King the Land

Wasted Potential

Before moving to my review, i kindly request people who are a big fan of this drama, to skip this review.
Coming back to my feedback, the drama started off very well containing all factors in equal portions like romance, emotion, sibling rivalry, business war, friendship. so i thought that this drama will have business theme and will picture the war between male lead and his sister. but as episodes pass by the story got deviated and focused fully on lead pair's dating and their love life. at one stage I really got frustrated cause literally 50 mins of the episode was full of love only, not to mention the unwanted k!ss scenes in each episode. TOO MUCH OF ANYTHING IS GOOD FOR NOTHING. This is not a drama actually this is a documentary of what if LJH and YN dated in real life. the story, the actors, everything had a great potential to be a fast-paced beautiful drama, but the director and scriptwriter totally wasted it.

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Nothing Burger!

Well I am surprising myself with this assessment. I was sincerely looking forward to this drama. Let us be honest, we have not had many great k-dramas in the past year or so. This seemed to have a great lineup and fairly upscale production. I was not anticipating a masterpiece, but a fun, light hearted romantic comedy.
But in reality the show turned out to be a whole lotta nothing burger. The set looked great, the visuals were great...but the magic was missing. I was hoping this to change as the story progressed...but the pace of the story remained the same. I finished watching the show purely out of loyalty to some of my favorite cast members, but they deserved better.

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Cliche or not, plot or not ... King the Land slayed anyways!

No drama needs a sophisticated plot, to be good enough. And I think we should literally stop with the cliche comments, cause this wasn't a space movie after all.

Now I don't want to repeat what many have already said but, personally, this drama didn't need a lot of twists or drama or plot to make me absolutely love it. I looked forward to it every weekend cause it really felt like my happy hour and put me in such a good mood.

I wasn't here for the plot, I was here for the healing love stories, for the charming Gu Won and Ro Woon, for the green flags all the main characters were, for the life lessons, for the so amazingly strong chemistry between the leads, for the mind blowing kiss scenes (thank God they weren't cringe like most the dramas out there). I was here for the princess halmeoni that makes me cry in every drama in a way or another. I was here for the family Sarang, Pyung Hwa and Da Eul had built, for all the times Gu Won violently kicked No Sang Sik out of the office. I was here for the family Gu Won and Sarang found, and I felt part of all of this. And sorry if I didn't mind the plot or whatever you couldn't find in this drama.
I was here for the people and the feelings they intended to give to me as a watcher and guys, you did it beautifully.

Let's please thank all of the crew for their amazing job cause they might feel bad with the fans splitting into two opposite love-hate directions, let alone the offended watchers that pretty sure messed up the rating.

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disappointing ...

I will start this review by saying that I am a regular rom-com enthusiast. I absolutely loved Business Proposal but King The Land failed to achieve anything that Business Proposal did in the span of 12 episodes.
King the Land had a flimsy, basically non-existent, plot and absolutely no proper conflicts or red thread to carry on the drama. I am not saying that shallow romcoms can't be good but jeesus fucking christ there was NOTHING to wait for. Maybe this drama was great for those who just wanted to watch Yoona and Junho but I couldn't manage the last 4 episodes without skipping maybe 50-70%. And don't get me wrong, I do think they make a beautiful couple but this drama was borderline garbage. I have never been this bothered by product placements in my 7+ years of watching kdramas. The plot and the characters were such shallow cardboard cut-out humans that I couldn't even enjoy the romance by the end.
Were we supposed to act like the sister was in any way a proper villain. She seemed like a child who needed attention and craved for love but decided to be a bitch in her 40s. I just felt mildly annoyed by every scene she was in. She just kept being like "I want the hotel -_- humbh you have no right to the hotel". Like I don't care?
The business talks were the most ridiculous bs I've ever seen. I don't know anything about business but those scenes were so romanticised that I felt like slamming my head through a wall. Just shut up. When did Gu Won ever even work (literally in like one scene)?
Also the other friend in a sh*t marriage and all that was played out for a few laughs and cute bossy kid moments?? Am I supposed to feel okay that at least now she is the head of the household? Like ummm okay ... what a creative way to promote staying in loveless marriages I guess?

