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Amnesia/Mental Variance/Coma/Brains

***SPOILERS***

I originally made this list in order to avoid dramas with amnesia, but I found that many of my favorites contained bouts of amnesia. I've begrudgingly accepted amnesia as an overused plotline (seriously, Koreans should outlaw white trucks, as they seem to cause 75% of the amnesia victims; and what is it about Koreans that a slight tap on the head invariably results in amnesia?!).

Conversely, I'm drawn to dramas with characters who live with brain dysfunctions such as prosopagnosia (I have a special list just for that), OCD, or other neural conditions that challenge daily life. I'm especially engaged with short-term memory loss (like Devilish Joy) where the character has to journal his life in order to understand it (been there; done that); if you have any K-drama recommendations for those, I'd appreciate them.

P.S. I'm beginning to think I should have made a list strictly for dramas that did NOT contain amnesia. It might have been shorter.

bojojoti Sep 15, 2024
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  • "Watashi wo Moratte": Tsuioku Hen

    1. "Watashi wo Moratte": Tsuioku Hen

    Japanese Drama - 2024, 8 episodes

  • 100 Days My Prince

    2. 100 Days My Prince

    Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes

    8.0

    Amnesia.

  • 19th Floor

    3. 19th Floor

    Chinese Drama - 2024, 30 episodes

    Coma.

  • 49 Days

    4. 49 Days

    Korean Drama - 2011, 20 episodes

    Coma.

  • A Beautiful Mind

    5. A Beautiful Mind

    Korean Drama - 2016, 14 episodes

    8.5

    Empathy stunted.

  • A Gentleman's Dignity

    7. A Gentleman's Dignity

    Korean Drama - 2012, 20 episodes

    7.5

    Amnesia.

  • A Good Day to Be a Dog

    8. A Good Day to Be a Dog

    Korean Drama - 2023, 14 episodes

    7.5

    Cynophobia (fear of dogs).

  • A Korean Odyssey

    9. A Korean Odyssey

    Korean Drama - 2017, 20 episodes

    8.0

    Memory stolen.

  • A Love So Romantic

    10. A Love So Romantic

    Chinese Drama - 2020, 32 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • A Robot in the Orange Orchard

    12. A Robot in the Orange Orchard

    Chinese Drama - 2022, 30 episodes

    8.0

    Mental Illness. Haphephobia (fear or dislike of touching or being touched).

  • A Thousand Days' Promise

    13. A Thousand Days' Promise

    Korean Drama - 2011, 20 episodes

    Dementia, Alzheimer's Disease, Neurological Disorder.

  • A Time to Remember

    14. A Time to Remember

    Korean Drama - 2021, 20 episodes

    Hyperthymesia.

  • About Is Love

    15. About Is Love

    Chinese Drama - 2018, 30 episodes

    8.0

    Haphephopia (fear of being touched), OCD.

  • About Is Love Season 2

    16. About Is Love Season 2

    Chinese Drama - 2022, 24 episodes

    6.5

    Haphephobia (fear of being touched); Mysophobia (fear of germs).

  • Agency

    17. Agency

    Korean Drama - 2023, 16 episodes

    Mental illness.

  • Alchemy of Souls Season 2: Light and Shadow

    18. Alchemy of Souls Season 2: Light and Shadow

    Korean Drama - 2022, 10 episodes

    9.5

    Amnesia.

  • Alice

    19. Alice

    Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes

  • Alice, the Final Weapon

    20. Alice, the Final Weapon

    Korean Drama - 2022, 8 episodes

    PTSD, masochism, trauma.

  • Amanza

    21. Amanza

    Korean Drama - 2020, 10 episodes

    8.0

    Coma (part-timer was in a coma and joined the ML's mental animated adventures). Mental Illness.

