This review may contain spoilers
Instantly hooked - you will be too!
June 22, 2026
For those who are conflicted about watching this excellently executed Comedy /Drama…., don’t be. THERE IS NO ROMANCE. **
Eight episodes in and all I can say is WOW! Lee Jun Young is perfect as 70 year-old Chairman Kang in Hwang Jun Hyeon’s 20-something body. There is no question that we are watching old Chairman Kang in action. LJU is just that convincing embodying Kang’s entire personae right down to his posture, furrowed brow, incredulous stares, outbursts of anger, and raspy, older man’s voice. The supporting characters equally great, especially the main villain, Kang Jae Gyeong, who is supported by other equally great villains, brother Jae Seong, his wife Na Eun Se and her father Chairman Na. The way the story is going, I’m expecting a fully satisfying, suspenseful remaining four episodes.
This drama is hilarious and at the same time intense and suspenseful - all while showcasing the consequences of the decisions one makes in their three score and ten (+/-) years on this earth. Among other questions Reborn Rookie asks: What is the true definition of success and What is the true measure of a person?
** The chairman’s youngest daughter, Kang Bang Geul, is understandably confused about her feelings over this young, handsome, smart, fearless intern, but the infolding events and her overall goals keep her from focusing in that direction for too long at a time. And along the way, Chairman Kang, who underestimated the daughter he loves, gives her plenty to dislike about Intern Hwang Jun Hyeon..
I can’t give it a 10 rating yet as there are 4 more episode to go. But if it ends as well as it has been going so far, I’ll up my rating.
7/6/2026
Reborn Rookie was a great, suspense filled dramadie with exciting twists all the way to the end. The much needed, truly funny comedy and pacing remained consistent for the duration. It definitely kept me on the edge of my seat every episode. The last two episodes brought everything to a satisfying conclusion allowing me, anyway, to say goodbye to these great characters - knowing the protagonists endured much and came out better people than when they began while all the villains got their just ‘rewards’.
This was a story was about Chairman Kang more than it was about Hwang Jun Hyeon. It was subtle but still noticeable when, after the body switchback, Lee Jun Young’s presence diminished for a bit so we could see Chairman Kang’s character arc come full circle. Sans his daughter’s well earned demise, it was the ending the Chairman Kang was hoping for where things could be reset for him. his family, and Choiseong.
He truly, deeply lamented over his mistakes as a father accepting his role in how his daughter came to her current state. Still loving her as his own flesh and blood, he offered her an olive branch to turn things back. And again, his love for her caused him to literally risk his own life for hers in the end. He was relieved (unable to find the right word here) in learning Jae Seong had finally found his conscience. He was humbled by and felt undeserving of Bang Geul’s unconditional love for him.
Each parallel between Kang and Hwang taught Kang more about himself. He experienced, and I believe realized the life he could have had in his own family, the simple but loving life Hyeon had with his spunky and fully alert grandmother. Looking at all Jun Hyeon’s awards and shirts in his tiny, cheap flat, Kang had to have seen Hyeon as similar to himself. A young man, laser-focused on giving everything he had, daily, to achieve his dream of being the next Messi or Ronaldo. Over the many times he pulled out that crumpled cashiers check, we watched how he came to understand and grieve over Jun Hyeon’s permanent loss of his soccer carrer and the depth of what that loss meant to him.
Even though not a hard man to his employees, Kang became even more empathetic in general giving the reigns of Choiseong to the deserving Lee Jae Sang and Bang Geul.
I enjoyed seeing Jun Hyeon’s real charming and respectful, and out of his element, personality after the switchback. What a contrast to Chairman Kang’s personality and LJY made us believe in that contrast.
Bang Geul was tough, sharp, and no nonsense on the outside but beautifully soft hearted on the inside. How clever of the writers to show how Jun Hyeon got to know Bang Geul while he was in Chairman Kang’s unconscious body!!! Viewers would have fun filling in the blanks of what probably transpired between them over the next 2-years. I’m sure that would make a great story in and of itself.
