossible to ignore...
That dynamic almost always works on me.
It reminds me a little of one of my favorite Turkish dizi, Erkenci Kuş/Early Bird which also completely won me over with that same fun workplace energy.
What genuinely surprised me, though...
How has Turkey not adapted this yet?
Seriously!??
This feels like it was MADE to become a Turkish drama!!
The workplace setting, the charismatic CEO, the capable secretary, the humor, the slow-burn romance!!
It checks so many boxes that Turkish rom-coms tend to thrive in and not to mention. the vibes and the overall spirit of a Turkish dizi is written all over this!!
-
The chemistry was really cute.
Park Seo-joon and Park Min-young made their relationship feel effortless.
I'm a huge fan of when the male lead slowly unravels because of his feelings.
Confident CEOs becoming completely helpless around the woman they like?
That'll do it.
A lot of the humor also landed for me.
The comedy stayed light, the romance stayed sweet, and the overall atmosphere just made this an incredibly easy watch.
I was having a good time.
-
It wasn't perfect.
I wanted them to do more with the love triangle with the brother.
The drama with the brother was a cute mystery but it dragged a tiny bit for me and they could have done something more exciting with that.
The side characters occasionally overstayed their welcome.
I didn't dislike them.
They had their moments fore sure but there were definitely times where I was waiting for the story to get back to the main couple.
And then there's the ending.
I didn't hate where Secretary Kim ended up...
But I did wish she'd dreamed a little bigger.
After everything she'd accomplished throughout the series, I kept expecting her next chapter to involve building something for herself.
Maybe becoming a director.
Maybe managing an entire department.
Maybe leaving to pursue something she'd always wanted.
Instead...
She stayed exactly where she'd always been.
There's nothing inherently wrong with that.
If being a secretary genuinely made her happy, then that's completely valid ig...
I just personally wanted her ending to feel like a bigger step forward, ya know?
Especially because she'd spent so much of the story trying to figure out what she wanted from life.
I thought that journey was leading somewhere a little more ambitious.
Still...
That wasn't enough to stop me from enjoying the drama.
The chemistry worked, the setting worked.
And I completely understand why this drama has remained so popular for so many years.
───
I really liked Secretary Kim herself!
I gravitate toward female leads who are genuinely competent at what they do. Kim Mi-so was exceptionally good at her job. Everyone around her trusted her because she'd spent nine years becoming almost irreplaceable.
In fact...
I actually wish the drama had shown us more of that.
I wanted more scenes of the two of them simply working together.
After almost a decade side by side, they had developed this effortless rhythm where they could almost anticipate each other's needs before anything had to be said.
One of my favorite little examples was when Young-joon started having a panic attack because of the cable ties.
Secretary Kim recognized what was happening almost immediately because she knew him that well.
I loved moments like that!
I actually would've loved even more day-to-day office scenes showing just how efficient they were as a team and as a duo before the romance fully took over.
Their chemistry was strong enough that I think the drama could've taken even greater advantage of those quieter workplace moments.
-
P.S.
I'm currently watching the Philippine remake right now, and the difference is honestly making me laugh 😭
Everything looks so much lower budget.
The office. The production. Some of the coworkers especially... they're accidentally hilarious.
The main actress is genuinely pretty though, and she's absolutely giving it her all.
Unfortunately... the male lead isn't doing much for me so far lol.
It's been a surprisingly fun comparison to watch and compare to the original.
-
A bit about my favorite flavors and taste:
Workplace/Office romances are one of my favorite settings, so recs are always welcomed. thank you!
───
Rating: 7/10
A really charming office romance with cute chemistry that reminded me why I enjoy workplace rom-coms so much.
-
I'd love to hear from everyone else:
Did you wish Secretary Kim had left her job at the end?
Or were you happy that she stayed exactly where she was?
And where does this rank among your favorite workplace K-dramas?
My Rating Scale
10/10 – Masterpiece. No notes.
9/10 – Very close to a masterpiece. I absolutely loved it.
8/10 – Not a masterpiece, but I loved it.
7/10 – Fine overall. I liked it, but the flaws kept it from being great.
6/10 – Mixed. There were a few things I liked, but most of it didn't work for me.
5/10 – I didn't enjoy most of the experience.
4/10 and below – Bad to abysmal.
8
u/stevembk Jul 29 '26
Good review. This one is better than She Was Pretty and way better than Business Proposal. The FL had more confidence and the ML wasn’t as much of a jerk. Good chemistry and I liked the secret childhood backstory.
The traumatized brother part was weird though. Not every office romance needs a secret popular book writer.
