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I originally made this list in order to avoid dramas with amnesia, but I found that many of my favorites contained bouts of amnesia.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.
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201. 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. "
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202. Moorim School
Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
Amnesia.
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203. 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.
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204. Mouse: The Predator
Korean Special - 2021, 2 episodes
Psychopath.
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205. Move to Heaven
Korean Drama - 2021, 10 episodes
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206. Mr. Brain
Japanese Drama - 2009, 8 episodes
Neuroscientist who tackles crimes from devious minds.
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207. Murphy's Law of Love
Taiwanese Drama - 2015, 19 episodes
Mental illness.
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208. 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."
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209. My Cherie Amour
Thai Drama - 2024, 19 episodes
Autism.
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210. My Dear Lady
Chinese Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
Trauma with resulting nyctophobia (extreme fear of the dark).
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211. My Decoy Bride
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
"The story about the notorious Prince Li Shu Bai of Hou family who got into accident when escaping marriage. After returning to the Hou Mansion, he found that his bride Jiang Yu Xiao had the intention to kill him, so he pretends to have amnesia to deal with her."
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212. My Demon
Korean Drama - 2023, 16 episodes
ML began to remember bits of his previous life.
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213. My Girl
Chinese Drama - 2020, 24 episodes
Dissociative identity disorder, alternating between two personalities.
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214. My Girlfriend
Chinese Drama - 2019, 28 episodes
Narcolepsy; insomnia.
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215. My Girlfriend Is an Alien
Chinese Drama - 2019, 28 episodes
Amnesia. Trauma resulting in rain phobia.
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216. My Girlfriend Is an Alien Season 2
Chinese Drama - 2022, 30 episodes
Mind formatting (brainwashing).
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217. My Golden Life
Korean Drama - 2017, 52 episodes
Depression.
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218. My Lethal Man
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
Phobia.
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219. My Love Eun Dong
Korean Drama - 2015, 16 episodes
Amnesia.
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220. My Love, Enlighten Me
Chinese Drama - 2020, 24 episodes
Hyperthymesia.
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221. My Mr. Mermaid
Chinese Drama - 2017, 36 episodes
Fake amnesia by Little One.
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222. My Neighbour Can't Sleep
Chinese Drama - 2019, 24 episodes
Insomnia.
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223. My Uncanny Destiny
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
Amnesia. FL hits head and believes an incorrect identity assigned to her.
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224. My Unfamiliar Family
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
Amnesia.
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225. My Wife Is A Gangster 2
Korean Movie - 2003
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226. Nancheng Banquet
Chinese Drama - 2024, 24 episodes
Amnesia.
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227. Ni Chang
Chinese Drama - 2021, 40 episodes
Amnesia.
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228. Nobody Knows
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
Trauma; coma.
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229. Nodame Cantabile
Japanese Drama - 2006, 11 episodes
Aviophobia.
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230. Nodame Cantabile: The Movie I
Japanese Movie - 2009
Aviophobia; mental illness.
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231. Nodame Cantabile: The Movie II
Japanese Movie - 2010
Aviophobia.
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232. One Day: Seiya no kara Sawagi
Japanese Drama - 2023, 11 episodes
Amnesia.
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233. One Fine Week
Korean Drama - 2019, 10 episodes
Scopophobia (a specific phobia characterized by an excessive and irrational fear of being stared at or watched by others in public or in private settings).
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234. One Liter of Tears
Japanese Drama - 2005, 11 episodes
"Spinocerebellar degeneration - a terrible disease where the cerebellum of the brain gradually deteriorates to the point where the victim cannot walk, speak, write, or eat."
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235. One More Time
Korean Drama - 2016, 8 episodes
Brain tumor.
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236. One the Woman
Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
Amnesia after a car crash.
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237. One Week Friends
Japanese Movie - 2017
Dissociative amnesia: Kaori Fujimiya is always alone because all of her happy memories, including time spent with her friends, disappear every Monday.
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238. Orange
Japanese Movie - 2015
Depression; mental illness.
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239. Orange Marmalade
Korean Drama - 2015, 12 episodes
Amnesia (after near drowning).
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240. Our Blues
Korean Drama - 2022, 20 episodes
Depression.
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241. Ouroboros
Japanese Drama - 2015, 10 episodes
Trauma; amnesia.
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242. Over the Rainbow
Korean Movie - 2002
Partial Amnesia.
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243. Parasyte: The Grey
Korean Drama - 2024, 6 episodes
Human brains are eaten by alien species.
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244. Perfect Marriage Revenge
Korean Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
Coma.
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245. Perfect Match
Chinese Drama - 2025, 36 episodes
Shen Hui Zhao suffered temporary amnesia from head trauma.
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246. Perfume
Korean Drama - 2019, 32 episodes
52 phobias and 35 allergies. Trypophobia (fear of holes; designer afraid of polka dots).
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247. Phantom Detective
Korean Movie - 2016
Sleep disorder.
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248. Pleasantly Surprised
Taiwanese Drama - 2014, 22 episodes
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249. Please Feel at Ease Mr. Ling
Chinese Drama - 2021, 24 episodes
Fake amnesia.
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250. Poisoned Love
Chinese Drama - 2020, 24 episodes
Mental illness; sleepwalking; trauma.
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251. Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist
Korean Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
Trauma; mental illness.
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252. Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist Season 2
Korean Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
Mental illness.
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253. Portraits of Delusion
Korean Drama - 2026, 12 episodes
Insomnia.
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254. Princess Agents
Chinese Drama - 2017, 67 episodes
Amnesia.
Not interested at this point.
