Strong Girl Bong Soon

This is one of the best dramas (if not the best) I have ever seen. To begin with, I thought the story was fun and refreshing. We have the typical love triangle, but it doesn't feel too long as it sometimes does in other dramas. The characters solve their issues pretty fast and in a somehow realistic way (taking into account that the circumstances of the show are not supposed to be realistic at all).  The actors did a great job too. I immediately fell in love with most of the characters, especially the two leads. Their chemistry was amazing, and their screen time together was glorious!

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This series started off well, I actually really enjoyed the super-human strength, family heritage story. I think the comedic/slapstick spin that the show put on it really helped to make the story flow, since we know it's nonsense, it was nice to see that the show knew itself that it was nonsense too and didn't take itself too seriously.
The two lead men in this show are SO HANDSOME. I can't even, honestly. I am more biased towards Ji Soo because he's more my cup of tea (or shot of soju if you will) than Min, but I seriously think both of them are terrific actors and super super good looking. They really did their jobs well.
Bong Soon is a cute girl, and she's a good actress, I just think her character got old really quickly trying to play out all the crazy subplots and twists that this show tried to stuff into the series. Maybe there were too many episodes, that's it. Probably could've taken away 5-8 episodes and closed it strong, but instead it sort of just dragged on with some more unbelievable antics.

All in all, good show, good looking, talented and believable cast (especially the overly-effeminate co-worker), I would recommend watching it if you're not looking for something too story driven, and if you like male eye candy.

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If you want a very funny and cute drama with a little mystery, this is it!

This is the first kdrama that comes to my mind when i want to recommend one to an absolute beginner in kdramas. The love story is very cute! I loved the male lead for his funny and loving character! Female lead was so adorable and strong! I loved their relationship from the beginning to the end, the process from friendship to romance . The only thing that I didn't like was the shady parts with the criminal, but I guess that they were necessary for the plot. I liked so much the supporting characters too! They were hilarious at times. If I were to watch it again, I would do this, although I don't watch dramas or movies twice, but I would skip all the criminal parts. If you want a cute love story with a lot of comedy, you should totally watch this!

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my favorite drama

i don't understand why a lot of people don't like this.. it has to be the best thing i've watched. it can be too much for some people who like simple story lines, but this drama has it all. like it has romance, thrills, horror, and is even funny. when i first watched it i fell in love. the actors are so perfect for the characters that i legit could not imagine do bong soon or ahn min hyuk as anyone else. the chemistry between them is just so eeeeek. theyre so cute!! i felt extreme second lead syndrome for like a few of the episodes. the ost is also so good. all of the songs have been in my playlist for a few years now and i never skip them, expecially heartbeat by suran! i've watched this drama 9-10 times, and i always feel the emotions everytime! my favorite part in the whole drama is when do bong soon saved gyeong shim the first time from the bad guy. it was so emotional and i couldnt stop crying. i have to admit, the bad guy was smart when he took gyeong shim instead of hee ji, the first time i watched it i was so shocked. the one thing bad thing i would say about this is i don't really like that they never showed in gook doo having a happy ending, he is a main character so i would like something about him. maybe it ends in my first first love haha!
anyway, this is one of THE best dramas i have ever watched. i'm legit watching it right now too lol. it has such a good story, and i would recommend this to people who love a good romance and thriller!!!

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Tacky story but sweet and in the end, a feel good drama.
What more can i say about this drama....
I dont wanna add spoilers...........
I loved the cast, there was synergy between them.
Though the story line tried to hard to make us laugh but to me, it wasnt successful at all.
Whats with trying to create a doppleganger for one of the thugs?........... absolutely unnecesary too.
Kudos as well, not alot of product placement ads in the drama........
Asides the above, i was fixeted for most part of the drama. Just a few skips here and there.
Weldone cast and crew.... you did really well

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6th Rewatch - Still Amazing

I am writing this review after watching this drama for the 6th time. Yes, this drama is that good. Each time I watch it, it’s like a serotonin shot. It’s so funny, and so sugar sweet. The writing is original, the characters are one of a kind and you are rooting for them all, except for the villain obvs.

When I say the characters are well developed, I mean it. From the main leads to all the side characters, they all have unique personalities and the relationships among the characters are so well written that each interaction comes off so genuine. My favorite is of course Do Bong Soon followed by Min Min <3 just heart eyes all around for these two. She does the cute stuff sooooooo well like its so natural. I think we’re all Min Hyuk in awe of her like everytime he goes in to squeeze her that’s what we’re all feeling lol I loved their interactions, I loved how open and honest Min Hyuk’s adoration was for Bong Soon. I am not religious at all but his love for Bong Soon reminded me of this verse:
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”
It was so pure, and wholesome and actually really unique to this drama because I don’t think I’ve seen anything similar with the leads before. Tsundere leads are nice and all but THIS, MIN’S LOVE it was everythinggggggg.

i also really loved her parents, especially her father that was just such a sweet father/daughter relationship and the relationship they built with Min Hyun. Last but not least was the second lead, this is the first time I have enjoyed the second lead arc. Here’s the thing, with second leads you know who they are and you know how it’ll end. But a lot of the time, I feel like writers don’t give that character their closure. Especially when that second lead is supposed to be a life long friend, they make their relationship end on a really pathetic note but that definitely did not happen here. It was mature and respectful of their friendship, I loved that. I never once cringed for them and I usually hate having to do that.

