This review may contain spoilers
Needed more plot
My main complaint with the show is that it reached its logical conclusion in episode 12. This is when ML and FL were already a couple and the mystery behind the kidnapping was resolved. The rest of the episodes were just filler without a plot. When there is no conflict and nothing to resolve, the story becomes stale. There wasn't even that much conflict with the older brother. He just kind of became irrelevant after the kidnapping mystery was resolved. The animosity between the brothers also looked forced because of the lack of plot development. When Young Joon told Mi So that his brother was a "bastard" and there were issues with their childhood friends, it implied that there might've been past bulling or some other conflict which had nothing to do with the kidnapping. But, it was just the kidnapping. To make matters worse, the issue between the brothers was forced on them by their parents who lied about the kidnapping for their own good, which was a pretty stupid plot device because it did not justify all the animosity. And, after it was resolved, everyone acted like nothing happened for the last 4 episodes, which was especially disappointing because the kidnapping and resulting trauma were an important plot point central to ML's and FL's character development and the writers made it completely superficial and unimportant at the end.The resolution to the plotline of Mi So wanting to find herself felt like a cop out. At the beginning, she wanted to leave the company to find a husband. Then, that plotline was abandoned just to resurface at the end where Mi So realized she wanted to continue being Young Joon's secretary because she loved him. And, she remained his secretary after marrying him. This was rather a strange choice for a wife of a CEO to have the same position as his office employees, instead of holding a higher position for which she was actually qualified.
One of the things I liked was that FL had enough sense to pick up on the nuisances about ML's behavior to discern that there was a lot more to the kidnapping story than what she was told. I loved that she did not just blindly believe everything she was told and started having a crush on the older brother, which would've resulted in a very stupid love triangle. She suspected from the very beginning that Young Joon was the one who was kidnapped, which led her to the truth. In return, Young Joon transformed from a self-centered person to a thoughtful and caring boyfriend and employer. The main couple also had very nice chemistry and some very steamy scenes.
Other than that, there wasn't much else going on. The side characters were not interesting enough to carry the plot. I ended up skipping most of scenes in episodes 13-16 and just watched the ones with the main couple to get to the end faster.
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On the one hand, I find the writing for Lee Young Joon (the ML) and the complex relationship that he has with Kim Mi So (the FL) is very good.
Seeing how love changes people is always a treat for me, even though most of the times the characters that undergo this kind of transformation shift their personality 180 degrees, basically becoming a new character in the end. On the contrary, in What's Wrong with Secretary Kim, ML's character growth is done is such a way that he gets to keep his cocky personality throughout the whole story, but he gradually shifts from vanity, self-centeredness into a playful overconfidence that he gets to use in a very adorable way, childishly hoping to impress the FL with its boldness. Lee Young Joon is a many-sided character and despite the arrogance that he displays in various circumstances, he remains a very likeable character from the beginning till the end. Not for a second have I hated him or considered him despicable in any way.
The relationship between the main leads is also complex and multi-faceted. They have overall a very healthy connection and the topics chosen to showcase how one learns to overcome the difficulties of being in a relationship are right on point. Compromising, quick forgiveness to avoid extending conflicts indefinitely, putting your partner's need above yours, sacrificing your own desires, being considerate of your partner's feelings - these are all very well presented and even those that have a long experience in dating could learn a thing of two from this drama.
On the other hand, everything that did not involve the main leads was extremely nonsensical, annoying, unfunny and straight up boring. The various secondary office romances were just not interesting and felt much more of a filler than in any other drama I previously watched. Apart from one endearing character (Yang Cheol), I wanted to skip basically every scene involving these characters. The writing was so different from the one regarding ML+FL pairing that it always felt that one writer (a good one) was tasked to write the main leads story, and another writer (an unskilled one) had to handle everything else.
Lastly, even if "What's Wrong with Secretary Kim" is often compared to "Business Proposal" or "The Secret Life of My Secretary", I find these three dramas quite different from each other (despite them having common elements and even identical scenes). "What's Wrong with Secretary Kim" focuses on complex relationship development, while "Business Proposal" and "The Secret Life of My Secretary" gravitate around the idea of a double identity. They're all lightweight dramas, without any substantial plot and all three have a cold-hearted boss as ML with more or less a childhood trauma, but each of them has its own unique charm. "What's Wrong with Secretary Kim" probably has the deepest meaning, "Business Proposal" has the most likeable ML and "The Secret Life of My Secretary" the most memorable side-character (one can never forget the legendary "Veronica Park speaking").
