This review may contain spoilers
It takes courage to reinvent your life
My rating is 9.5/10I loved pretty much everything about this series my only real complaint is that it's short. I would've enjoyed it even more if they'd done a few more episodes and actually allowed the character stories to more fully play out.
It covers a lot of really heavy issues but not in a way that drags you down. If anything, it's uplifting to see somebody escape corporate bullying and build a life that's meaningful for them. It's heartwarming in the found family/friendship group that Lee Yeo-reum forms, how she fits into the town, and especially the main couple. You can clearly see Yeo-reum and Ahn Dae-beom so completely complement each other in their manners and personalities.
I would recommend this to others, and I would watch it again. It's more of a hidden gem type of quality—like if you've watched a lot of other things and you're looking for something fresh, this is one that might surprise you with how good it actually is.
Spoilers
My main complaint was that Yeo-reum and Dae-beom are only at the point of holding hands in the end, and it's pretty clear the relationship will probably continue to progress. But it would've been super heartwarming to see them fully get together with some kind of confession or something—because they never really have a big confession to each other. They just kind of naturally melt together in a way.
Actually, the second couple—the young couple with Heo Jae-hoon and Kim Bom—their romance is a lot more definitive. He asks her to marry him, and she sort of brushes it off, but it does make it clear that's where things are headed.
There's another potential couple with the single dad Bae Sung-min who has the little kid Bae Joon, and the girl Jo Ji-young who used to like Dae-beom so much. You see them hanging out together all the time. Honestly, I cared about that one the least because I thought Jo Ji-young was so negative about everything, and she pushed Dae-beom in directions he really didn't need to go. Yes, she did eventually see that, but she seemed more tuned to success than happiness. Still, it would've been cute to see something more definitive in that relationship as well, because Bae Sung-min liked her so much, he had the little boy, and she started paying attention to and doing things for the little boy, which made it seem like she was thinking along those lines. But again, it wasn't very clear.
With Dae-ho, they cleared him and showed that he wasn't the criminal—he himself was a victim who had witnessed some really scary things—but it didn't show that he'd gotten professional help. It kind of implied it, and you could tell he was doing a little better with his emotion control, but it didn't actually show that was the case.
So that's the main flaw I think with it, and I think it's also a factor of its 12 episodes when it could've easily been 16. That's what kept it from being a show that always rises to the top of people's must-watch lists.
Like a lot of viewers, I was very angry with the way Kim Bom's dad Kim Jung-hoon was, and that he basically got away with stabbing his young daughter and not getting in trouble for it because she covered for him. It was an accident, yes, but he was headed out to do something really bad, and she was trying to stop him. You don't get into an aggressive fight with somebody you love with a knife in your hand—that's just never acceptable.
They also had Yeo-reum cover up what she thought had happened because Dae-ho would never do something like that, they said. But all the facts pointed to him having done it. And she wound up getting blamed and ostracized for not accusing him and potentially stopping the murder. You later discover why she should've been protective, but she didn't know it at that time.
The townspeople are also okay with Kim Jung-hoon slapping her for supposedly allowing the murderer to be free, when they were the ones who had pressured her to protect him. No one, including Kim Bom, came forward to comfort her in that really hard time. I had such a warm fuzzy feeling for that town up to that point, but it showed that they never truly embraced people they consider outsiders.
I was glad she stayed in the town for Dae-beom, and I was also glad she reconciled with Bom—because Bom was young, and so her error was a bit understandable. But it was sad that none of the other people she had befriended said anything when Kim Jung-hoon attacked her like that.
Major characters:
Lee Yeo-reum (Kim Seol-hyun) — A resilient but exhausted 28-year-old former office worker who declares a "life strike" after personal tragedies, moving to the countryside to rediscover joy in simplicity.
Ahn Dae-beom (Yim Si-wan) — A shy, stuttering village librarian and former mathematical genius haunted by family loss, whose quiet kindness hides deep emotional wounds.
Jo Ji-young (Park Ye-young) — Dae-beom's longtime friend and admirer who runs a local billiard hall, grappling with unrequited feelings and her own vulnerabilities.
