This review may contain spoilers
A Delightful Blend of Laughs, Romance, and Superpowers
If you're in the mood for a romantic comedy that's firing on all cylinders, then look no further. The 2017 K-drama "Strong Woman Do Bong Soon" delivers just that.
This is one of those rare shows with no bad/boring episodes. It has it all: plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, sizzling chemistry between all three leads, swoon-worthy romance, and a dash of superhero-esque fantasy.
The premise is simple. Do Bong Soon (played by Park Bo Young) is a petite and kind-hearted woman who just so happens to possess Herculean strength, a gift passed down through the women in her family. When she catches the eye of the handsome and eccentric CEO of a gaming company Ahn Min Hyuk (played by Park Hyung Sik), who is in need of a bodyguard, Bong Sun's life is thrown into chaos.
Ahn Min Hyuk is a simp for our girl from the moment he sees her. He probably doesn’t even get yet that’s he’s fallen, but it doesn’t take him long. What’s stopping their relationship from flourishing early on is her crush on her childhood friend, policeman In Guk Du (played by Kim Ji Soo). Gu Do however keeps our girl Bong Soon in the friendzone while seeing someone else. Still, he’s a caring friend and when Ahn Min Hyuk enters the picture, we have a crash of that alpha energy… and really hilarious moments between all three due to the little misunderstanding about Ahn Min Hyuk’s sexual orientation. There are so many opportunities here to make it entertaining and the writers do just that.
Love triangle (if done right) is my favorite trope and this drama delivers. Our heroine is confused and has to make a choice between the two and they are both equally great man.
We also have a serial kidnapper in the neighborhood and our characters get entangled in that as well. This add a little more flair to the show.
The writing is top-notch, with countless little details that all come together in a cohesive and compelling way. Bong Soon is an incredibly relatable heroine, and we can't help but root for her as she undergoes a wonderful journey of self-discovery and empowerment, learning how to use her powers for good. The two male leads—the playful Min Hyuk and the earnest police officer In Guk Du—provide the perfect foils, each bringing their own unique charms to the table. I’m also going to say that the chemistry between male leads is amazing. Sometimes, I had no idea if I wanted either one of them to end up with our girl.
Check out what I’m talking about here.
Park Hyung Sik was born to do comedy, in my opinion. He’s a charming, silly, smitten, and adorable in this role. He and Park Bo Young sparkle on screen, delivering gut-busting moments that never feel forced. And the way the show balances the humor with heartfelt themes of family, friendship, and justice is nothing short of masterful.
I honestly, enjoyed this drama so much, I can talk about it for days. I can’t remember when I laughed so hard when I watched romantic comedy. K-dramas also tend to get all mushy toward the end with the comedic elements being pushed back to give room for other things. Here, it’s not the case and I think this was the right choice.
Kim Won Hae who played Team Leader O and his gangster doppelgänger needs an award for his dual role in this. He nailed it. I think Team Leader O is my favorite side character in all of the K-dramas I’ve seen. And I’ve seen a lot.
Overall, if you're in the market for a romantic comedy that will keep you thoroughly entertained from start to finish, "Strong Woman Do Bong Soon" is an absolute must-watch. With its winning combination of relatable characters, swoon-worthy romance, and just the right amount of superhero flair, this drama is pure perfection. We also have a really good wrap with with everyone involved and no loose ends or unnecessary break up between the lead couple. You’ll have that awesome fuzzy feeling after finishing that will lift up your mood for sure.
P.S. I do have to say that while I’d like to see Ji Soo (he was great in Moon Lovers) return to screen, you need to make your own decision about the actor and if you want to support him. In 2021, school bullying and assault accusations were made against him and his career stalled. While, it appears that most of the accusations were cleared out, the controversy caused him to lose his contract. I find it sad. I think there are worse (and proven) things actors in Korean industry has done. Compared to some, this is in my opinion is not worth losing a career if the person is truly sorry and tries to somehow atone for what he’s done. In any case, this is just my opinion. I encourage everyone to think for themselves.