  • Amidst a Snowstorm of Love

    22. Amidst a Snowstorm of Love

    Chinese Drama - 2024, 30 episodes

    8.0

    [Protagonist Lin Yiyang has a lifelong obsession with one thing: billiards. Then he sees female protagonist Yin Guo from the outside of a bar window, and he acquires a second obsession. In his youth, he had problems with dysregulated emotions, impulsive speech and actions, and gauging his impact on others. As an adult, he's silent out of fear of committing harmful speech - and has a collection of lighters with which he fidgets. Though he's awkward, intense, and hyperfocused, luckily for him he catches Yin Guo's eye. And she's also single-mindedly obsessed with billiards, so in that way they're kindred spirits.] https://kisskh.at/list/1ep20p74, kabocha

  • An Oriental Odyssey

    23. An Oriental Odyssey

    Chinese Drama - 2018, 50 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • Ancient Detective

    24. Ancient Detective

    Chinese Drama - 2020, 24 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • Are You the One

    25. Are You the One

    Chinese Drama - 2024, 40 episodes

    8.5

    Amnesia.

  • Ashes of Love

    26. Ashes of Love

    Chinese Drama - 2018, 63 episodes

    9.0

    Mind block: "Before her death, Zi Fen foresaw that Jin Mi would encounter a fatal love trial and fed her daughter an 'Unfeeling Pill' to prevent her from developing any romantic feelings. Zi Fen also instructed the leaders of the Flower Realm to keep Jin Mi's identity a secret and had her kept locked in a water boundary within the Flower Realm."

  • Assassin Academy

    27. Assassin Academy

    Chinese Drama - 2021, 18 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • Assistant of Superstar

    28. Assistant of Superstar

    Chinese Drama - 2022, 24 episodes

    Severe phobia of crowds.

  • At a Distance, Spring Is Green

    29. At a Distance, Spring Is Green

    Korean Drama - 2021, 12 episodes

    8.0

    Depression; trauma; panic attacks.

  • Back from the Brink

    30. Back from the Brink

    Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes

    8.0

    Lu Mu Sheng pretended to have amnesia to thwart Su Ying's intentions.

  • Bad Family

    31. Bad Family

    Korean Drama - 2006, 16 episodes

    Amnesia from a car accident.

  • Bad Memory Eraser

    32. Bad Memory Eraser

    Korean Drama - 2024, 16 episodes

    PTSD. 

    "Lee Gun used to be a promising tennis player, but he was injured. After that, he lost all of his self-esteem, and his life completely changed. With the use of a memory eraser, his memory is erased, and he is reborn with maximum self-esteem and presence."

  • Bazaar Beloved Birds

    33. Bazaar Beloved Birds

    Chinese Drama - 2024, 24 episodes

  • Be My Princess

    34. Be My Princess

    Chinese Drama - 2022, 30 episodes

    8.0

    Amnesia; mental illness.

    ML gets amnesia, believes himself to be someone else, and falls deeply in love. In typical drama fashion, he regains his memories, but they're all reset to before the time he met his love (of course they are; angst ahead), and he rebuffs her, believing her to have capitalized on his misfortune. 

  • Be with You

    35. Be with You

    Korean Movie - 2018

    Amnesia.

    "Soo Ah, before passing away makes an unbelievable promise to her husband, Woo Jin, to return one year later on a rainy day. Miraculously, she keeps the promise and reappears before her husband and son but all her memories have disappeared."

  • Beloved

    36. Beloved

    Chinese Drama - 2025, 16 episodes

  • Big

    37. Big

    Korean Drama - 2012, 16 episodes

    7.5

    Coma. Amnesia.

  • Birth of a Beauty

    38. Birth of a Beauty

    Korean Drama - 2014, 21 episodes

    7.5

    Amnesia (from surgery and pills).

  • Blossoms in Adversity

    39. Blossoms in Adversity

    Chinese Drama - 2024, 40 episodes

    8.5

    Little sister Shao Yao experienced trauma at a young age, which most people thought rendered her simple. She was shunned and isolated into separate living quarters. Of course, she grew up without social abilities under such circumstances. However, she was actually quite bright and taught herself medicine and poisons from books due to her hyper-focused interest. 

  • Born to Be Together

    40. Born to Be Together

    Chinese Drama - 2022, 14 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • Boys over Flowers

    41. Boys over Flowers

    Korean Drama - 2009, 25 episodes

    9.0

    Amnesia.

  • Brain Man

    42. Brain Man

    Japanese Movie - 2013

    "The mysterious man known as "Brain Man" has outstanding memory, high intelligence and a perfect body, but doesn't seem to have human emotions."

