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I originally made this list in order to avoid dramas with amnesia, but I found that many of my favorites contained bouts of amnesia.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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  • 100 Days My Prince

    1. 100 Days My Prince

    Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes

    8.0

    Amnesia.

  • 19th Floor

    2. 19th Floor

    Chinese Drama - 2024, 30 episodes

    Coma.

  • 49 Days

    3. 49 Days

    Korean Drama - 2011, 20 episodes

    Coma.

  • A Beautiful Mind

    4. A Beautiful Mind

    Korean Drama - 2016, 14 episodes

    8.5

    Empathy stunted.

  • A Gentleman's Dignity

    6. A Gentleman's Dignity

    Korean Drama - 2012, 20 episodes

    7.5

    Amnesia.

  • A Good Day to Be a Dog

    7. A Good Day to Be a Dog

    Korean Drama - 2023, 14 episodes

    7.5

    Cynophobia (fear of dogs).

  • A Love So Romantic

    8. A Love So Romantic

    Chinese Drama - 2020, 32 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • A Robot in the Orange Orchard

    10. 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

    11. A Thousand Days' Promise

    Korean Drama - 2011, 20 episodes

    Dementia, Alzheimer's Disease, Neurological Disorder.

  • A Time to Remember

    12. A Time to Remember

    Korean Drama - 2021, 20 episodes

    Hyperthymesia.

  • About Is Love

    13. About Is Love

    Chinese Drama - 2018, 30 episodes

    8.0

    Haphephopia (fear of being touched), OCD.

  • About Is Love Season 2

    14. About Is Love Season 2

    Chinese Drama - 2022, 24 episodes

    6.5

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

  • Agency

    15. Agency

    Korean Drama - 2023, 16 episodes

    Mental illness.

  • Alchemy of Souls Season 2: Light and Shadow

    16. Alchemy of Souls Season 2: Light and Shadow

    Korean Drama - 2022, 10 episodes

    9.5

    Amnesia.

  • Alice

    17. Alice

    Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes

  • Amanza

    18. 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.

  • An Oriental Odyssey

    19. An Oriental Odyssey

    Chinese Drama - 2018, 50 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • Ancient Detective

    20. Ancient Detective

    Chinese Drama - 2020, 24 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • Arang and the Magistrate

    21. Arang and the Magistrate

    Korean Drama - 2012, 20 episodes

    8.0

    Amnesia. When Arang is awakened, she doesn't remember her life as Lee Seo Rim.

  • Are You the One

    22. Are You the One

    Chinese Drama - 2024, 40 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • Ashes of Love

    23. 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

    24. Assassin Academy

    Chinese Drama - 2021, 18 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • Assistant of Superstar

    25. Assistant of Superstar

    Chinese Drama - 2022, 24 episodes

    Severe phobia of crowds.

  • At a Distance, Spring Is Green

    26. At a Distance, Spring Is Green

    Korean Drama - 2021, 12 episodes

    8.0

    Depression; trauma; panic attacks.

  • Back from the Brink

    27. 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

    28. Bad Family

    Korean Drama - 2006, 16 episodes

    Amnesia from a car accident.

  • Bad-Memory Eraser

    29. 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."

  • Be My Princess

    30. 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

    31. 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."

  • Big

    32. Big

    Korean Drama - 2012, 16 episodes

    7.5

    Coma. Amnesia.

  • Birth of a Beauty

    33. Birth of a Beauty

    Korean Drama - 2014, 21 episodes

    7.5

    Amnesia (from surgery and pills).

  • Boys over Flowers

    34. Boys over Flowers

    Korean Drama - 2009, 25 episodes

    9.0

    Amnesia.

  • Brain Man

    35. 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

    36. 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

    37. Breakup Probation, A Week

    Korean Drama - 2021, 10 episodes

    Coma.

  • Bring It On, Ghost

    38. Bring It On, Ghost

    Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes

    7.5

    Coma.

  • Bromance

    39. Bromance

    Taiwanese Drama - 2015, 18 episodes

    8.5

    ML's father had amnesia.

  • Casting a Spell to You

    40. Casting a Spell to You

    Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes

    8.5
  • Catch the Ghost

    41. Catch the Ghost

    Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes

    Autism.

  • Circle of Love

    42. Circle of Love

    Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • Clean with Passion for Now

    43. Clean with Passion for Now

    Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes

    7.5

    Mysophobia  (fear of germs).

  • Consummation

    44. Consummation

    Chinese Drama - 2020, 24 episodes

    Trauma.

  • Couple or Trouble

    45. Couple or Trouble

    Korean Drama - 2006, 16 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • Crash Course in Romance

    46. Crash Course in Romance

    Korean Drama - 2023, 16 episodes

    7.5

    FL had brother with Asperger's Syndrome.

  • Crazy Love

    47. Crazy Love

    Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes

    Faked Amnesia.

  • Day and Night

    48. Day and Night

    Chinese Drama - 2017, 32 episodes

    Nyctophobia (fear of the dark).

  • Dear Hyeri

    49. 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 Prince

    50. Dear Prince

    Chinese Drama - 2017, 19 episodes

    Enochlophobia (fear of crowds).

  • Defendant

    51. Defendant

    Korean Drama - 2017, 18 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • Delivery Man

    52. 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

    53. Desperate Mr. X

    Korean Drama - 2022, 6 episodes

    Depression; mental illness.

  • Devilish Joy

    54. Devilish Joy

    Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes

    7.5

    Short-term memory loss.