Music, SUPER POWER GIRLLLLLL omg so addicting. I love the songs in this drama, they were just perfect. They did an awesome job queuing them up in just the right places

Rewatch Value - like a million. I legit rewatch this drama like every 6 months when I get bored and hit a slump and can’t find anything good to watch. It just lifts me up. Also this is one of the only dramas that I rewatch to the last episode. I have a few favorites but I honestly don’t ever rewatch them to the very end.

The only complaint I had was that I had one last ship in this show that did not set sail but had potential. Can you watch and guess who I am shipping?

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I watched this drama because the premise of the show seemed interesting and I really ended up having mixed feelings.

The plot felt all over the place to me. There was a lot going on all the time, one plot point resolved another comes in, but I think it could have been better handled. Many of the sub-plots existed just for the sake of existing and didn't really contribute to the main plot, so at the same time the main plot, the criminal one, felt sometimes out of place.

The two main characters were lovable and together with the actors' acting made the show worth watching, There were though some characters that felt two-dimensional and made me groan when they had to appear on the screen just to make the plot move.

Even though I think the plot was unnecessairly all over the place, this was definitely one of the funniest dramas I've ever watched, it had a lot of hilarious situational humor and the comedy was the part I enjoyed the most while watching the drama.

I think the premise of the show was gripping but the drama tried to be too many genres at once and the plot was messy because of the many subplots and writers' intentions; maybe one day i will rewatch it for the main couple and the comedy.

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A Great Premise Lost in a Sea of Filler

I don't think I've ever been this disappointed by a drama that, even 24 hours after finishing it, I still couldn't bring myself to start another one. I really wanted a good rom-com after my last emotionally heavy drama, and Strong Girl Bong Soon seemed like the perfect choice. With its popularity on MDL and all the glowing recommendations, I thought, what could possibly go wrong? This is probably my first time being this disappointed by a rom-com, especially when I've enjoyed some of the silliest ones. I even considered skipping the review altogether, but here I am, trying to get my thoughts out so I can finally move on to another drama.

The premise genuinely had so much potential. A petite girl born with superhuman strength because of her family history, a power she could lose if she misused it, and a self-made CEO who witnesses her strength and hires her as his bodyguard? That sounds like the perfect setup for a fun, quirky rom-com with a unique female lead. Park Bo Young was also wonderfully cast as Bong Soon. She could pull off the cute expressions and mannerisms without making them feel cringeworthy, and her chemistry with Park Hyung Sik was genuinely sweet. The problem was that the drama never made proper use of its own premise.

The romance was cute in theory, and the leads had lovely chemistry, but it eventually became repetitive. There was so much staring, blushing, and Min Hyuk admiring how adorable Bong Soon was that I started feeling as though entire scenes could have been cut without losing anything important. The initial dynamic was charming, but the relationship needed more substance and development to sustain itself across so many episodes. The love triangle also had potential, but it never really went anywhere beyond Min Hyuk's jealousy. Guk Doo's place in Bong Soon's life could have added more emotional complexity, but that aspect was largely brushed aside before being unnecessarily revisited near the finale.

What frustrated me most was how disconnected the different storylines felt. At times, it genuinely seemed as though I was watching three separate dramas stitched together: Bong Soon and Min Hyuk's romance, the kidnapping thriller, and the neighborhood gangsters and redevelopment plot. On top of that, there were the family storylines, school characters, and various side characters whose scenes rarely contributed to the main plot or meaningful character development. I didn't mind the idea of mixing romance, comedy, and crime, but the execution was all over the place. Instead of complementing one another, these storylines kept interrupting each other.

The thriller aspect was particularly disappointing. The kidnapping plot initially created some intrigue, but the mystery quickly lost its appeal, and the villain never felt sufficiently developed. His motivations and backstory were too thin to make him genuinely compelling, and the investigation often felt more frustrating than suspenseful. There were also moments when the characters' decisions and the police's actions made little sense, seemingly just to keep the plot going. Considering Bong Soon's extraordinary strength, I expected the writers to come up with more clever and entertaining ways to use her abilities, both in the crime storyline and in everyday situations. Instead, so much of that potential went unexplored.

The comedy was equally inconsistent for me. Some of the scenes involving the gangsters were genuinely funny, and they were among the few side plots that occasionally kept me entertained. However, much of the other humour felt exaggerated or repetitive, and the gangster storyline itself dragged on far longer than necessary. The various side characters, including the high school students and the secondary romantic pairing, were given time without receiving enough development to make their stories worthwhile. Even Bong Soon's dream of creating a video game, which could have been an interesting part of her character, felt underdeveloped. There were so many ideas here, yet very few received the attention they deserved.

