( A Korean drama review)
About : Korean Drama
Year : 2017
Episodes : 16
Distributor : JTBC
Type of Entertainment : TV show
Rating : 4.7/5
Genre : Fantasy/Comedy/ Action
Where to watch : Netflix
Cast : Park Bo young, Park Hyung sik,Ji Soo
What is it about :
Strong girl Bong-soon Korean Drama Series is a 2017 Korean drama, of 16 episodes distributed by JTBC. This Korean drama is about a girl Do Bong-soon (Park Bo young) who is born with supernatural strength. But she hesitates to show that in public in the fear of being looked upon as an alien. The series is about how her attitude & life changes when she gets hired as a body guard of the CEO of a gaming company Ahn Min-hyuk (Park Hyung sik)
The Story Brief :
Do Bong-soon (Park Bo young) is girl born with supernatural strength; something that is only passed on to the women in the family. She is not confident of showing off her strength in public, in the fear of being looked upon as an “alien”.
Then she dreams of creating a video game with herself as the main character. She has a crush on her childhood school friend In Guk- Doo( Ji Soo); an inspector. While both have been friends for long; he only shows interest in her as a friend. She desperately tries to hide her strength and acts as a fragile and feminine woman to match upto to the type of women In Guk- Doo( Ji Soo) prefers.
Ahn Min-hyuk (Park Hyung sik) is a young CEO of a gaming company. He witnesses Do Bong-soon (Park Bo young) use her strength in helping a weak bus driver fight against thuds. Impressed by her superpower and likes how this sets her apart from the rest. He is constantly stalked and gets life threatening calls. He hires her Do Bong-soon (Park Bo young)as his bodyguard to help him.
Ahn Min-hyuk (Park Hyung sik) and Do Bong-soon (Park Bo young) get comfortable with each other as they work together. Do Bong-soon (Park Bo young) is also attracted to Ahn Min-hyuk (Park Hyung sik). Ahn Min-hyuk (Park Hyung sik) trains her control her strength and then gives her a chance for creating a video game. This is his way of thanking her, because she saves his life from the stalker’s attack.
Even being unsure about how Do Bong-soon (Park Bo young) feels about Ahn Min-hyuk (Park Hyung sik) ; he takes the first step and proposes to Do Bong-soon (Park Bo young).
On the other hand, there are constant kidnapping of young women in Do Bong-soon’s (Park Bo young) neighbourhood. Things get out of hand when Do Bong-soon (Park Bo young) childhood best friend also gets kidnapped. In Guk- Doo( Ji Soo) is in charge of the case and is worried about Do Bong-soon (Park Bo young), as he is unaware of her super strength. He has always liked her; but somewhat hesitates to take the next step as he is unaware of how she feels.
Watch this Korean series to know if Do Bong-soon (Park Bo young) is able to shed her inhibitions about her strength and nab the kidnapper. More importantly, whom will she choose – her childhood crush or her supportive boss.
The Setting :
Strong girl Bong Soon Korean Drama Series is set in the current day and is shot in and around the beautiful city of Seoul. There is a good array of locations covered in the drama. It ranges from theme parks, bakery, ANC Software company office location to village museum. Some of the interesting locations covered are theme parks Boramae Park, Seoul Land and the Ihwa-Dong Village Museum.
Review :
Strong girl Bong Soon Korean Drama Series is funny and is one of the best in the Korean drama romantic comedy category. You are bound to have a good laugh. They is an equally strong supporting cast for the series. There is Do Bong-soon’s (Park Bo young) family, bunch of con-men that she would have fought, Ahn Min-hyuk (Park Hyung sik)’s office staff and In Guk- Doo( Ji Soo)’s police team. Each of these supporting cast have a god role and their situations are well connected into the story.
This is a complete entertainer with positive focus on superhuman strength of the protagonist.
Do Bong-soon (Park Bo young)’s dilemna is real when she does not know how to use her strength and wonders if it would be better if she was a “normal” woman. She is a usual youngster interested in gaming and aspires to create a game, with the main lead as a “super woman”.
Ahn Min-hyuk (Park Hyung sik)’s character is that of a stylish and cool modern man who celebrates the strength of a woman.
He fakes that he is “gay” when he hires Do Bong-soon (Park Bo young) as his bodyguard. It is hilarious when he interacts with the sincere cop In Guk- Doo( Ji Soo); giving Do Bong-soon (Park Bo young) an impression that she has a competitor in him, who also has a crush on In Guk- Doo( Ji Soo).
The interactions between Do Bong-soon (Park Bo young) and Ahn Min-hyuk (Park Hyung sik) are funny, cute and then evolve into “cuddly” romance. You will totally root for this “Min Min Bon Bon” couple!
In Guk- Doo( Ji Soo) is the perfect second lead who plays the role of a sincere cop. He is so caught with his work that he misses his chance and realises a little too late about his liking to his childhood friend Do Bong-soon (Park Bo young).
There is enough thrill to the extent of being “scary” in a delirious kidnapper, who kidnaps young women.
Ahn Min-hyuk (Park Hyung sik) trains Do Bong-soon (Park Bo young) to control her strength. This is something she needs to master to be able to earn a chance in Ahn Min-hyuk (Park Hyung sik)’s company to be able to create a game; her dream.
There are lots of events interwined logically to create situations which prove that Ahn Min-hyuk (Park Hyung sik) likes Do Bong-soon (Park Bo young) too much; something that will trigger her attraction to him into something more. There is the dislike between the two male leads because they both know how they like the same girl. But their interactions are mostly funny.
This Korean series is a funny version of how a superwoman Do Bong-soon (Park Bo young), initially ackward about her super strength finally manages to focus it right and help others who the need the most.
Watch out for the superb ending. You will be happily surprised!
Fun fact :
Both Park Bo young, Park Hyung sik won awards at the 1st Seoul Awards for this series. Park Bo young had a health setback before filming of the series, as her ankle ligaments were torn. After the success of the series, Park Hyung sik went on to become the Global brand ambassador of the clothing brand Bench.
Watch out for :
Do Bong-soon (Park Bo young) is given to understand that Ahn Min-hyuk (Park Hyung sik) is “gay” when she is hired as his bodyguard. There are a lot of misunderstood fun moments between the two leading men Ahn Min-hyuk (Park Hyung sik) and In Guk- Doo( Ji Soo) that put you into splits of laughter!
Dont miss : Episodes 6, 15 and 16
What’s refreshing :
Ahn Min-hyuk (Park Hyung sik) cheers for the super woman Do Bong-soon (Park Bo young), yet treats her every bit like a “lady”. This adds charisma to Ahn Min-hyuk (Park Hyung sik) character.
Passion Quotient : 4.2
Thumbs Up :
This Kdrama has a nice storyline that is presented differently. The realistic dilemna of a super woman, who secretly wishes that she was also just a “normal” woman.
The fashion is uber cool. Love the tattered denim skirt of Park Bo young. Park Hyung sik leather jackets are something to look out for!
The peppy OST with very melodic songs in I fall in love(feat.Obroject) & You’re my Garden(Jeong Eun Ji).
Listen to it on Spotify
Thumbs Down :
Scenes of the kidnapping and how he tortures his victims are actually scary. Those scenes could have been mellowed down.
Park Hyung sik is already a good looking guy, they could have reduced the use of lip gloss and lipstick. That was a slight bummer!
My Verdict : Highly recommend
I would highly recommend this Korean drama. Its a wholesome entertainer with the right amount of reality, fantasy, romance and lots of comedy. Go for it!