Kim Bom (Shin Eun-soo) — A troubled high school girl facing bullying and family dysfunction, who forms a heartfelt sisterly bond with Yeo-reum while searching for stability.
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Comfort
This drama really gives me comfort. THE SLOW BURN AAAHH, the way they speak slowly and softly to each other, their awkward but cute glances !! LIKE THEM HOLDING HANDS IS ENOUGH FOR ME😭. Their love is so calm and healing. AAHH they are just so pure 😩 This type of kdrama will always be my fave, it heals me.After watching this drama, I realized the beauty of finding and choosing yourself. You don't need to fit yourself just because of the "standards." Do whatever you love ! Don't think about what other will say to you. Just live your life and you'll find your happiness. <3
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my new fav romance drama <3
I really loved this drama, and I would definitely recommend watching. It embodies that small-town vibe where everyone's just one big friend group, regardless of age (which actually sounds weird on paper, but it's really sweet). In this drama, there's always SOMETHING to keep you watching. Although it may be a little bit borderline traumatizing at certain parts (people getting killed...), it's overall a heartwarming and emotional story that just depicts humans trying to navigate life. The main romance is not too flashy and overdone like other k-dramas, I would say it's just right. Although there's no kiss or direct confession in the drama (between Dae Beom and Yeoreum at least), it's very clear that they had feelings for each other. It was just so sweet and refreshing. I could say so much more, but I'll end it short here. Definitely would rewatch!Was this review helpful to you?
Heartfelt relationships and character growth
Summer Strike is one of those rare K-dramas that feels like a deep exhale. It’s not flashy or fast-paced, but it’s quietly powerful in the way it captures burnout, healing, and the courage it takes to simply stop and breathe.The story follows Yeo-reum, who walks away from her draining city life and lands in the sleepy seaside village of Angok. What unfolds isn’t just a physical relocation—it’s a slow, emotional unraveling of grief, loneliness, and rediscovery. Watching her settle into this new rhythm, surrounded by strangers who slowly become something more, felt like therapy in drama form.
The chemistry between Seolhyun and Im Si-wan is subtle but sincere. Their characters don’t fall into dramatic tropes—they just exist together, quietly supporting and understanding one another. The show also shines in its portrayal of found family, especially Yeo-reum’s bond with Bom and her grandmother, which felt incredibly genuine.
That said, the pacing might not be for everyone. It leans into stillness and introspection, and the mystery subplot, while adding some tension, occasionally felt like a distraction from the emotional core. But if you’re in the mood for something reflective and emotionally honest, this drama delivers.
Pros:
✔ Beautifully captures the nuances of healing and self-discovery
✔ Strong, understated performances
✔ Heartfelt relationships and character growth
✔ Gorgeous cinematography that complements the mood
Cons:
✘ Slow pacing may not suit all viewers
✘ Mystery elements sometimes detract from the main narrative
Would I rewatch? Yes—especially during times when I need a gentle reminder that it’s okay to pause and just be.
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Minority opinion here
I'm all for a comfort drama, but all I could think about throughout the whole show was, "where the heck is the romance?" When romance is listed first on tags, there should be romance! No chemistry, they held hands at the end. When does a show go from slow burn to watching paint dry?The FL spent most of the drama apologizing. The ML spent most of the drama just there, not doing much. There was the typical trope of a woman that's liked him for years and can't admit that she's in the friend zone.
And don't even get me started on the families! The 2FL's dad almost kills her, and her grandmother wants her to lie so he doesn't go to jail?! It would have been a perfect opportunity for him to dry out. That whole storyline really bothered me. Then, toward the end of the drama they at a murder mystery that just comes out of nowhere and doesn't add anything.
I did, however, really enjoy the young second couple, and once they all became friends. There were really a lot of not very nice townspeople.
Add to that, Netflix gave up on subtitles four episodes before the end. Thankfully it was on Viki, even though I felt it was a waste of time anyway.