  • Doctor John

    55. Doctor John

    Korean Drama - 2019, 32 episodes

    8.0

    Congenital insensitivity to pain (CIPA).

  • Don't Forget I Love You

    56. Don't Forget I Love You

    Chinese Movie - 2022

    Amnesia.

  • Doom at Your Service

    57. Doom at Your Service

    Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes

    7.5

    Glioblastoma (brain cancer).

  • Dr. Brain

    58. 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

    59. Dr. Cutie

    Chinese Drama - 2020, 28 episodes

    Insomnia. Sleep Disorder.

  • Dr. Frost

    60. 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."

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

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

    Korean Special - 2017, 1 episode

    Insomnia.

  • Dream Garden

    62. Dream Garden

    Chinese Drama - 2021, 16 episodes

    8.0

    Psychological counselor.

  • Duel

    63. Duel

    Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • Eccentric! Chef Moon

    64. Eccentric! Chef Moon

    Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • Eternal Love

    65. Eternal Love

    Chinese Drama - 2017, 58 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • Everyday I Love You

    66. Everyday I Love You

    Filipino Movie - 2015

    Coma.

  • Extraordinary Attorney Woo

    67. Extraordinary Attorney Woo

    Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes

    Autism.

  • Extraordinary Attorney Woo Season 2

    68. Extraordinary Attorney Woo Season 2

    Korean Drama - 0000

    Autism.

  • Extraordinary You

    69. Extraordinary You

    Korean Drama - 2019, 32 episodes

    8.5

    Gaps in her memory.

  • FAILing in Love

    70. FAILing in Love

    Korean Drama - 2019, 10 episodes

    Anxiety disorder.

  • Fairyland Lovers

    71. Fairyland Lovers

    Chinese Drama - 2020, 35 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • False Face and True Feelings

    72. False Face and True Feelings

    Chinese Drama - 2024, 26 episodes

    Fake amnesia.

  • Family Matters

    73. Family Matters

    Korean Drama - 2024, 6 episodes

    8.0

    Mind control.

  • Fated Hearts

    74. Fated Hearts

    Chinese Drama - 2025, 38 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • Fated to Love You

    75. Fated to Love You

    Chinese Drama - 2023, 30 episodes

    7.0
  • Find Me in Your Memory

    76. Find Me in Your Memory

    Korean Drama - 2020, 32 episodes

    8.0

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

  • Fix You

    77. Fix You

    Korean Drama - 2020, 32 episodes

    Dementia; anger management.

  • Flavour It's Yours

    78. Flavour It's Yours

    Chinese Drama - 2019, 25 episodes

    Ageusia (a complete loss of the sense of taste).

  • Flower Boy Next Door

    79. Flower Boy Next Door

    Korean Drama - 2013, 16 episodes

    7.5

    Social Anxiety Disorder.

  • Flower of Evil

    80. Flower of Evil

    Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes

    Sociopath. 

    Such a good series, but I have yet to finish it, because I'm too invested in the characters and don't want anything to happen to them. 

  • Flower, I Am!

    81. Flower, I Am!

    Korean Drama - 2011, 15 episodes

    Depression.

  • Forest

    82. Forest

    Korean Drama - 2020, 32 episodes

    Amnesia. 

  • Forgotten

    83. Forgotten

    Korean Movie - 2017

    Amnesia.

  • Girl Next Room: Midnight Fantasy

    84. Girl Next Room: Midnight Fantasy

    Thai Drama - 2020, 4 episodes

  • Go Ahead

    85. Go Ahead

    Chinese Drama - 2020, 46 episodes

    Depression, mental illness.

  • God's Gift: 14 Days

    86. God's Gift: 14 Days

    Korean Drama - 2014, 16 episodes

  • Golden House Hidden Love

    87. Golden House Hidden Love

    Chinese Drama - 2024, 24 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • Golden Pouch

    88. Golden Pouch

    Korean Drama - 2016, 122 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • Good Doctor

    89. Good Doctor

    Korean Drama - 2013, 20 episodes

    Autistic savant.

  • Good Doctor

    90. Good Doctor

    Japanese Drama - 2018, 10 episodes

    Autism: Shindo Minato has savant syndrome. His memory is amazing, but he has difficulty communicating with other people. 

  • Good Job

    91. Good Job

    Korean Drama - 2022, 12 episodes

    7.5

    Amnesia.

  • Guess Who I Am

    92. Guess Who I Am

    Chinese Drama - 2024, 24 episodes

    7.5

    Amnesia; trauma resulting in fear of fire; dissociative disorder.

  • Gyeongseong Creature

    93. Gyeongseong Creature

    Korean Drama - 2023, 10 episodes

    8.0

    Amnesia.

  • Gyeongseong Creature Season 2

    94. Gyeongseong Creature Season 2

    Korean Drama - 2024, 7 episodes

    7.0

    Amnesia.

  • Haeundae Lovers

    95. Haeundae Lovers

    Korean Drama - 2012, 16 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • Hard to Find

    96. Hard to Find

    Chinese Drama - 2024, 28 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • He Is Psychometric

    97. He Is Psychometric

    Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes

    7.5

    " Lee Ahn gains the ability of psychometry, which allows him to read a person or object's past through physical contact.

  • He Who Can't Marry

    98. He Who Can't Marry

    Japanese Drama - 2006, 12 episodes

    OCD; Mental Illness.

  • Healer

    99. Healer

    Korean Drama - 2014, 20 episodes

    9.5

    PTSD; panic attacks.

  • Heart to Heart

    100. Heart to Heart

    Korean Drama - 2015, 16 episodes

    Trauma.

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