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I originally made this list in order to avoid dramas with amnesia, but I found that many of my favorites contained bouts of amnesia.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

    101. 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

    102. Good Job

    Korean Drama - 2022, 12 episodes

    7.5

    Amnesia.

  • Goodbye My Princess: Director's Cut

    103. Goodbye My Princess: Director's Cut

    Chinese Drama - 2019, 55 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • Guess Who I Am

    104. Guess Who I Am

    Chinese Drama - 2024, 24 episodes

    7.5

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

  • Gyeongseong Creature

    105. Gyeongseong Creature

    Korean Drama - 2023, 10 episodes

    8.0

    Amnesia.

  • Gyeongseong Creature Season 2

    106. Gyeongseong Creature Season 2

    Korean Drama - 2024, 7 episodes

    7.0

    Amnesia.

  • Haeundae Lovers

    107. Haeundae Lovers

    Korean Drama - 2012, 16 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • Hard to Find

    108. Hard to Find

    Chinese Drama - 2024, 28 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • He Is Psychometric

    109. 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

    110. He Who Can't Marry

    Japanese Drama - 2006, 12 episodes

    OCD; Mental Illness.

  • Healer

    111. Healer

    Korean Drama - 2014, 20 episodes

    9.5

    PTSD; panic attacks.

  • Heart to Heart

    112. Heart to Heart

    Korean Drama - 2015, 16 episodes

    Trauma.

  • Hello Monster

    113. Hello Monster

    Korean Drama - 2015, 16 episodes

    8.5

    Psychopath. Sociopath. 

  • Hello Mr. Gu

    114. Hello Mr. Gu

    Chinese Drama - 2021, 30 episodes

    7.5

    Mental Illness. Enochlophobia (fear of crowds).

  • Hello, the Sharpshooter

    115. Hello, the Sharpshooter

    Chinese Drama - 2022, 40 episodes

    8.0

    Mental Illness; selective amnesia; PTSD. Both ML and FL suffered trauma.

  • High School Frenemy

    116. High School Frenemy

    Thai Drama - 2024, 16 episodes

    Autism.

  • Hikikomori Sensei

    117. Hikikomori Sensei

    Japanese Drama - 2021, 5 episodes

    "Uwashima Yohei is a so-called "hikikomori survivor" who was withdrawn from the world for 11 years."

  • Hong Xiu An Wei

    118. Hong Xiu An Wei

    Chinese Drama - 2023, 27 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • Hunted

    119. Hunted

    Korean Drama - 2022, 4 episodes

  • Hyde, Jekyll, Me

    120. Hyde, Jekyll, Me

    Korean Drama - 2015, 20 episodes

    8.5

    Dissociative Identity Disorder.

  • I Cannot Hug You

    121. I Cannot Hug You

    Chinese Drama - 2017, 16 episodes

    Mysophobia  (fear of germs).

  • I Cannot Hug You Season 2

    122. I Cannot Hug You Season 2

    Chinese Drama - 2018, 16 episodes

    Mysophobia  (fear of germs).

  • I Have Three Boyfriends

    123. I Have Three Boyfriends

    Korean Drama - 2019, 10 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • I Hear Your Voice

    124. I Hear Your Voice

    Korean Drama - 2013, 18 episodes

    8.5

    Amnesia.

  • I Wanna Hear Your Song

    125. I Wanna Hear Your Song

    Korean Drama - 2019, 32 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK

    126. I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK

    Korean Movie - 2006

    Mental Illness.

  • I'm Not a Robot

    127. I'm Not a Robot

    Korean Drama - 2017, 32 episodes

    8.5

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

  • Iari: Mienai Kao

    128. Iari: Mienai Kao

    Japanese Drama - 2018, 6 episodes

    Brainwashing.

  • If Cats Disappeared from the World

    129. If Cats Disappeared from the World

    Japanese Movie - 2016

    Amnesia, Brain Tumor.

  • In Your Radiant Season

    130. In Your Radiant Season

    Korean Drama - 2026, 12 episodes

    Amnesia.

    [A man lost his hearing and memory through an accident and meets a woman who became a savior to him.]

  • Innocent Witness

    131. Innocent Witness

    Korean Movie - 2019

     AutismDisability,  Asperger's.

  • Introverted Boss

    132. Introverted Boss

    Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes

    8.0

    Severe PTSD. Anxiety disorder. OCD.

  • IRIS 2

    133. IRIS 2

    Korean Drama - 2013, 20 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • It's Okay to Not Be Okay

    134. It's Okay to Not Be Okay

    Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes

    8.5

    Mental illness.

  • It's Okay, That's Love

    135. It's Okay, That's Love

    Korean Drama - 2014, 16 episodes

    8.0

    Schizophrenia. Tourette's Syndrome.

  • Itaewon Class

    136. Itaewon Class

    Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes

    9.5

    ML had autistic tendencies. FL was sociopathic.

  • Joy of Life

    137. Joy of Life

    Chinese Drama - 2019, 46 episodes

    9.0

    Wu Zhu suffered memory loss, which plagued him and kept him off balance. Due to that, he preferred to remain hidden and often was concerned that he might be responsible for things that occurred without him remembering.