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I loved it~
This drama really hit it for me! You know the feeling that everything about the drama manages to satisfy you and make you happy and feel the joy? That was it for me. The cast has great chemistry, you like watching everyone, because everyone did a great job. From wild cat Secretary Kim, to our narcissistic , cheesy yet endearing President Lee. The humor is also up my alley. I loved how the drama was shot and edited, I always love me some cute sfx to make it better too. I watched it with bubbling happiness, if I'm being honest.The CAST was really the best part of it, I love it when I can enjoy everyone's play. Starting from mains. Park Seo Joon did a really good job, from the very first "AURA!" you knew it was cringe, but it was a healthy cringe. His character also grew and changed. Kim Mi So also managed to.. manage his mess and basically who if not her could deal with his temper. Although the story and beginning might not sound that astonishing, but who cares? They managed to pull this plot and make it a memorable journey :D Scenes of Seo Joon and Kang Ki Young were also one of my favorite, I just liked their friendship. And in general wasn't the crew good? Weren't the stories of other characters entertaining? I think they were :)
And I also liked their relationship and how it was built. Mi So due to her life experience can't share a dating experience or family life stories like her friends, who talk about dates, husbands, kids, while Mi So is married to her work. And she's not a simple secretary, but a secretary to the president, which promises less personal time and more responsibilities. To me she was almost like a life assistant too. They didn't start on a passionate note. At first our president Lee didn't feel falling that deep, although she was practically the only woman he could allow to be closer than others. Due to work of course they know each other well, or so he thought. Her sudden wish to resign gave him a wake up call and consequent events allowed to see her other sides and not the politely smiling Mi So with formulaic expression. The barrier between the two started to crumble at that moment. You can't say that only Young Joon changed, but Mi So also became more accomodating. The cherry on top should be their childhood story, but it's wonderful that they came together not basing their relationship on that.
All in all I find it a good watch, I'll be happy to re-watch it in the future and also recommend it to others. I watched it in good spirits and it also gave me joy.
PS: What is your most memorable funny moment? Mine would probably be Mi So's father having a gig and diving, but forgetting that his public are all older people and they def won't catch him.
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It could have been better and shorter
I mean it is not a drama that I regret watch but not that greatEverything that needed a conclusion ended within ep 13..but it was dragged until 16
I watched till thirteen and rest of the episodes I read the written update..just because I didn't want to have a lingering feeling
The romance was awesome
Kisses were ultimate
Chemistry too
The thing that impressed me the most was FL acting!!
I mean such a feminine secretary she played
How perfect it can be!!
She played a ton boyish bubbly and unkept girl in healer and it's exactly the opposite how she played secretary her!!
The story was good but it needed some power
It was a light watch and good enough for those who are new to kdramas
You can give it a try if you like good and real kisses..also for good acting
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What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim? — the Delicacy of Healing
There are series you enjoy for their jokes, and others that linger because of the way they show two people learning to be true together. What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim? walks both paths: on the surface, it’s a classic romantic comedy, but underneath, it becomes a fable about ego, emotional dependence, and the courage required to face the past.Lee Young-joon appears to be the archetype of the perfect man: successful, charming, and armed with a confidence that borders on arrogance. Yet that façade is not strength; it is a void. Park Seo-joon portrays him with an admirable blend of humor and quiet sorrow: his narcissism becomes a gesture asking to be understood, and his journey is, at its core, about learning to accept love. Kim Mi-so, in contrast, is the moral and emotional heart of the story — efficient, elegant, and endowed with a patience that sometimes edges into loneliness. Park Min-young gives her dignity without victimization, making her decision to reclaim her life away from the role that defined her for years feel honest and necessary.
The romantic core works because the series understands that attraction is not enough; emotional partnership demands learning. The early episodes charm with situational humor and undeniable chemistry. But the true triumph comes when the story opens the door to vulnerability: childhood trauma, family silences, and old wounds that silently shape adult relationships. Young-joon’s arc — from denial to respectful humility — is believable because it’s built through small gestures: awkward questions, clumsy apologies, and everyday acts of care, rather than sudden revelations.
Humor becomes a gentle bridge that allows the narrative to approach heavier themes without becoming didactic. The drama also benefits from a secondary cast that adds texture: friends who comfort, exes who disrupt, and family members who reveal — through their flaws — why loving someone means sometimes holding them through their imperfection. If there is a critique, it is the occasional tendency to stretch certain situations for the sake of romance; some episodes repeat dynamics that could have been condensed without losing impact. Even so, that leisurely pacing doesn’t diminish the final reward: the ending breathes coherence and tenderness.
From What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim? come simple yet profound lessons: love cannot replace individuality; healing requires help and the willingness to let go of roles; true greatness lies in asking for what you need. It is a series that teaches how to receive just as much as how to give.
In the end, there is a genuine sense of gratitude: to the actors for embracing both comedy and pain with equal sincerity, to the writers for allowing the romance to mature without becoming saccharine, and to the whole team for crafting its aesthetic and rhythm with care. May their work bring recognition and, more importantly, personal well-being.