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Let King the Land take you on holiday prepare to laugh cry and enjoy superb.

I’ve just finished king the Land and I am a total mess. If your life isn’t great at the moment, if everything you do goes wrong. Just sit down relax and be pampered. Set in beautiful locations, it’s absolutely superb sets, the clothes, the tiniest details have not been missed. I’ll probably never ever get the chance to stay at such a grand hotel. However the drama opens the doors, takes you by the hand and says welcome. The drama brings you in to these peoples lives, you are wanting praying everything will work out. It keeps you centre stage with them. Clear story lines, brilliant wonderful chemistry between the whole cast. I would love for this to win awards. That would shut the haters up. Why can’t people be kind. The whole premise is to smile proper smiles. Thank you for letting us join in their lives just for awhile. Totally awesome. 10 out of 10 everyone concerned. I was laughing crying and clapping right at the end. I was not disappointed in anyway. Totally lifted my world. Thank you King the land. Best drama by far this year. Will be hard to top it.

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The Good:
⌲ Yoona is very pretty
⌲ There are no love triangles.
⌲ There is a certain amount of enjoyable fluff.
⌲ The secondary fls and sismance (though it’s not exactly amazing)
⌲ The arab prince thing was amusing enough (I cannot imagine getting butthurt over something like this)
⌲ It’s at least a better drama than ‘Forecasting Love and Weather’.

The Neutral:
⌲ Jun Ho’s acting (I understand why he did not take this very seriously though, I do know he is a talented actor)
⌲ The romance in general (not bad, not great)
⌲ The father (He is bad, but in similar dramas I’ve seen far worse)
⌲ The chemistry between the leads
⌲ Of course it's a clichefest. (though It's not too bad in this regard)

The Bad:
⌲ The plot is just horrible (yes in romcoms it shouldn’t matter, but there are way too many offensive and intelligence insulting things, it’s like a Lakorn)
⌲ The dialog is pretty bad too at times. (and this is a big problem)
⌲ There is a lot of backward crap that is kind of like airing the nation’s dirty laundry, at least in Hollywood as bad as their shows are they are trying to move forward.
⌲ Outside of the leads & their friends almost everyone is a mean bully. (the corporate chain of abuse, see the prev. point)
⌲ The romantic plot itself flows rather strangely & completely falls apart in the final episodes.
⌲ The mother & her reason for leaving her son
⌲ The drama has an incredible amount of bad energy!
⌲ The ML sometimes appears to be mentally challenged, like Dali and the Cocky Prince's ML.
⌲ The fakest smiles you have ever seen
⌲ The older sister (her acts are too juvenile and dumb even for kdrama cheabol-land-u)
⌲ “Double the profits, hit the targets!”
⌲ One long helicopter ride should be something like sub-$10000 in Korea, it’s obviously far cheaper than dealing with the bad press, optics and liability over what happened and they talked about this so forking much.
⌲ .. there are many more things, but I tire of writing this review ..

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Maybe being so focused on success, King-The-Land almost lost track of the core of a KDrama´s heart

As far as I am concerned, "King the Land" triggers extremely ambivalent feelings. I'm still undecided whether to classify this KDrama as a Trojan horse or as a successful prototype AI product. In other words: is it deliberately engineered brainwashing (that at times comes very close to even insulting the human intellect), or is it the result of an AI (programmed for max audience share) as showrunner in its first, but surprisingly successful test run?

"King the Land" is a Rom+Com. A fairy tale we have known and loved for generations. The unthinkable becomes possible: the hard-working girl next door finds Knight in Shining Armor - a Jaebeol offspring who can afford the luxury of not even being interested in the rich heritage of the conglomerate. Well, if you feel like something like that, you get a highly polished version of a cheerful, trivial (and conservative) love story that opens up clichéd insights into the upper segment of the shamelessly high-end luxury world.

Here my criticism. My irritation. Even annoyances.