  • Brain Works

    43. Brain Works

    Korean Drama - 2023, 16 episodes

    8.5

    Something for everyone: psychopaths, comas, amnesia... You name it; it's got it. I would have rated it higher, but all the smart people took stupid pills in the 15th and 16th episode, and the drama let me down. I was willing to overlook some shaky science, but I can't overlook supposedly brilliant people and capable police doing ridiculous things like following a serial killer without calling for back-up or letting others know their location when they all have cell phones.

  • Breakup Probation, A Week

    44. Breakup Probation, A Week

    Korean Drama - 2021, 10 episodes

    Coma.

  • Bring It On, Ghost

    46. Bring It On, Ghost

    Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes

    7.5

    Coma.

  • Bromance

    47. Bromance

    Taiwanese Drama - 2015, 18 episodes

    8.5

    ML's father had amnesia.

  • Casting a Spell to You

    48. Casting a Spell to You

    Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes

    8.5
  • Catch the Ghost

    49. Catch the Ghost

    Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes

    Autism.

  • Cheer Up!

    50. Cheer Up!

    Korean Drama - 2015, 12 episodes

    7.5

    Phobia of physical touch.

  • Cheese in the Trap

    51. Cheese in the Trap

    Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes

    8.0

    Anger disorder; empathy stunted.

  • Circle of Love

    52. Circle of Love

    Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • Clean with Passion for Now

    53. Clean with Passion for Now

    Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes

    7.5

    Mysophobia  (fear of germs).

  • Come and Hug Me

    54. Come and Hug Me

    Korean Drama - 2018, 32 episodes

    Panic disorder from trauma.

  • Consummation

    55. Consummation

    Chinese Drama - 2020, 24 episodes

    Trauma.

  • Couple or Trouble

    56. Couple or Trouble

    Korean Drama - 2006, 16 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • Crash Course in Romance

    57. Crash Course in Romance

    Korean Drama - 2023, 16 episodes

    7.5

    FL had brother with Asperger's Syndrome.

  • Crazy Love

    58. Crazy Love

    Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes

    8.0

    Faked Amnesia.

  • Day and Night

    59. Day and Night

    Chinese Drama - 2017, 32 episodes

    Nyctophobia (fear of the dark).

  • Dear Diary

    60. Dear Diary

    Chinese Drama - 2021, 24 episodes

    OCD.

  • Dear Hyeri

    61. Dear Hyeri

    Korean Drama - 2024, 12 episodes

    Dissociative Identity Disorder.

    [Joo Eun Ho is an unknown announcer with 14 years of experience. She struggles to get the chance to have her name recognized by the public. She also has another personality, Joo Hye Ri, due to a deep wound in her heart.]

  • Dear Liar

    62. Dear Liar

    Chinese Drama - 2023, 27 episodes

    7.0

    Sociopathic (lying, manipulating, controlling, gaslighting).

  • Dear Prince

    63. Dear Prince

    Chinese Drama - 2017, 19 episodes

    Enochlophobia (fear of crowds).

  • Decoded

    64. Decoded

    Chinese Drama - 2016, 44 episodes

  • Defendant

    65. Defendant

    Korean Drama - 2017, 18 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • Delivery Man

    66. Delivery Man

    Korean Drama - 2023, 12 episodes

    Amnesia.

    "Kang Ji Hyun boards Seo Young Min's taxi, but with a catch: she has no recollection of her past life and is unable to leave the vehicle."

  • Desperate Mr. X

    67. Desperate Mr. X

    Korean Drama - 2022, 6 episodes

    Depression; mental illness.

  • Devilish Joy

    68. Devilish Joy

    Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes

    7.5

    Short-term memory loss.

  • Doctor John

    69. Doctor John

    Korean Drama - 2019, 32 episodes

    8.0

    Congenital insensitivity to pain (CIPA).

  • Don't Forget I Love You

    70. Don't Forget I Love You

    Chinese Movie - 2022

    Amnesia.

  • Doom at Your Service

    71. Doom at Your Service

    Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes

    7.5

    Glioblastoma (brain cancer).