What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim? convinces because it reminds us that falling in love is easy; staying whole together — that is what truly requires practice and tenderness.
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no lo sé, sorry
es entretenida y tiene bastante comedia! Me gusto mucho sinceramente, la recomendaria sin dudarlo, además el protagonista en un personaje espectacular y de la protagonista me encanta que no se deja llevar por la belleza de las cosas materiales y lo que más resalta de ella es lo trabajoadora que es m de verdad desearía en un futuro ser tan dedicada como ella.obviamente no busco enamorarme del jefe jajajaja, bueno esos es todo espero que el próximo que la vea la disfrute tamto como yo lo hice je
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Chemistry between Leads made it work
The story is ordinary, nothing over the top. It's lead chemistry that made it so much popular.Loved Lee Young Jun house.
Lee Young Jun is arrogant, full of himself, narcissistic, egotistical, loves to praise himself, but he has a character development throughout the drama. There is a reason why he is like this. But he is considering a person who thinks about others, who will suffer alone but won’t let others.
Kim Mi So is Lee Young Jun's secretary who does all the work for him, from selecting his dress to his daily schedule. She is hardworking, workaholic, sharp witted, quick at work, has solutions to everything. In short, she is an all-rounder.
I laughed at Lee Young Jun expression when Kim Mi So & Go Gwi Nam were running together & everyone telling them to date & him being so jealous.
It was funny when Lee Young Jun got scared to see Kim Mi So in flash face in dark.
Loved Lee Young Jun & Kim Mi So silly arguments.
It’s sweet how Lee Young Jun sends Kim Mi So away whenever his brother comes to visit him. He is scared that his brother will take her away from him.
I laughed so much when Lee Young Jun pushed Kim Mi So chair when they were going to kiss, later on, her reaction & his scared look.
Lee Young Jun always noticed Kim Mi So & liked her. There’s a reason why he hired her. He never forgot their promise.
Loved Lee Young Jun & Kim Mi So awkwardness at the beginning of their relationship. They weren’t able to get out of their boss & secretary phase.
Laughed so hard when Kim Mi So sisters were bad-mouthing Lee Young Jun & him listening to everything with those expressions.
I appreciated it that Kim Mi So asked Lee Young Jun if it was okay for her to go & sort everything out with her brother.
Lee Young Jun helped Kim Mi So in every way without her knowledge.
Kim Mi So expression when Kim Ji Ah was bad-mouthing Lee Young Jun. I thought Kim Ji Ah character would go after Lee Young Jun. She will be creating misunderstandings between them & all, but thank god she is a positive character.
I laughed so much when Park was explaining to his ex-wife about the situation & both Lee Young Jun & Kim Mi So expressions.
Everyone’s reaction when they saw Lee Young Jun & Kim Mi So hugging each other.
It's sweet how Lee Young Jun had a nervous breakdown on his wedding day.
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This review may contain spoilers
Funny and touching but nonsense.
The story is supposed to be funny with romance and maybe a little bit of drama. I can see where they tried, but the whole premise is off. The romance is fine, I actually think they had decent chemistry but if you watch it more than once, it will be more and more difficult to get into the fun of it. The side characters and romances were fun and some people said they were more interesting than the main pairing, but I have to disagree. I think they added to the show, but they weren't so interesting that they stole it. The main couple: Secretary Kim and Narassistic Boss don't have much character arc, considering the content of the show, but it was still very interesting and I enjoyed watching the entire series once. The music was good, but not outstanding. The acting was also good and I thought very in character. To understand why the underlying story behind the main couple, you have to hear some spoilers, but without spoilers, I can say it wasn't well done and was so nonsensical as to have been ridiculous. I would watch it once, but not twice because those moments of understanding will annoy you more if you rewatch.With spoilers: the main couple have a history. This explains why a totally arrogant and impatient boss would pick a secretary who wasn't fluent in English and experienced enough in the field. She needed to work super hard to catch up to his needs. Over time as they work together, he grows used to how amazing she is and when he thinks of his life without her, he doesn't want her to quit. He tries mulitiple ways to get her to stay and eventually realizes that he loves her. Naturally, he has to overcome his gigantic ego to get to that point, but still. The process is funny and entertaining. She begins to fall in love with him as she sees his emotional sides. Naturally, the catalyst needed to make them both realize how they feel is the return of the boss's self-centered brother who decides that he wants Secretary Kim. Either because he's so arrogant as to think he can have anyone or because he wants to take her from his brother -- he causes problems between them just as they are getting closer.