  • Joy of Life Season 2

    138. Joy of Life Season 2

    Chinese Drama - 2024, 36 episodes

    9.0

    Wu Zhu suffered memory loss, which plagued him and kept him off balance. Due to that, he preferred to remain hidden and often was concerned that he might be responsible for things that occurred without him remembering.

  • Judge vs. Judge

    139. Judge vs. Judge

    Korean Drama - 2017, 32 episodes

  • Kill Me, Heal Me

    141. Kill Me, Heal Me

    Korean Drama - 2015, 20 episodes

    9.5

    Multiple personalities. Memory loss and dissociation. 

  • Killer and Healer

    142. Killer and Healer

    Chinese Drama - 2021, 37 episodes

    Bipolar Disorder.

  • Kururi 〜Who’s in Love with me〜

    143. Kururi 〜Who’s in Love with me〜

    Japanese Drama - 2024, 11 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • L.U.C.A.: The Beginning

    144. L.U.C.A.: The Beginning

    Korean Drama - 2021, 12 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • Left-Handed Wife

    145. Left-Handed Wife

    Korean Drama - 2019, 103 episodes

    Amnesia.

    "During their honeymoon, Soo Ho has an accident and loses his memory."

  • Legend of Fu Yao

    146. Legend of Fu Yao

    Chinese Drama - 2018, 66 episodes

    8.5

    Fu Yao doesn't recall her early childhood.

  • Let's Watch the Meteor Shower Again

    147. Let's Watch the Meteor Shower Again

    Chinese Drama - 2010, 36 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • Liar x Liar

    148. Liar x Liar

    Japanese Movie - 2021

    OCD.

  • Lie to Love

    149. Lie to Love

    Chinese Drama - 2021, 32 episodes

    Faked amnesia.

  • Light of My Lion

    150. Light of My Lion

    Japanese Drama - 2024, 11 episodes

    Autism.

  • Light Shop

    151. Light Shop

    Korean Drama - 2024, 8 episodes

    Coma.

  • Lion Pride

    152. Lion Pride

    Taiwanese Drama - 2017, 16 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • Literalism

    153. Literalism

    Korean Drama - 2026

    Amnesia.

    [The story revolves around Kwon Soo Young who lost his memory and gets involved in a power struggle.]

    This makes three projects in a row where Seo In Guk plays a lead with amnesia. He had amnesia in Shopping King Louie, too. 

  • Longing for Spring

    154. Longing for Spring

    Korean Drama - 2014, 4 episodes

  • Lost Love in Times

    155. Lost Love in Times

    Chinese Drama - 2017, 56 episodes

    Memories erased.

  • Lost Romance

    156. Lost Romance

    Taiwanese Drama - 2020, 20 episodes

    9.0

    Coma; Nyctophobia.

  • Love and Redemption

    157. Love and Redemption

    Chinese Drama - 2020, 59 episodes

    8.0

    Chu Xuan Ji has had her memories tampered with.

  • Love in Time

    158. Love in Time

    Chinese Drama - 2020, 24 episodes

    Nyctophobia.

  • Love Me If You Dare

    159. Love Me If You Dare

    Chinese Drama - 2015, 24 episodes

    8.0

     Bo Jinyan, a brilliant criminal psychologist, has the ability to get into the minds of even the most mysterious and violent criminals.

  • Love of Replica

    160. Love of Replica

    Chinese Drama - 2023, 16 episodes

    Amnesia; coma.

  • Love of the Divine Tree

    161. Love of the Divine Tree

    Chinese Drama - 2025, 40 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • Love Reset

    162. Love Reset

    Korean Movie - 2023

    Amnesia.

    "But, on the day that they applied for a divorce, they get into a car accident. When they wake up at the hospital, they have both lost their memories and do not remember each other."

  • Love Scout

    163. Love Scout

    Korean Drama - 2025, 12 episodes

    8.0

    Insomnia.

  • Love Script

    164. Love Script

    Chinese Drama - 2020, 24 episodes

    "Involved in a car accident at a young age, he developed a strange neurosis that worsened with time. Believing he is the Ming Dynasty’s Emperor Jianwen, Xuan Wen cares only for the prosperity of his imaginary empire."

  • Love under the Full Moon

    165. Love under the Full Moon

    Chinese Drama - 2021, 24 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • Love Unexpected

    166. Love Unexpected

    Chinese Drama - 2021, 24 episodes

    Trauma; alexithymia (emotional blindness, an inability to  recognize one’s emotions; causes difficulty in relationships and attachments).

  • Lovely Runner

    167. Lovely Runner

    Korean Drama - 2024, 16 episodes

    8.5

    Brain impairment.

  • Lovers of Music

    168. Lovers of Music

    Korean Drama - 2014, 16 episodes

    7.5

    Amnesia.

  • Lucid Dream

    169. Lucid Dream

    Korean Movie - 2017

    "Dae Ho can purposefully control his dream environment while lucid dreaming."

  • Luck-Key

    170. Luck-Key

    Korean Movie - 2016

    Amnesia.