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255. Princess Silver
Chinese Drama - 2019, 58 episodes
Coma. Amnesia. Opposite gender touch fear.
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256. Promise in the Summer
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
Touch allergy caused by a childhood trauma.
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257. Protect the Boss
Korean Drama - 2011, 18 episodes
Panic Disorder. OCD.
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258. Psych-Hunter
Chinese Drama - 2020, 36 episodes
Amnesia.
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259. Psychopath Diary
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
Amnesia.
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260. Qing Luo
Chinese Drama - 2021, 24 episodes
Amnesia.
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261. Queen and I
Korean Drama - 2012, 16 episodes
Amnesia.
The ML looked familiar, and I racked my brain to remember what I'd seen him in. A quick check at mydramalist, and I discovered he was Ji Hyun Woo and recognized him as the lead in Young Lady and Gentleman. My heart sank. I'd been enjoying Queen In Hyun's Man until then. Not Mr. Amnesia! Not Mr. Reverse Amnesia! I never could finish YLaG after the ML's second bout of amnesia.
Sure enough, poor Hyun Woo is similarly afflicted in QIHM. Dreaded amnesia strikes again.
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262. Queen of Tears
Korean Drama - 2024, 16 episodes
Amnesia after surgery for a brain cloud cancer.
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263. Radio Romance
Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes
Trauma; insomnia; depression.
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264. Rain or Shine
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
Trauma; amnesia.
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265. Recalled
Korean Movie - 2021
Amnesia.
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266. Remember
Korean Movie - 2022
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267. Remember: War of the Son
Korean Drama - 2015, 20 episodes
Hyperthymesia; Alzheimer's.
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268. Revenge of Others
Korean Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
Amnesia.
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269. River Where the Moon Rises
Korean Drama - 2021, 20 episodes
Amnesia.
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270. Romance beyond Romance
Chinese Drama - 2023, 23 episodes
Coma; amnesia.
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271. Romance of a Twin Flower
Chinese Drama - 2023, 38 episodes
Amnesia.
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272. Romantic
Chinese Drama - 2023, 22 episodes
Coma.
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273. Romantics Anonymous
Japanese Drama - 2025, 8 episodes
Phobia, Social Anxiety Disorder, Scopophobia, Mysophobia, Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD). Gee, one of everything!
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274. Roppongi Class
Japanese Drama - 2022, 13 episodes
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275. Ruby Ruby Love
Korean Special - 2017, 5 episodes
Sociophobia.
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276. Save the Last Dance for Me
Korean Drama - 2004, 20 episodes
Amnesia.
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277. See You Again
Chinese Drama - 2019, 45 episodes
Coma; mental illness.
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278. Seobok
Korean Movie - 2021
Brain tumor.
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279. Seven of Me
Chinese Drama - 2017, 38 episodes
Dissociative Identity Disorder; amnesia.
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280. Shadow Love
Chinese Drama - 2025, 38 episodes
Amnesia.
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281. Shining Inheritance
Korean Drama - 2009, 28 episodes
Amnesia.
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282. Shoot for the Stars
Korean Drama - 2002, 16 episodes
Mental Illness. Dyslexia.
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283. Shoot My Heart
Korean Movie - 2015
Schizophrenia.
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284. Shopaholic Louis
Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
Amnesia.
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285. Since I Met U
Chinese Drama - 2022, 16 episodes
Mental illness.
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286. Skate Into Love
Chinese Drama - 2020, 40 episodes
Subdural hematoma of the brain. This aspect was dealt with superficially, and a time skip of two years ignored the recovery process.
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287. Sm:)e
Chinese Drama - 2018, 24 episodes
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288. Smile Code
Chinese Drama - 2024, 34 episodes
Trauma; alexithymia (emotional blindness, an inability to recognize one’s emotions; causes difficulty in relationships and attachments).
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289. Smile, You
Korean Drama - 2009, 45 episodes
Mental Illness.
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290. Smoking Gun
Korean Drama - 0000, 16 episodes
Amnesia.
[“Smoking Gun” is an espionage action thriller about a former South Korean agent with memory loss and a North Korean secret agent who is trying to kill him as they carry out an intense chase in order to stop a terrorism plot.]
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291. Star With a Secret
Korean Drama - 2020, 5 episodes
Haphephobia (fear of being touched by people).
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292. Still 17
Korean Drama - 2018, 32 episodes
Coma for 13 years.
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293. Still, Marry Me
Korean Drama - 2010, 16 episodes
Neurological Disorder.
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294. Story of My Family!!!
Japanese Drama - 2021, 10 episodes
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295. Stranger
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
"Hwang Shi Mok underwent brain surgery as a child to curb his violent temper, which left him devoid of emotions. Hwang becomes a prosecutor known for his piercing intelligence and logic, but he is ostracized because he lacks empathy and social skills."
Alexithymia.
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296. Stranger Season 2
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
Alexithymia (emotional blindness).
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297. Strangers from Hell
Korean Drama - 2019, 10 episodes
Trauma; paranoia.
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298. Summer Rose
Chinese Drama - 2025, 82 episodes
Bipolar disorder.
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299. Sweat and Soap
Japanese Drama - 2022, 9 episodes
Hyperosmia (sensitivity to smells).
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300. Sweet Dreams
Chinese Drama - 2018, 49 episodes
Trauma.



































































