The actual spoiler is why the premise is really messed up and nonsensical. You see, way back when Secretary Kim was 4-5 years old and her boss was 9-10 and self-centered brother was maybe 11-12, the brother bullies the young boy boss and eventually leaves him in a deserted street where he is kidnapped. Then baby girl Mi So (Secretary Kim) is also kidnapped. They help each other through the experience and end up home safe and sound but naturally with fears. Why Mi So's family doesn't tell her the truth when she asks if she was ever kidnapped makes absolutely no sense to me. Until you recognize and accept that you've been hurt you will never be able to deal with it on an emotional level. So keeping it from her is like telling her to pretend she doesn't feel the pain rather than taking her to the doctor. The young boss hires her because he remembers her, but she doesn't remember and he also doesn't explain. No reason, but that's more excusable. Last, boss's mom and dad who are supposed to be good, normal, loving parents, are actually full time idiots with hateful and stupid notions about family. When older brother feels bad for what he did, he has a mental break and decides that he was the one who was kidnapped. Then mom and dad decide that it's better to pretend that their arrogant, self-centered older son was actually kidnapped than to make him face his wrongdoing. Which is to say that young boss who was the one who was wronged, has to deal with an insufferable prick brother who treats boss as though he were the one in the wrong. Why would the parents take the side of the bully child over the one who has an actual trauma that needs to be dealt with? Because they are stupid, thoughtless, self-centered, and hateful bullies themselves. I mean, they did raise two sons who think they are perfect and hate each other. Who comes up with these plots? If you're going to make them thoughtless bullies, don't have the main character pretend with them. He was an adult, he should have told them the truth and said that their behavior was stupid and hurtful and then told them they needed to tell the truth and stop pandering to their favorite child (obviously the self-centered brother). I will never understand why people who are supposed to be smart and strong and well mannered never can seem to stand up for themselves or say no when something is wrong. Then again, if they were all people who had backbone and common sense and courage, the show would have been over in 3 episodes. Still, that's why I can't watch it twice. I want to ring the mother's neck and kick the older brother very hard in his self-centered face. I get too angry and annoyed at their behavior to be able to watch it twice, but that's me.
Ok, rant over. If you can deal with this amount of stupidity for the background story, the rest is really wonderful. I think they had great chemisty. I thought it was super funny and well acted. I enjoyed it so much that I was tempted to watch it twice (then I tried and had to go bake for 2 hours to get rid of my frustration).
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Best romcom ever
I think this show turned into my favorite romcom drama. I love to watch office romantics and this one just nailed it. Park Ming Young was amazing as Secretary Kim. Her smile is gorgeous and she has cute personality. She and Park Seo Joon as the vice-chairman had very good chemistry. This drama has very good story line and you never get bored. Beautiful and funny romantic scenes.The OST is nice. But in general this romantic comedy raised the bar very high for me. Absolutely worth to watch and rewatch it.Was this review helpful to you?
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minor spoiler
meh not the best I've seen not the worst. It was a while ago i watched it but from what i remember it was enjoyable, cute and funny. Though I feel like they could have left it at that. I wasn't bothered by the whole rich ceo, "poor" secretary trope. Its alright once in a while but the whole kidnapping and them knowing eachother when they were younger felt a little out of place. Like they could have left it as it was. People can fall in love without having the whole "childhood friends/lovers reunited" thing. It just felt unnecessary. It could have been left alone as a little cute love story but they had to mash in the dark truamatic experience they had as kids together. Overall i wouldn't rewatch. It can be really enjoyable for certain people just wasn't my cup of tea. Actors did a good job as per ususal from what i remember and i think i liked the ost? nothing super memorable tho.Was this review helpful to you?
Recomendo
Demorei pra ver mas gostei muito, super levinha e legal, confesso que o primeiro ep não me prendeu muito, eu ate demorei um pouco pra continuar, mas a parti do 2 eu começei a gostar mais e me fez querer assistir todo diaOs personagens são super divertidos e engraçados, todo ep eu dava uma risada, os personagens principais tbm foram perfeitos
Park Min Young é maravilhosa, concerteza vou querer ver mais trabalhos dela, e o Park Seo Joon super lindo 😍
Outra coisa q eu gostei muito foi das Ost's do dorama, a unica coisa que eu achei meio confuso foi sobre o principal e o irmao dele nessa confusao de quem tinha sido sequestrado, mas enfim, muito bom recomendo
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When it comes to the leads, I definately prefer Kim Mi So over Lee Young Joon. His character was great don't get me wrong. Fantastic performance. But! Kim Mi So was way more realistic, current and common. He was a kdrama character all the way 😅 The further you go in the drama the more you notice that the story is shown from more her point of view than his. The focus went from her work, to her house, from the family to Young Joon. We slowly could see what is actually wrong with secretary Kim 😏 Mr Lee of course played a big role and there was a nice balance present through out whole serie but she was the centerpiece.
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