Otherwise, enjoy the drama and laugh a little.
This is one of those rare shows with no bad/boring episodes. It has it all: plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, sizzling chemistry between all three leads, swoon-worthy romance, and a dash of superhero-esque fantasy.
The premise is simple. Do Bong Soon (played by Park Bo Young) is a petite and kind-hearted woman who just so happens to possess Herculean strength, a gift passed down through the women in her family. When she catches the eye of the handsome and eccentric CEO of a gaming company Ahn Min Hyuk (played by Park Hyung Sik), who is in need of a bodyguard, Bong Sun's life is thrown into chaos.
Ahn Min Hyuk is a simp for our girl from the moment he sees her. He probably doesn’t even get yet that’s he’s fallen, but it doesn’t take him long. What’s stopping their relationship from flourishing early on is her crush on her childhood friend, policeman In Guk Du (played by Kim Ji Soo). Gu Do however keeps our girl Bong Soon in the friendzone while seeing someone else. Still, he’s a caring friend and when Ahn Min Hyuk enters the picture, we have a crash of that alpha energy… and really hilarious moments between all three due to the little misunderstanding about Ahn Min Hyuk’s sexual orientation. There are so many opportunities here to make it entertaining and the writers do just that.
Love triangle (if done right) is my favorite trope and this drama delivers. Our heroine is confused and has to make a choice between the two and they are both equally great man.
We also have a serial kidnapper in the neighborhood and our characters get entangled in that as well. This add a little more flair to the show.
The writing is top-notch, with countless little details that all come together in a cohesive and compelling way. Bong Soon is an incredibly relatable heroine, and we can't help but root for her as she undergoes a wonderful journey of self-discovery and empowerment, learning how to use her powers for good. The two male leads—the playful Min Hyuk and the earnest police officer In Guk Du—provide the perfect foils, each bringing their own unique charms to the table. I’m also going to say that the chemistry between male leads is amazing. Sometimes, I had no idea if I wanted either one of them to end up with our girl.
Check out what I’m talking about here.
Park Hyung Sik was born to do comedy, in my opinion. He’s a charming, silly, smitten, and adorable in this role. He and Park Bo Young sparkle on screen, delivering gut-busting moments that never feel forced. And the way the show balances the humor with heartfelt themes of family, friendship, and justice is nothing short of masterful.
I honestly, enjoyed this drama so much, I can talk about it for days. I can’t remember when I laughed so hard when I watched romantic comedy. K-dramas also tend to get all mushy toward the end with the comedic elements being pushed back to give room for other things. Here, it’s not the case and I think this was the right choice.
Kim Won Hae who played Team Leader O and his gangster doppelgänger needs an award for his dual role in this. He nailed it. I think Team Leader O is my favorite side character in all of the K-dramas I’ve seen. And I’ve seen a lot.
Overall, if you're in the market for a romantic comedy that will keep you thoroughly entertained from start to finish, "Strong Woman Do Bong Soon" is an absolute must-watch. With its winning combination of relatable characters, swoon-worthy romance, and just the right amount of superhero flair, this drama is pure perfection. We also have a really good wrap with with everyone involved and no loose ends or unnecessary break up between the lead couple. You’ll have that awesome fuzzy feeling after finishing that will lift up your mood for sure.
P.S. I do have to say that while I’d like to see Ji Soo (he was great in Moon Lovers) return to screen, you need to make your own decision about the actor and if you want to support him. In 2021, school bullying and assault accusations were made against him and his career stalled. While, it appears that most of the accusations were cleared out, the controversy caused him to lose his contract. I find it sad. I think there are worse (and proven) things actors in Korean industry has done. Compared to some, this is in my opinion is not worth losing a career if the person is truly sorry and tries to somehow atone for what he’s done. In any case, this is just my opinion. I encourage everyone to think for themselves.
Otherwise, enjoy the drama and laugh a little.
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