What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim? may still be an iconic K-drama six years later, but it is not without its issues. What’s What Wrong With Secretary Kim? is an essential K-drama to watch for all K-drama fans as its fun premise sees CEO Lee Young-joon (Park Seo-joon) question why his secretary Kim Mi-so (Park Min-young) would want to quit working for him. Though What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim?‘s premise is relatively simple, it’s still considered one of the best K-dramas of all time.

Despite its success, What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim? is not free from criticism. From complaints of too many clichés and over-the-top acting to strange storylines and pacing issues, What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim? is far from perfect. This is not to say that What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim? is a bad K-drama. In fact, many continue to return to the office romance K-drama’s steamy romance and the electric chemistry between Park Seo-jun and Park Min-young. However, some issues in What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim? are too glaringly obvious to ignore.

10

It Would Not Have Worked Without Park Seo-joon & Park Min-young

Their Reputations Made It A Must-Watch For Fans

Casting is a huge part of any TV show or movie. One wrong move in the casting department could make or break a story and leave audiences disappointed. Fortunately, Park Seo-joon and Park Min-young were great casting choices for What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim?. Park Seo-joon was a particularly excellent choice as his bold commitment to Lee Young-joon’s narcissistic tendencies made his character’s narcissism seem charming. However, if it wasn’t for their fame, What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim? likely wouldn’t have been as big of a hit.

Park Seo-joon’s characters are all funny, and his appearance in the romantic comedy Fight For My Way (2017) made his next K-drama highly anticipated. Though What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim? was Park Min-young’s first romantic comedy, her appearances in the historical K-drama Sungkyunkwan Scandal (2010) and action-thriller Healer (2014) gained her a growing reputation. If this K-drama had been led by unknown actors, What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim? may not have found the same success. This is because many tuned in specifically to see how these two reputable actors would work alongside each other.

9

Lack Of Conflict Weakens What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim?’s Storyline

Romantic Moments Were Favored Over Solid Plotlines

Every story needs conflict in some way or another. Conflict makes it easier for stories to progress and for characters to develop. However, What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim?‘s premise results in a weak conflict as the only real issue came from Young-joon not wanting Mi-so to leave. The next source of conflict comes from the introduction of Young-joon’s brother, Lee Sung-hoon (Lee Tae-hwan) who resents his brother but loves Mi-so. However, this conflict comes almost a quarter of the way into the series, which is far too late.

Though a conflict-free K-drama makes for an easy and refreshing watch, as romance and humor are prioritized over drama, it makes What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim? lose steam very quickly. This is especially true in the latter half of the series as it wraps up some of its most pivotal plotlines several episodes before the finale. More conflicts in the K-drama would have been a surefire way to spice up What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim? and keep the audience’s interest from beginning to end. However, if it chooses to keep its drama-free approach, then there is another path it could take.

8

What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim? Should Have Been a Shorter Series

The Climax Came Way Too Soon

Like many K-dramas, What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim? is 16 episodes long. Though this is normally not an issue with most K-dramas, lack of conflict and pacing issues meant that later episodes struggled to maintain the solid energy showcased in its opening episodes. Therefore, it would have been a good idea to make What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim? a much shorter series to help keep its energy high.

Nowadays, 12-episode K-dramas are becoming increasingly popular and allow stories to remain tight whilst keeping the hallmarks of a 16-episode series. What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim? could have greatly benefitted from this, especially as the series’ climax came far too soon. A change from 16 episodes to 12 could have seen What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim? explore a similar format to another popular office rom-com K-drama Business Proposal, and pack each episode full of great storytelling and humor without allowing the story to lag for the sake of an episode quota.

7

It’s Weird That Young-joon Never Told Mi-so About Their Past

It’s Also Weird That Mi-so Forgive Him So Quickly

In hindsight, Young-joon’s reasoning for not telling Mi-so about the kidnapping makes sense. Being kidnapped is an incredibly traumatizing experience and something that deeply affects a person, no matter how young they are and Young-joon didn’t want Mi-so to experience the trauma all over again. However, although Young-joon’s intentions were seemingly good, he absolutely should have told Mi-so about what had happened without leaving her to find it out for herself. Especially as he knew who she was through their entire nine-year relationship.

Along with this, Mi-so’s reaction to Young-joon’s revelation is underwhelming and plays into What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim?‘s issues with conflict and Mi-so’s character. Mi-so is only angry at Young-joon for a second before quickly forgiving him, even though he has lied directly to her for years. Even just a little more anger from Mi-so and conflict between the couple within this scene would have elevated this scene and storyline to new heights.

6

The Kidnapping Storyline Was Too Complicated & Far-fetched

Young-joon’s Family Should Have Never Let Their Children Suffer For Peace

What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim?‘s kidnapping storyline gives a dark undertone that provides depth to Mi-so and Young-joon’s relationship, as well as Young-joon’s relationship with his older brother, Sung-hoon. Though What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim? did succeed in adding some nuance and complication to these relationships to make them more than one note. Still, its execution could have been a lot better as this storyline grasps at straws for the sake of drama. Especially when it’s obvious that Young-joon was the boy, not Sung-hoon.