I loved Materials Team Mgr Park all throughout the drama. He brought balance in both funny and serous moments.
Lee Jae Sang was the mainstay to all the chaos. Both Lee and Kang were mutually true and loyal friends in life and in business who shared the same goals for Choiseong. Kang in Hyeon’s body could not have accomplished his goal for Choiseong without Lee.
Cho Sun Hui - the woman who loved and supported the Chairman, his children and grandchildren. This love and a healthy positive attitude about life in general allowed her to maintain her dignity throughout all that was thrown at her.
Kang Jae Gyeong - the one you love to hate, although it was sad watching her spiral. She couldn’t accept her father’s olive branch. She was in too deep because, psychologically, she had lost touch with reality itself. It’s no wonder she lost her mind.
Kang Jae Seong - from the beginning he had a shred, just a shred, of decency. But…, he was salvageable if he wanted to be and thankfully he was. He was finally able to embark on becoming the man he wanted to be.
Chairman Na - no hope for a man steeped in and blinded by his own self importance.
Na Eun Se - what a selfish, misappropriated life.
Min Seok Do - what was he thinking when he married Jae Gyeong? Thankfully he was honorable to his profession and to his father-in-law. He loved his wife (at least we think he did) but he couldn’t let her evil intentions succeed.
At the point of the story, the two grandsons owed their upbringing to their step grandmother, Cho Sun Hui, not to their parents.
To the Reborn Rookie cast: You each were so perfect for your characters. We couldn’t see you, we saw them, and loved and hated each one of you respectively! WELL DONE!
Can you tell how much I liked Reborn Rookie? I upped my rating to 10/10. As this drama unfolded, I can’t see any significant flaws. The OST was great and will be playing it again many times. I’ll be rewatching RR again.
If there’s a second season we will have to wait a few years since Lee Jun Young’s military service begins this month. Best wishes to you.
For those who are conflicted about watching this excellently executed Comedy /Drama…., don’t be. THERE IS NO ROMANCE. **
Eight episodes in and all I can say is WOW! Lee Jun Young is perfect as 70 year-old Chairman Kang in Hwang Jun Hyeon’s 20-something body. There is no question that we are watching old Chairman Kang in action. LJU is just that convincing embodying Kang’s entire personae right down to his posture, furrowed brow, incredulous stares, outbursts of anger, and raspy, older man’s voice. The supporting characters equally great, especially the main villain, Kang Jae Gyeong, who is supported by other equally great villains, brother Jae Seong, his wife Na Eun Se and her father Chairman Na. The way the story is going, I’m expecting a fully satisfying, suspenseful remaining four episodes.
This drama is hilarious and at the same time intense and suspenseful - all while showcasing the consequences of the decisions one makes in their three score and ten (+/-) years on this earth. Among other questions Reborn Rookie asks: What is the true definition of success and What is the true measure of a person?
** The chairman’s youngest daughter, Kang Bang Geul, is understandably confused about her feelings over this young, handsome, smart, fearless intern, but the infolding events and her overall goals keep her from focusing in that direction for too long at a time. And along the way, Chairman Kang, who underestimated the daughter he loves, gives her plenty to dislike about Intern Hwang Jun Hyeon..
I can’t give it a 10 rating yet as there are 4 more episode to go. But if it ends as well as it has been going so far, I’ll up my rating.
7/6/2026
Reborn Rookie was a great, suspense filled dramadie with exciting twists all the way to the end. The much needed, truly funny comedy and pacing remained consistent for the duration. It definitely kept me on the edge of my seat every episode. The last two episodes brought everything to a satisfying conclusion allowing me, anyway, to say goodbye to these great characters - knowing the protagonists endured much and came out better people than when they began while all the villains got their just ‘rewards’.