--> These days, we can (and obviously have to) get used to product placement. That´s nothing new. However, "King the Land" undauntedly puts an almost obscene shovel on top of that. It goes so far that at times I felt like I was stranded in a 16-episode commercial, which I consider quite intrusive. Shameless. Apparently it can always be worse.
I rarely fast forward. But rarely have I fast-forwarded as much as in "King the Land". Usually, I'm ready to get involved in moments - looks, gestures, stand still, in my opinion all of that can be part of the dramaturgy. But here the long takes far too often serve a product placement or a Lifestyle-Statement being deliberately staged on the occasion, or some triviality that may or may not be considered nice, yet without any impact for the story. Just for fun, so to speak, because it is (supposedly?) so pretty. Most of the time it's about a haunting, almost mean display of a lifestyle in the highest-priced luxury segment, which will probably never play a role for the vast majority of the audience. Then I get angry. Not because the story is set in an exclusive social class, but because it is staged in such an oversized manner, while giving it a lot more screentime than would be necessary or coherent for the feeling and understanding of the story.
My understanding goes like this: The high-gloss, stylized luxury lifestyle of the absolutist elite hides a message between the lines that is addressed to all classes below: “”” You'll never get there! Forget it. Enjoy what you have. Make an effort, then it could even be a little more. Yet, be aware: WE play in another galaxy, light years away from you. Give up. Surrender. Let us do it all. Then it shall not be to your harm.”””

---> Additionally: The KDrama chooses a nasty mixture of proven dramaturgical elements and links them with another hidden, questionable message that might be hardly noticeable, yet effective.
There is the world of the employed, that so many people in the country (and elsewhere in other countries) share. In particular in South Korea this is often enough about an authoritarian hierarchy within a corporate structure. This includes almost as a matter of course: bossing around, exploiting, abusing, and some more exploiting. This goes through all instances. It is nothing new. This is everyday life for many.
Thus, a rebellious protest is always welcome in KDrama. “King the Land” also grabs into this box - courageously and with some humor as the hero immediately counters the frustration that nothing ever changes. He rebels. Dares to speak back. Pushes through, with vigorous means when necessary. And keeps the upper hand. How wonderful! … It's just too bad that he happens to be the chairman's son and can afford to do that... Here, and there, and almost everywhere...
So, the positive, rebellious (democratically inspired?) message turns into the (autocratic) opposite: “””Only those who swing the scepter of (monetary) power can change something, because they are the ones, who actually have something to say. The ones at the top. An this is, because they are at the top for a good reason, because they have the background, the stamina and the right genes to de facto be responsible for the rest.”””
“King the Land” never tires of throwing this message into the audience's eyes and ears - in all its possible epic breadth. In particular, embodied by the protagonist's stepsister and antagonist, but even by the protagonist's trusted secretary. Sure, our hero ticks differently, but (this is the harmless insight to take home with us): “””It's not the evil chairmen, but there is an economic reality with which all people who think and act halfway responsibly have to put up with. Period! These are given contexts that one cannot escape from when in such a responsible position. Ergo: THOSE up there are no worse than we down here. On the contrary: THOSE up there bear responsibility, we down there don't. And THOSE up there actually mean well with us. We can actually be happy: we are doing well after all...”””
Yes, it may be true, that many are better off than others, that they lead a more comfortable life than their parents or grandparents did. Nevertheless, I feel this message (that so often resonates in this KDrama) as one that basically wants to keep people little and hold their potential down. I personally don't like that.

Therefore: Is “King the Land” trotting along as a Trojan horse of the autocratic backroom masterminds, selling their notion for a modern absolutistic society?

Or - with a wink:-) - another assumption: Is "King the Land" an AI product? An AI, which with all its algorithms, its heuristic search for solutions and its logical conclusions, yet blind for socio-political nuances, reaches into the colorful pot of success guaranteed dramaturgical determinants, inflates those for even more success and breathes life into it with popular (success-guaranteeing?) mimes, music and light. However, one can sometimes get the impression that the heartbeat is missing. Its rather forced here and there. (Some even reproach the KDrama for lacking any cross-cultural sensitivity.)