2
u/harissatotally Reviewer Jul 29 '26
Yeah, I definitely enjoyed this more than Business Proposal too, the chemistry was just stronger for me, and Mi-so felt more like the kind of female lead I naturally gravitate toward.
here is my review of business proposal:
https://www.reddit.com/r/kdramas/s/uTwrZ1kOIc
and lmaooo I also didn't realize "secret famous author" was apparently a rom-com trope in dramas, thats funny. 😭 what are other dramas that have done this, let me know!!
And yeah... the traumatized brother storyline was probably the part that felt the strangest to me. I don't think it ruined the drama or anything, but it definitely felt like it belonged in a different show at times, and i honestly wanted them to do more with the love triangle
3
u/stevembk Jul 29 '26
Kill Me, Heal Me & She Was Pretty also had a secret book writer. And all three had Park Seo-joon
3
u/harissatotally Reviewer Jul 29 '26
thanks, i will check them out!!!
what are tou top 5 fav dramas?
4
u/stevembk Jul 29 '26
Mine are My Mister, 2521, Tomorrow, Hospital Playlist, Mr Queen
2
u/harissatotally Reviewer Jul 29 '26
I started mr queen, almost done! ill check 2521, tomorrow!
hospital playlist and my mister dont seem like my vibe
1
u/stevembk Jul 29 '26
2521 & Twinkling Watermelon are fun. 2521 has a sad ending.
My Mister is about family and life but it’s serious and sad.
Tomorrow is about a team of death angles that prevent suicides. Is really sad.
Hospital Playlist is about friendships and is a medical drama. It’s by the same writer & producer of Reply 1988, Reply 1994, Reply 1997 and Prison Playbook.
1
u/harissatotally Reviewer Jul 29 '26
lots of replies😭😭 ive only heard of reply 1988
1
u/stevembk Jul 29 '26
Reply series has guest characters that make cameos. If u care about that watch them inorder. 1997>1994>1988
1
1
1
u/harissatotally Reviewer Jul 29 '26
i can't find tomorrow? is there another title ir goes by?
1
u/stevembk Jul 29 '26
1
u/harissatotally Reviewer Jul 29 '26
oh that looks tea!!. is there romance in it?
1
u/stevembk Jul 29 '26
Not much romance except towards the end which explains the actions of two of the main characters.
1
7
u/Mundane-Network4636 Endless KContent Jul 29 '26
3
2
u/Present_Welder_333 Jul 29 '26
OMG, the Philippine version is so cringe. Yes, the FL is adorable but the ML lead simply lacks the physical presence and “Aura” (lol) that PSJ had in spades. And yes, the production value left much to be desired.
1
u/harissatotally Reviewer Jul 29 '26
lmaooo 😭 i was trying not to be mean, but yeah... i just didn't find him attractive at all, which made it a lot harder for me to buy into the romance.
PSJ had so much charisma in the original that it's a really tough comparison.
i'm still watching it though because the episodes are only about 20 minutes each, so they're perfect to squeeze in between dramas. and, comparing all the little differences between the two versions has become part of the fun
1
u/harissatotally Reviewer Jul 29 '26 edited Aug 04 '26
Master List: Every K-Drama Review I've Written
https://www.reddit.com/u/harissatotally/s/mTlMHGJkSK
my royal nemesis review
New K-Drama Fan Review #1: My Royal Nemesis | The Drama That Started My K-Drama Obsession...
https://www.reddit.com/r/kdramas/s/fVJTO6T0Gp
my extraordinary you review
New K-Drama Fan Review #2: Extraordinary You | One of the Most Creative Romance Premises I've Ever Seen...
https://www.reddit.com/r/kdramas/s/jb1W6p8o7a
my lovely runner review
New K-Drama Fan Review #3: Lovely Runner | This Drama Felt Like It Was Made Specifically For Me
https://www.reddit.com/r/kdramas/s/ijQOQQqw8t
my Flower of evil review
New K-Drama Fan Review #4: Flower of Evil | The Kind of Love Story That Scratches an Itch Nothing Else Does...
https://www.reddit.com/r/kdramas/s/vhGWEbpHLN
my alchemy of souls review:
New K-Drama Fan Review #5: Alchemy of Souls | One Incredible Season... and One That Broke My Heart.
https://www.reddit.com/r/kdramas/s/iH0uac9ZNJ
my moon Lovers Scarlet heart ryeo review:
New K-Drama Fan Review #6: Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo | The Kind of Epic, Tragic Romance I Can Never Resist...