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profoundly comforting
as an introvert this drama has been one of my comfort drama. this is not your usual slice of life healing drama. it's a hidden gem and very underrated alongside My Liberation Notes. i'm thankful that i discovered this drama in the midst of one of the lowest point in my life. this gave me the comfort and warmth i never knew i needed. i love how they portray the female lead here as an average person like so many people who struggles with their life and needed to take a break from life. at some point in our lives we all wanted to leave everything and be somewhere very far where we can start a new life and move forward in our own pace. the male lead is really cute. i love how observant he is with even the tiniest thing, it shows how genuine he is as a person. i love how this drama showcases simple gestures that shows how sincerity should be. the chemistry of the two main lead is palpable even through silence you can feel their connection. their relationship wasn't rushed and forced. the lack of kissing scene and not a single "i love you" from this drama was not a hindrance to make the viewers see the beauty of this drama."happiness - the state of not lacking anything"
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The best summer drama!
This show is so fun to watch! The summer vibe of the story and place is so warm, you will love it. I love the tandem of Lee Yeoreum (Seolhyun) and An Daebom (Im Siwan) so much. They look super adorable, especially Daebom; he is the perfect definition of a golden retriever personality. Siwan played the role so perfectly in this drama. Deserving of 10/10! All the characters are interesting; it would be more fun if this show had more than 12 episodes. This drama definitely deserves a lot of attention.I get the point of view of some of the reviewers; this would be a wholesome drama if they just removed the mystery and thrill genres. I love this show, but it would be better if it were just a romance or slice-of-life Korean drama. Nonetheless, I still give this a perfect 10 since I love everything about it. I hope to see all characters in more projects too!
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Love Angok the Beautiful City with Nice Scenery
Fantastic series'... Loved it but missed the romance between Male and Female lead.. the couple is very nice and the age difference is also not too much but I don know why there is no kissing scenes in between them.. we r not saying it's mandatory but it's also add the cuteness of a relationship 💞 atleast they hold hands which is also very nice .. but we can have Nose kiss 💋😘 Cheek kiss kind of types... But still the strong support of Dae Beom can be seen towards Yo Reum and Yo Reum has been the greatest support for all.. she Endures her pain and quietly covers up for other's pain .. Bom acting is very nice natural... Yim Siwan and Seol Hyun r very awesome.. and Mr. Bae and Jin Young 🩷 make nice couple.. Dae oh did well yet get limited scenes but he is good .. Geon oh acting awesome as crazy being .. I don like Grandma Death 💀 bcz I loved that super smiley strong character.. I love Yim Siwan Hairstyling and the cut he have .. this is the best suited hairstyle in him I felt.. Yim Siwan u r damn Beautiful ❤️.. God's grace u got very perfect face cut .. ur eyes r intense.. Seol Hyun I loved u in Orange Marmalade and here too in Summer Strike... U r too cute 🥰 and I feel u r very awesome in ur real life too.. I feel like u r sister with Park Shin Ye ( The Heirs) female lead . I want to See YIM SIWAN and SEOL HYUN as real couple too .. bcz the make a very sweet cute couple in this series.. and I also want to see u as couple in other' series' too where u guies must have more romantic scenes please.. humble request from all.. Loved the series except 10th Episode part .. i also want to knw the Grandmaa real name.. i searched whole Google and Asian Drama link and My Drama list start cast but I didn't get her name and I followed every character in their individual Insta id .. bcz u all r so adorable and awesome series with fabulous work from all... Love Angok the Beautiful City... The scenery was awesome...Was this review helpful to you?
This Drama is ALL THE GOOD FEELS
I don't know what it was about this drama, but it just called out to me. And I drifted towards it like a siren song... just soaking and absorbing all the good feelings that this drama had to provide. This reminded me, once again, why I come back to K-dramas again and again and again to energize myself.The premise of the story was pretty simple. A city person escapes to a small town to escape from her life and her work and meets kindred souls in the small town, all of whom help each other heal.
The FL, Kim Seolhyun, is a normal 9 to 5 working lady in Seoul, but due to various circumstances, feels drained out and numbed out by life. That's how she lands up in Angok. Then we have the ML, Im Siwan, who has his personal inner demons to fight, and he's working as a librarian in Angok. There are other characters from the coastal town, each with their own stories and struggles. The characters are well fleshed out, and each character had their own trajectories to follow, which was so well done. The pace of the story was rightfully slow to encapsulate the easygoing pace of the town and the life of the FL.