In my opinion, the 'done with love' of this KDrama bobs back and forth between 'yes' and 'no'. A pretty face has to be enough, a harmonious tune, a touching gesture, a look, a kiss at the right time to make amends for the rest. Towards the end, the KDrama tries hard again, the amorous and yet tricky relationship dynamic emotionally comes to the fore a little more (e.g. as a relationship that isn't appropriate for the Heir), and some processes come across quite promising, to the extent that maybe something actually might possibly change about the cemented corporate culture of King Group. Nevertheless, being embedded within the absolutist brainwashing of the overall scenario, it loses some of its charm. (For me) A bland taste remains.


--> However, the good news at last:
I cannot say I totally wasted my time. If in between I was able to ignore all of the above-mentioned allegation (which was actually possible!), then the KDrama also delivered: a nice, clichéd love story in the Jaebeol milieu, with some cat-and-mouse games, without much depth, but with extra (!) cream. Simple as that. (By the way, some are already treating "King the Land" as the KDrama with the best kissing scene...)


--> Conclusion:
Maybe being so focused on success , “King of the Land” almost lost track of the core of a KDrama´s heart. However, at least a few within the production team obviously tried to put quite some effort into emotional finetuning, too.
So, I'm ambivalent. In spite even the unabashed style I criticized, I watched to the end. Not only out of professional curiosity. Despite all the indignation that inevitably spread through me again and again, at times I eventually enjoyed it, too. (Otherwise I would have dropped it - and then quite early.)
For all that, that's KDrama, too...

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Definition of Chemistry will never be the same

I have not one complaint about this show. I can't even believe I'm saying that.

Look, it's not Dr. Zhivago, Gone with the Wind, or the Godfather. It's a rom-com that hits every point for me. Sometimes you don't want a full, heavy meal. You just want something light to eat and relax. Is the plot thin? Well, KTL is a magazine, not a novel. And magazines have their place too. KTL is light, funny, sexy, romantic and sweet, with two stars that know how to play off each other. It's perfect escapism. And it avoids all the Kdrama tropes: No birth secrets, no secret adoptions, no amnesia, no White Truck of Doom, no relative killing another's family member, etc.

Product placement? In spades. Find me a Kdrama (especially on KBS) that doesn't. But it's beautifully lit, staged, filmed, and the locations are surreal - think how beautiful the Thailand and England scenes were. And Yoona & Junho have re-written the concept of chemistry. We know their history IRL, which makes it even more special. Their scenes are so electric at times it could power Downtown Seoul. For me, nothing will ever come close to them as a couple. They are the new Gold Standard.

There's just enough villain to go around, but, and this is something that the current KBS series could learn from (I'm looking at you, TRHC & AOME writers) the biggest point to me is how well our leads COMMUNICATE. No deep secrets held for long, they talk out their problems, and nothing is held back.

This series is my Happy Place I've run to during the angst of TRHC. I can't even count how many times I've seen the last 2 episodes. It's ENTERTAINMENT, folks. That's all. And it's 10/10 on that aspect for me.

Count me in on those wanting a Season 2. I want to see how these 2 and their supporting cast tackle the challenges ahead (her running Hotel Amor while balancing being his wife, future family life, etc). I think they can come up with one more season of things for all of them to do. Hell, I could watch them playing Monopoly, frankly, and be pleased.

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It was Barely Watchable

I've been inconsistently watching Korean dramas for over 2 years now. I'm very careful to pick only the best and highly acclaimed ones to watch, and so far, I've been on a roll. I mostly dabble in romance- Crash Landing on You, Twenty-five Twenty-one, Start-up, etc., and these shows have convinced me that Koreans have mastered the art of writing romance. That is, of course, until I stumbled upon the bumbling mess that is King The Land.

This show is... where to begin. For starters, I was not strong enough to complete this show. I gave up halfway through because I'd had enough of the poorly written characters and the downright atrocious plot.