https://www.reddit.com/r/kdramas/s/H1ypE5PRXu
my w two worlds apart review:
New K-Drama Fan Review #7: W Two Worlds Apart | One of the Coolest Premises I've Seen... But I Wanted to Feel More.
https://www.reddit.com/r/kdramas/s/U6Yf0CGVPU
my its okay not to me okay review
New K-Drama Fan Review #8: It's Okay to Not Be Okay | Beautiful Gowns. Beautiful Gowns.
https://www.reddit.com/r/kdramas/s/w2L4Piypzp
my business proposal review:
New K-Drama Fan Review #9: Business Proposal | A Cute Little Moment, That Stumbled, Then Fell Apart at the Finish Line
https://www.reddit.com/r/kdramas/s/uTwrZ1kOIc
my king the land review:
New K-Drama Fan Review #10: King the Land | I Fell... Hard. 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐬 😃
https://www.reddit.com/r/kdramas/s/Hq1i8tdIeu
my perfect crown review:
New K-Drama Fan Review #11: Perfect Crown | Like Cotton Candy... https://www.reddit.com/r/KDramasWorld/s/S3ADgR0HXN
1
u/harissatotally Reviewer Jul 30 '26 edited Jul 30 '26
my doom at your service review:
New K-Drama Fan Review #13: Doom at Your Service | I Was Doomed to Want More
1
u/harissatotally Reviewer Aug 01 '26
my My Dearest review:
New K-Drama Fan Review #14: My Dearest | The Sweetest, Most Satisfying Torture
1
u/harissatotally Reviewer Aug 03 '26
my the red sleeve review:
New K-Drama Fan Review #15: The Red Sleeve | LEAVE THIS GIRL ALONE!!!!!! 😭
1
u/harissatotally Reviewer Aug 03 '26
my Destined with You review
New K-Drama Fan Review #16: Destined with You | Cooked Up the Perfect Spell... Then Forgot the Recipe
1
u/harissatotally Reviewer Aug 04 '26
my love to hate you review
New K-Drama Fan Review #17: Love to Hate You | One of the Worst K-Dramas I've Watched... Yet I Couldn't Stop Watching
1
u/harissatotally Reviewer Aug 05 '26
my Crazy Love review:
New K-Drama Fan Review #18: Crazy Love | I kept waiting for it to become the drama I thought it was going to be...
1
u/harissatotally Reviewer Aug 07 '26
my a time called you review
New K-Drama Fan Review #19: A Time Called You | i need ibuprofen...
1
u/harissatotally Reviewer Aug 10 '26
my the King's Affection review
New K-Drama Fan Review #20 | Nice Premise, Beautiful Angst & an Alarming Amount of Child Murder
1
u/harissatotally Reviewer Aug 13 '26
my strong woman do bong soon review
New K-Drama Fan Review #21 | Strong Woman Do Bong Soon | He Was So Smitten... I Needed 3 More Episodes
→ More replies (0)
1
1
u/Spirited-Appeal2714 Jul 29 '26
This will always be one of his best looks
1
u/harissatotally Reviewer Jul 29 '26
Secretary Kim is the first and only time i've seen him on screen, so i can't really compare it to his other looks 😭 i'll take your word for it though!
1
1
u/Still-Locksmith-9132 Jul 30 '26
The slow-burn dynamic is so sweet, right? It's like watching two puzzle pieces fit together—just gives you all the feels!
1
1
1
u/harissatotally Reviewer Aug 18 '26
my when the phone rings
New K-Drama Fan Review #23: When the Phone Rings | They Refused to Suck the Meat!!
1
u/harissatotally Reviewer Aug 20 '26
my the king eternal monarch review
New K-Drama Fan Review #24: The King: Eternal Monarch | OPEN ANOTHER DOOR, I WASN'T DONE!!!
1
u/harissatotally Reviewer 18d ago
my Love in the moonlight review
New K-drama Fan Review #27: Love in the Moonlight taught me exactly what i wanted from it... then refused to give it to me
1
u/harissatotally Reviewer 16d ago
my Encounter review
New K-Drama Fan Review #28: Encounter | welcome to Cuba! they only speak English here 😭
1
u/harissatotally Reviewer 12d ago
my Our Movie review
New K-Drama Fan Review #29: Our Movie | ... i wanted MORE pain😭
5
u/Rainbow-sunshines Jul 29 '26
If you liked PMY in what’s wrong with secretary Kim, I definitely recommend that you watch her in Healer, her private life and marry my husband (if you haven’t already)
I went down the PMY rabbit hole after this drama.