There are many things about the kidnapping storyline that borders on unbelievable. Sung-hoon believing that he was the real victim of the kidnapping as opposed to Young-joon seems a stretch. Combined with the resentment he has for believing that Young-joon was the one who abandoned him, when it was actually he who abandoned Young-joon, pushes this story to its limits. Plus, Young-joon and Sung-hoon’s parents allowing Sung-hoon to suffer for years is genuinely awful–though it might be the most believable part of the storyline, which says a lot.

5

Young-joon & Mi-so Got Together Too Soon

Waiting A Little Longer Could Have Strengthened Later Episodes

K-dramas often follow a specific formula, especially K-drama romances. Typically, the leading characters have a slow-burn relationship that steadily builds until episode 10, where the leading couple finally makes things official and starts dating. Though they face obstacles in their relationship in the later episodes, their relationship is stronger than ever by the show’s finale, giving a satisfying conclusion. This formula is a tried and tested recipe for K-drama success, even if it is a little repetitive. What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim?’s deviation from this format was a risk, and didn’t quite pay off.

Instead of getting together in episode 10, Mi-so and Yeong-joon made things official around episode 8. Though this resulted in more time for fans to appreciate the steamy developments of their relationship, it ultimately weakened the storyline of later episodes of What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim? as there was little else left to build up to once they got together. Combined with the K-drama’s lack of conflict, it made What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim?‘s final episodes a lot less compelling than they could have been.

4

There Should Have Been More Time For The Side Characters

There Are So Many Great Side Characters in What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim?

As previously mentioned, What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim? struggles with pacing issues, especially in the second half of the series. Reducing the length of the series may have been a great way to solve some of its content issues, but another way it could have kept its length while also maintaining quality is by exploring the stories of the side characters more. What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim? has no shortage of eccentric side characters and featuring them more could have added to the office K-drama.

From Young-joon’s best friend, Park Yoo-sik (Kang Ki-young), to the new secretary Kim Ji-ah (Pyo Ye-jin), there are many missed opportunities for great subplots for these side characters. Though some, such as outlandish office worker Bong Se-ra (Hwang Bo-ra), do have smaller plots within the rom-com K-drama, there is certainly more room to be explored and developed. Plus, taking time away from What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim?‘s main story would have made Mi-so and Young-joon’s romantic moments even more impactful as the wait for them was longer in each episode as they focused on some of their other characters.

3

Mi-so Never Exploring Her Identity Was Detrimental To Her Character

The Story Focused Too Much On What Yeong-joon Wanted

Even though she is the female lead, Mi-so is a relatively boring character. She is too perfect; she does everything for Young-joon without question tries to be his perfect assistant. Though she does initially stand up for herself against her narcissistic boss, her feistiness and drive simmer far too quickly, leaving her with little identity outside of her job. This is the reason that Mi-so initially wanted to quit at the start of What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim?. Not allowing her time to escape from under Young-joon’s shadow was extremely detrimental to her character and development.

If Mi-so had left her job and spent time away from Young-joon, it could have made their reunion and the development of their relationship much more exciting. It also could have made Mi-so seem a brighter character. What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim? is full of bold characters, yet despite being the show’s lead, Mi-so isn’t one of them. Though balance was sorely needed, Mi-so’s character development felt like a massively wasted opportunity.

2

Young-joon Was Way Too Obsessed With Mi-so (& Very Unprofessional)

The Story Only Worked Because He Was Charming

Like many K-drama CEO’s, Young-joon comes from an incredible position of privilege. That means he can do what he wants, whenever he wants, and does not have to abide by the usual rules of professionalism to get there. The reality is that What Wrong With Secretary Kim?‘s Young-joon is actually a terrible boss and how he treats Mi-so’s decision to quit is incredibly selfish and unprofessional. Plus, his unbounded jealousy in his pursuit of Mi-so was borderline obsessive and a little creepy.

The plot of What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim? only works because Park Seo-joon’s portrayal is effortlessly charming and Young-joon’s longstanding relationship with Mi-so makes his advances feel more romantic rather than weird. Even so, the way Young-joon approaches Mi-so speaks more to his narcissism rather than what Mi-so actually wants or needs, which is a recurring flaw in his character and What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim? as a whole.

1

Too Many Clichés Made The Story Repetitive & Unrealistic

The Kidnapping Storyline Was A Missed Opportunity

There is nothing wrong with clichés. In romantic comedies, clichés are almost expected as they give both a sense of comfort and provide great scenarios for audiences to fall in love with new characters. What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim? is full to the brim with clichés that make it a captivating watch, as it feels like fanfiction brought to life, especially in some of the steamier scenes. However, What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim? lacks balance and ultimately makes its biggest strength its biggest weakness, too.

What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim? made several efforts to add depth. Its kidnapping storyline was a great diversion from the general upbeat and lighthearted tone of the story, despite it being a big K-drama cliché in itself. This storyline added more depth to Mi-so and Young-joon’s relationship, but it wrapped way too soon and was overly complicated. As a result, What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim?‘s plot wavered as it focused more on the romantic moments between Mi-so and Young-joon without a plot to support them, and is one of the K-drama’s biggest flaws.