I hate the female lead, probably more than I've ever hated a female lead in any show ever. Her stupidity is portrayed as cuteness. Her inability to keep her mouth shut gets on my nerves, and why, oh why, can't she walk without conveniently falling into the arms of the male lead over and over again? He's an issue on his own, but I have a bone to pick with HER. Let me give an instance: The female lead(I can't remember her name) was sent to a remote area for work. she insisted she climb the mountains to find the man she needed to talk to. while alone in the mountains, it began to rain. any sane person that finds themselves on a slopy mountain during the rain would stay put until later. but her? she went to the edge to harvest some ginseng. and like that wasn't enough, she started jumping around and rejoicing, AT THE EDGE OF A SLOPY MOUNTAIN. Of course she fell and the male lead whose name was just as forgettable came to her rescue. but why would any normal human being do something so stupid in the first place. Everything she does gets one my nerves. I hate the dumb things she says when she's drunk. I hate how she put up with her idiotic boyfriend for over a year, and conveniently had enough of him when a new romantic prospect showed up. I hate how everyone is mean for no reason but for the show to highlight how good of a person she is.

On to the male lead. What kind of character writing even was that? This dude literally has no life outside of FL. he waits for her texts, he waits for her to get off work so they can eat together, he waits for her to sleep in his car as long as she wants. Doesn't he have a job, social engagements, anything? No other associates? His character is so bland. he fits into the mold of he narcissistic, perfect rich guy that we've seen so many times before. They even try to add some depth to him with that storyline about his mother and how he hates smiling, but it was too boring to keep me engaged. "Oh, my life is so hard. I grew up in a mansion where all the maids and servants couldn't stop smiling at me. save me from my horrendous childhood". And why even does he like the FL. They have had no real, in-depth conversation, no actual connection. I guess she's just cute when she's drunk and that'll have to do. plus, he took a test online, so who am I to doubg his unfathomable love. And when he saved the FL. He acted like he was some kind of altruistic hero who valued human life above all else. He took up this self righteous posturing, but anyone with a brain would know that he only did it cos it was the FL who was in danger..He wouldnt have cared if it were any random employee. and the fact that he doesn't acknowledge this fact, and no other character points it out, is just laughable. This guy wants to have responsibilities and play a bigger role in the company, yet he has no actual laid out plans or strategies to help the company progress in any way. I guess we're just supposed to root for him in his quest for the company cos his sister is mean. don't even get me started with her overbearing pettiness. Constantly berating her brother for no good reason. At her age, shouldn't she be past that?

About the plot. Does this show even have a plot. it's just full of contrived overplayed romance tropes. This show basically took it's plot from other really terrible shows and meshed the ideas together. Incessant falling into ML's arms, defending her honor to her ex, and don't even get me started on the fact that somehow, they always manage to end up being together due to one work project or the other. Are there no other workers? Or what? cos she's the best talent everyone else should be stripped of all opportunity to shine? This show's popularity hinges on the visual appeal of the two main characters. It's sad. The fans will deny it, but it's true. Because what other explanation is there for a show like this, utterly lacking substance, in every sense of the word, to be rated 8.3. The cast is devoid of any real talent, and I wish the FL died brutally on that mountain... that'll teach her.

I don't think it's possible to enjoy a show when the leading characters are moronic, uninteresting and appalling. I've never been a fan of the "rich guy falls for poor girl" trope, because it's flat out implausible in real life. however, I've managed to enjoy it in shows like Business Proposal, probably due to the comedic element. However, there's nothing about KingtheLand that I found appealing. And oh, how I despise the female lead.😩😫


This show is brainrot at it's finest. even if I turned off my brain for a few hours, I still would be able to sit through it. Believe me, I tried.

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Cliche rom-com, but the chemistry is Amazing!

This drama is the exact definition of drama Cliche; a cold, handsome, wealthy boss and a poor, beautiful, loving girl. That sums it all. They fall in love despite bickering with each other from the beginning, but their love blossoms into something profound.

The whole drama is set in various hotels and you see cute and breathtaking sceneries. The story is quite simple but there are mishaps along the way for the leads too. Don't expect to see the logic behind anything that happens, as it is the nature of this drama to be funny and romantic. The leads are just made for each other.

overall, a feel-good drama with cute skinship and chemistry between the leads.

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