  • Mad for Each Other

    171. Mad for Each Other

    Korean Drama - 2021, 13 episodes

    7.5

    Mental illness; trauma; anxiety disorder; anger management.

  • Maid's Revenge

    172. Maid's Revenge

    Chinese Drama - 2022, 30 episodes

    7.0

    Pretend amnesia. The drama had every other trope, so why not fake amnesia, too?  Dead parents, love triangle, noble idiocy, cruel potential mother-in-law, identity switch, childhood connection of the lovers, giving first aid, misunderstandings, time skip, etc.

  • Marry Me Again

    173. Marry Me Again

    Chinese Drama - 2025, 31 episodes

    7.5

    Fake amnesia.

  • Mars

    174. Mars

    Taiwanese Drama - 2004, 13 episodes

    Trauma.

  • Mask

    175. Mask

    Korean Drama - 2015, 20 episodes

    Trauma; aquaphobia.

  • Master's Delicacies

    176. Master's Delicacies

    Korean Drama - 2022, 6 episodes

    Mental illness; eating disorder.

  • Me and My Delicate Husband

    177. Me and My Delicate Husband

    Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • Meeting You

    178. Meeting You

    Chinese Drama - 2020, 28 episodes

    8.0

    Social anxiety disorder.

  • Meeting You Loving You

    179. Meeting You Loving You

    Chinese Drama - 2021, 24 episodes

    Memory erasure: "Su Zhi Nian, a transfer student with hidden powers, defends himself and Song Qing Chun from bullies with those powers. However, he discovers that his abilities don't work when she touches him, an unprecedented development. To protect his secret, he erases her memory of it."

  • Meloholic

    180. Meloholic

    Korean Drama - 2017, 10 episodes

    Dissociative Identity Disorder.

    "Yoo Eun Ho has a special ability which allows him to read the minds of other people when he places his hand on them. Due to his special ability, he can't open his mind to anyone. One day, he meets Han Ye Ri. He is able to discern that what she says is actually what she thinks, but he also learns that she has two different personalities."

  • Melting Me Softly

    181. Melting Me Softly

    Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes

    7.5

    Technically, not a coma but frozen for two decades.  

  • Memoir of a Murderer

    182. Memoir of a Murderer

    Korean Movie - 2017

    "Former serial killer Byung Soo, diagnosed with Alzheimer's due to a traffic accident 17 years ago, begins to fear he may be responsible for recent murders during his memory lapses."

  • Memory

    183. Memory

    Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes

  • Memory Lost

    184. Memory Lost

    Chinese Drama - 2016, 12 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • Memory Lost Season 2

    185. Memory Lost Season 2

    Chinese Drama - 2016, 12 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • Memory Lost Season 3

    186. Memory Lost Season 3

    Chinese Drama - 2016, 12 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • Mermaid Prince

    187. Mermaid Prince

    Korean Drama - 2020, 6 episodes

    Tactile Agnosia (inability to recognize objects by touch).

  • Meteor Garden Season 2

    188. Meteor Garden Season 2

    Taiwanese Drama - 2002, 31 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • Miracle in Cell No. 7

    189. Miracle in Cell No. 7

    Korean Movie - 2013

    Intellectual disability; neurodevelopmental disorder.

  • Miraculous Brothers

    190. Miraculous Brothers

    Korean Drama - 2023, 16 episodes

    Amnesia.

  • Miss Ye in Wonderland

    191. Miss Ye in Wonderland

    Chinese Drama - 2022, 24 episodes

    Coma.

  • Moon Embracing the Sun

    192. Moon Embracing the Sun

    Korean Drama - 2012, 20 episodes

    Amnesia. 

    "She orders the head shaman to cast a spell on Yeon Woo to strike her with an unknown sickness. After dying, Yeon Woo is resurrected from her grave but loses her memories. "

  • Moorim School

    193. Moorim School

    Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes

    7.5

    Amnesia.

  • Mouse

    194. Mouse

    Korean Drama - 2021, 20 episodes

    Brain damage. Brain repair. And I stopped there, because it was too intense and horrifying for me. I'll return eventually. 

  • Mouse: The Predator

    195. Mouse: The Predator

    Korean Special - 2021, 2 episodes

    Psychopath.

  • Move to Heaven

    196. Move to Heaven

    Korean Drama - 2021, 10 episodes

    8.5
  • Mr. Brain

    197. Mr. Brain

    Japanese Drama - 2009, 8 episodes

    Neuroscientist who tackles crimes from devious minds.

  • Murphy's Law of Love

    198. Murphy's Law of Love

    Taiwanese Drama - 2015, 19 episodes

    7.5

    Mental illness.

  • My Amazing Boyfriend

    199. My Amazing Boyfriend

    Chinese Drama - 2016, 28 episodes

    Coma.

    "Mutant Xue Ling Qiao, who has been asleep for centuries, is awakened by the unlucky actress Tian Jing Zhi in a fatal car accident."

  • My Cherie Amour

    200. My Cherie Amour

    Thai Drama - 2024, 19 episodes

    Autism.

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