I also wish the drama had explored Bong Soon's powers and their connection to her family history more deeply. The idea that she could lose her strength if she misused it was intriguing, but it rarely felt like a meaningful part of the story. Her personal ambitions and career aspirations were similarly overshadowed by everything else happening around her. I wanted the drama to explore what made Bong Soon unique and allow her to grow into her own identity, rather than relying so heavily on cuteness and romantic admiration.

Despite all of this, I can't say I disliked everything. Park Bo Young and Park Hyung Sik were genuinely adorable together, and their chemistry was one of the drama's strongest points. There were moments when the show reminded me why so many people love this pairing, and the OST was easily my favourite part of the entire experience. It has some really lovely songs that I can see myself returning to, even if I don't feel the same way about the drama itself.

Ultimately, I think Strong Girl Bong Soon had a fantastic premise and a cast capable of making it work, but the writing tried to do too much without developing enough of anything. The romance became repetitive, the thriller lost its intrigue, and the numerous side plots made the overall story feel unnecessarily stretched. I kept watching because I wanted to see whether everything would eventually come together, and I genuinely wanted to like this drama. Unfortunately, the final result left me more frustrated than entertained.

I still gave it a 7/10, partly because I can appreciate the charm of the main couple and the potential behind the concept, even though the execution didn't work for me. I know this drama is beloved by many, and I can understand why people enjoy Bong Soon and Min Hyuk together. It simply wasn't the rom-com I needed, and after all the anticipation, that disappointment hit harder than I expected. Now I just hope my next drama reminds me why I love watching rom-coms in the first place.

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Fun to watch

I wasn't expecting much when I saw this because I have found myself steering away from Korean cliche rom-coms.

It was fun to watch and a bit cheesy for my taste. I stuck it out to the end just to see if the ending would be good and it was OK.

My favorite was the guy who played the police officer but both he and the main male lead had me in stitches. Even though they were enemies their chemistry was what kept me watching.

Again I hate the way they profile Korean women: poor, pretty, and stupid and that's how they portrayed Do Soon.

The villain was pretty weak but again, I just kept watching it because it was filling my void of Korean action dramas.

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I know this show isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea. I definitely wasn't expecting it to be mine even though I went it loving Park Bo-Young after seeing her in Hot Young Bloods and Oh My Ghost. I'd never heard of Park Hyung Shik so didn't have any expectations for him going in which just made it so much more delightful. First and foremost, this isn't a perfect show. But it's highly enjoyable if you're into the kind of humor the show dishes out and if you fall for the lead couple as hard as I did.

I love:
-- strong, quirky, sassy female lead
-- a hero who is quirky in his own way while managing to still exude that confidences that makes you think he's worth your heroine's time. oh. also, totally respects her and always trying to lift her up.
-- their relationship. the witty back and forth between these two is GOLD for me. I just love it.
-- the growth of the female lead. I will admit. At first, I wasn't digging that she wasn't utilizing her powers. And I loved her.

I liked:
-- the friendship between bong soon + her best friend. at first I didn't care for it but they slowly grew on me. I don't know if it was the chemistry between the two actresses or what, but they managed to morph a friendship that I was at first thinking "why are we seeing so much of herrrr" into "aww they're like sisters! I want what they have" kind of relationship.
--bong soon's relationship with her dad -- normally I might not have commented on this but her mother was such a b**** that every tender smile or endearment that dad sent his daughter had my heart feeling warm
-- the gangster story line. look, I know not a lot of people care for that kind of humor. I never really cared for it but I love
-- the serial kidnapping storyline. Yea. I said it. I liked it. I think it worked. I was on the edge of my seat. Hell, Jang Mi Kwan did such an awesome job at his role he had me googling his ass within the first couple of episodes because i'm like "this dude is A PSYCHO BUT WHY IS HE SO GOOD LOOKING THO? AM I INSANE? WHAT DOES HE LOOK LIKE IN REAL LIFE?" i'm even more impressed that it was his first acting role. I hope keeps acting because it's SO RARE to find a villian that actually does a legit good job at being crazy.

HatedDidn't care for:
-- bong soon's mother. I honestly don't understand why the mom was written the way she was and maybe it's a cultural think, a tough love korean mom style thing that I don't get but I hated her. I skipped over most scenes with her once I realized that no, they were not messing with me, no, there was no redemption arch with her character, no place for growth -- that she was just a horrible woman. Quiet frankly I respected Bong Soon so much for being as sane and normal as she is for having a mother like this.
-- the monk storyline. what? why?
-- the love line between Bong Ki (bong soon's brother) and Hee Ji (gook doo's gf/ex). Look. As soon as Show put these two in the same room and I Hee Ji started eyeing up Bong Ki I was like girl GTFO. Just don't. I have zero tolerance for women that play that shit and couldn't care less for her or her storyline.
-- aside from gook doo these cops were NOT the smartest bunch. but they were endearing...to a certain degree. and redeemed themselves a little bit towards the latter end.


Overall---I thoroughly enjoyed this show. Then I got my sister to rewatch it with me while we had two kids running around and she enjoyed it just as much as me. It's not perfect--but I'd say watch the first 3-4 episodes before you decide to drop it. For all the things that I didn't like or care for, I've rewatched this show countless times (grateful that it's on netflix) when I needed a pick me up.

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