This was a story was about Chairman Kang more than it was about Hwang Jun Hyeon. It was subtle but still noticeable when, after the body switchback, Lee Jun Young’s presence diminished for a bit so we could see Chairman Kang’s character arc come full circle. Sans his daughter’s well earned demise, it was the ending the Chairman Kang was hoping for where things could be reset for him. his family, and Choiseong.
He truly, deeply lamented over his mistakes as a father accepting his role in how his daughter came to her current state. Still loving her as his own flesh and blood, he offered her an olive branch to turn things back. And again, his love for her caused him to literally risk his own life for hers in the end. He was relieved (unable to find the right word here) in learning Jae Seong had finally found his conscience. He was humbled by and felt undeserving of Bang Geul’s unconditional love for him.
Each parallel between Kang and Hwang taught Kang more about himself. He experienced, and I believe realized the life he could have had in his own family, the simple but loving life Hyeon had with his spunky and fully alert grandmother. Looking at all Jun Hyeon’s awards and shirts in his tiny, cheap flat, Kang had to have seen Hyeon as similar to himself. A young man, laser-focused on giving everything he had, daily, to achieve his dream of being the next Messi or Ronaldo. Over the many times he pulled out that crumpled cashiers check, we watched how he came to understand and grieve over Jun Hyeon’s permanent loss of his soccer carrer and the depth of what that loss meant to him.
Even though not a hard man to his employees, Kang became even more empathetic in general giving the reigns of Choiseong to the deserving Lee Jae Sang and Bang Geul.
I enjoyed seeing Jun Hyeon’s real charming and respectful, and out of his element, personality after the switchback. What a contrast to Chairman Kang’s personality and LJY made us believe in that contrast.
Bang Geul was tough, sharp, and no nonsense on the outside but beautifully soft hearted on the inside. How clever of the writers to show how Jun Hyeon got to know Bang Geul while he was in Chairman Kang’s unconscious body!!! Viewers would have fun filling in the blanks of what probably transpired between them over the next 2-years. I’m sure that would make a great story in and of itself.
I loved Materials Team Mgr Park all throughout the drama. He brought balance in both funny and serous moments.
Lee Jae Sang was the mainstay to all the chaos. Both Lee and Kang were mutually true and loyal friends in life and in business who shared the same goals for Choiseong. Kang in Hyeon’s body could not have accomplished his goal for Choiseong without Lee.
Cho Sun Hui - the woman who loved and supported the Chairman, his children and grandchildren. This love and a healthy positive attitude about life in general allowed her to maintain her dignity throughout all that was thrown at her.
Kang Jae Gyeong - the one you love to hate, although it was sad watching her spiral. She couldn’t accept her father’s olive branch. She was in too deep because, psychologically, she had lost touch with reality itself. It’s no wonder she lost her mind.
Kang Jae Seong - from the beginning he had a shred, just a shred, of decency. But…, he was salvageable if he wanted to be and thankfully he was. He was finally able to embark on becoming the man he wanted to be.
Chairman Na - no hope for a man steeped in and blinded by his own self importance.
Na Eun Se - what a selfish, misappropriated life.
Min Seok Do - what was he thinking when he married Jae Gyeong? Thankfully he was honorable to his profession and to his father-in-law. He loved his wife (at least we think he did) but he couldn’t let her evil intentions succeed.
At the point of the story, the two grandsons owed their upbringing to their step grandmother, Cho Sun Hui, not to their parents.
To the Reborn Rookie cast: You each were so perfect for your characters. We couldn’t see you, we saw them, and loved and hated each one of you respectively! WELL DONE!
Can you tell how much I liked Reborn Rookie? I upped my rating to 10/10. As this drama unfolded, I can’t see any significant flaws. The OST was great and will be playing it again many times. I’ll be rewatching RR again.
If there’s a second season we will have to wait a few years since Lee Jun Young’s military service begins this month. Best wishes to you.
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