The romance between the lead pair was also lovely and mature to watch. There were no over-the-top, exaggerated romantic gestures, no corny lines, nothing strange either. What made the romance even better was the representation of introverted characters. Both the lead characters were shown as introverts who would rather sit in comfortable silence next to each other than make bold gestures of love and go out on extremely ACTIVE dates. For an introvert, a date that is a bucket list of things to do is a NIGHTMARE (Speaking as a fellow introvert). The writers understood that pain so well, so here we have dates that are quiet, peaceful, and just spending time together in silence. HEAVENLY!
The subplots were a little extra, but that much drama is permissible. Otherwise, it would run the risk of being too boring. The music was soothing to the ears, nothing great to write home about, but not harsh and jarring either.
Coming to the actors now... I am officially in love with Im Siwan. I watched his Run On earlier and had heard of his performance in Hell is for Other People, but with Summer Strike, I am totally sold. That guy is so adorable and has the most beautiful and expressive eyes. Kim Seolhyun also did a beautiful job. Her character demanded her to be a quiet and laidback person, which she delivered. I personally could not relate to the sisterly bond between Seolhyun's Yeoreum and Shin Eun Soo's Bom, it felt a little too giggly and happy. But in times of distress, their support for each other felt pretty real. So that's okay, I guess.
But can I take a moment here to hail all praises to the writers of the webtoon/show for depicting the ML in the story as A Ph.D. RESEARCHER?! THANK YOU for showing research/ a researcher with all his frustrations and anxieties regarding work. WE GOT REPRESENTED FINALLY (cries happy tears)!
As I said earlier, there's nothing grand in this drama, it's the small things happening here and there that are the proper show-stealers. And these small realizations verbalized through Seolhyun's monologues in the background are what make the drama so worthwhile. Hearing the most relatable life facts stated in a drama like this left me with wispy eyes and a smile on my face even after this drama ended.
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Casting was good but the story gets on ones nerves.
There is probably an audiance for this kind of story and looking at the rating, there are a lot. Or it's because of the cast.Anyway, for me this kind of story is just not bareable. Seeing the FL stuttering not beeing able to bring out one simple sentence.With the head down taking everything in without response.
With zero communication skills. Bowing and noding to everyone who yells at her and insults her for no reason, I can not watch something like that. Seeing a woman beeing treeted like that and without satisfying resolve of any of the situations that come up its just no story for me...
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It started out so well...
I started Summer Strike with real curiosity. What disappointed me most were all the small inconsistencies that chipped away at the story’s honesty. The heroine claims to seek simplicity and freedom, yet emerges spotless and perfectly styled after a night in a half-broken house. She talks about self-reliance, but gets drunk twice in three episodes and keeps slipping back into her “please use and mistreat me” pattern. These may look like details, but together they make her journey feel hollow. I had hoped for a quiet story about real change, not a polished fantasy about pretending to have one.(Dropped after episode 3.)
I started with high expectations — rating the first episode 9, the second 8, and the third 7 — before deciding to stop. The steady decline reflects my growing sense that the story lost authenticity and direction.
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Comfort ♡
"Segundo o dicionário, felicidade é um estado emocional positivo caracterizado por sentimentos como contentamento, alegria e satisfação com a vida. Eu acho que é muito longo. E assim que eu o encurtaria. Felicidade, o estado de não faltar nada."Amei tanto esse dorama! Me identifiquei muito com personagem principal, amei a "pausa" que ela decidiu fazer na vida dela, pois a forma que ela estava vivendo a esgotava de todos os sentidos. A evolução da protagonista foi linda. Assim também cada personagem me cativou de sua maneira. Até mesmo a trama foi muito bem desenvolvida. Foi simplesmente maravilhoso a conexão que foi se formando entre os personagens, se tornando uma grande família. O casal principal são fofos demais, eles trazem uma paz, um conforto. Siwan sempre fazendo personagens incríveis. A filmografia e a mensagem do drama foi impecável.
Não precisamos de muito na nossa vida, é preciso apreciar as pequenas coisas.
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