  • Dr. Brain

    72. Dr. Brain

    Korean Drama - 2021, 6 episodes

    An emotional journey that follows a brain scientist who is obsessive about figuring out new technologies to access the consciousness and memories of the brain.  

  • Dr. Cutie

    73. Dr. Cutie

    Chinese Drama - 2020, 28 episodes

    Insomnia. Sleep Disorder.

  • Dr. Frost

    74. Dr. Frost

    Korean Drama - 2014, 10 episodes

    "Dr. Frost became a professor in psychology at an early age. He is extremely bright but has difficulties sympathizing and connecting with others due to an injury to his frontal lobe as a child."

  • Dr. Romantic

    75. Dr. Romantic

    Korean Drama - 2016, 20 episodes

    8.5

    PTSD.

  • Drama Special Season 8: The Reason We Can’t Sleep

    76. Drama Special Season 8: The Reason We Can’t Sleep

    Korean Special - 2017, 1 episode

    Insomnia.

  • Drama Special Series Season 1: White Christmas

    77. Drama Special Series Season 1: White Christmas

    Korean Special - 2011, 8 episodes

    Trauma, mental illness, self-harm.

  • Dream Garden

    78. Dream Garden

    Chinese Drama - 2021, 16 episodes

    8.0

    Psychological counselor.

  • Dreaming Back to the Qing Dynasty

    79. Dreaming Back to the Qing Dynasty

    Chinese Drama - 2019, 40 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • Duel

    80. Duel

    Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • Eccentric! Chef Moon

    81. Eccentric! Chef Moon

    Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • Eternal Love

    82. Eternal Love

    Chinese Drama - 2017, 58 episodes

    8.5

    Amnesia.

  • Even if This Love Disappears Tonight

    84. Even if This Love Disappears Tonight

    Korean Movie - 2025

    Anterograde amnesia.

  • Everyday I Love You

    85. Everyday I Love You

    Filipino Movie - 2015

    Coma.

  • Evil Minds

    86. Evil Minds

    Chinese Drama - 2015, 24 episodes

    PTSD.

  • Extraordinary Attorney Woo

    87. Extraordinary Attorney Woo

    Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes

    Autism.

  • Extraordinary Attorney Woo Season 2

    88. Extraordinary Attorney Woo Season 2

    Korean Drama - 0000

    Autism.

  • Extraordinary You

    89. Extraordinary You

    Korean Drama - 2019, 32 episodes

    8.5

    Gaps in her memory.

  • FAILing in Love

    90. FAILing in Love

    Korean Drama - 2019, 10 episodes

    Anxiety disorder.

  • Fairyland Lovers

    91. Fairyland Lovers

    Chinese Drama - 2020, 35 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • Fall in Love

    92. Fall in Love

    Chinese Drama - 2022, 18 episodes

  • Falling High School Girl and Irresponsible Teacher

    93. Falling High School Girl and Irresponsible Teacher

    Japanese Drama - 2023, 9 episodes

    8.0

    Depression.

  • False Face and True Feelings

    94. False Face and True Feelings

    Chinese Drama - 2024, 26 episodes

    Fake amnesia.

  • Family Matters

    95. Family Matters

    Korean Drama - 2024, 6 episodes

    8.0

    Mind control.

  • Fated Hearts

    96. Fated Hearts

    Chinese Drama - 2025, 38 episodes

    8.0

    Amnesia of both the ML and FL. Ordinarily, I'd cringe and avoid, but the first bout of amnesia was well done and added layers of suspense. The second bout was less successful, but it was, thankfully, short-lived.

  • Fated to Love You

    97. Fated to Love You

    Chinese Drama - 2023, 30 episodes

    7.0

    Twin sister had amnesia after a hit on the head. Another hit restored it!  

  • Filter

    98. Filter

    Chinese Drama - 2025, 32 episodes

    8.5

    Tetrachromacy.

  • Find Me in Your Memory

    99. Find Me in Your Memory

    Korean Drama - 2020, 32 episodes

    8.0

    Coma. Amnesia. Hyperthymesia (highly superior autobiographical memory).

  • Fix You

    100. Fix You

    Korean Drama - 2020, 32 episodes

    Dementia; anger management.

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