What's Wrong with Secretary Kim

''What's Wrong with Secretary Kim'' () is a 2018 South Korean television series starring Park Seo-joon and Park Min-young. It is based on the novel of the same title by Jung Kyung-yoon which was first published in 2013, which was then serialized into a webtoon comic by KakaoPage in 2015. The series aired on tvN from June 6 to July 26, 2018, on Wednesdays and Thursdays for 16 episodes.

Synopsis

Lee Young-joon (Park Seo-joon) is the vice-chairman of a major corporation. His world is shaken when, one day, his highly capable secretary, Kim Mi-so ( Park Min-young), announces that she is resigning from her position after nine years. Young-joon decides to do whatever he can to persuade Mi-so to change her mind.

Cast

Main

* Park Seo-joon as Lee Young-joon / Lee Sung-hyeon
** Moon Woo-jin as 9-year-old Lee Sung-hyeon
:Vice-chairman of Yumyung Group. He is handsome and capable, but his narcissism makes it difficult for Mi-so to work with him. He becomes aware of his feelings towards Mi-so after realizing that he might lose her. He can be jealous of Mi-so when she is with his brother or with someone other than him. At one point in his life, he suffered PTSD.
* Park Min-young as Kim Mi-so
** Kim Ji-yoo as 5-year-old Kim Mi-so
:A highly skilled secretary who has worked with Young-joon for nine years. She soon reciprocates Young-joon's feelings after realizing that he was a part of her childhood.

Supporting

;Lee Young-joon's family
* Lee Tae-hwan as Lee Sung-yeon / Morpheus
** Bae Gang-yoo as 11-year-old Lee Sung-yeon
:Young-joon's older brother and a famous author. He had a crush on Mi-so.
* Kim Byeong-ok as Chairman Lee
** Go Se-won as young Chairman Lee (Ep. 11–12)
:Young-joon and Sung-yeon's father. Chairman of Yumyung Group.
* Kim Hye-ok as Madame Choi
** Lee Soo-kyung as young Madame Choi (Ep. 11–12)
:Young-joon and Sung-yeon's mother.

;Kim Mi-so's family
* Baek Eun-hye as Kim Pil-nam
:Mi-so's oldest sister who is a psychiatrist.
* Heo Sun-mi as Kim Mal-hee
:Mi-so's second oldest sister who is a urologist.
* as Kim Young-man
:Mi-so's father who is a rock musician.

;Yumyung Group
* Kang Ki-young as Park Yoo-sik
:President of Yumyung Group, the second-in-command after the vice-chairman. Young-joon's best friend back from university. He is Young-joon's confidant and provides him with much advice drawn from personal experience. He is still in love with his ex-wife.
* Hwang Chan-sung as Go Gwi-nam
:A deputy in Yumyung Group who later transfers to Chi-in's group. He is known for his handsome looks, elite education, being a workaholic, and extreme frugality.
* Pyo Ye-jin as Kim Ji-a
:The rookie secretary to the Vice-Chairman, being groomed to replace Mi-so who has announced her resignation.
* Kim Ye-won as Sul Ma-eum
:Yoo-sik's secretary who is clumsy and careless, often comparing unfavorably to Mi-so.
* Hwang Bo-ra as Bong Se-ra
:A section head in Chi-in's team, who initially coveted the open position of secretary to the vice-chairman, and initially had a crush on Gwi-nam.
* as Jung Chi-in
:A team leader in the Vice-Chairman's office, who frequently organizes after-work gatherings.
* as Lee Young-ok
:A member of Chi-in's team, who has a strict adherence to dieting.
* as Park Joon-hwan
:A member of Chi-in's team, who is bespectacled and brags about his university education.
* Kang Hong-seok as Yang Cheol
:A secretary and chauffeur to the Vice-Chairman, he is a man of few words. He ends up bailing out Se-ra several times.
* Bae Hyun-sung as Yun-sung Bae, an intern staff.

Special appearances

* Hong Ji-yoon as Oh Ji-ran, a famous model and onetime girlfriend of Young-joon (Ep. 1-3 & 16)
* Choi Na-mu as woman at the Spanish Embassy party (Ep. 1)
* Shin Joo-yeon as Kim Mi-so's friend (Ep. 1)
* Park Byung-eun as Park Byung-eun, Kim Mi-so's blind date (Ep. 3)
* Lee Do-yeon as a reporter who interviewed Morpheus (Ep. 4)
* Lee Chang as center director of the Art Center (Ep. 4)
* as the host of the book concert (Ep. 8)
* Jung Soo-young as an agency staff (Ep. 9)
* Mihal Ashminov as a chef at a restaurant (Ep. 9)
* Seo Hyo-rim as Choi Seo-jin, Park Yoo-sik's ex-wife (Ep. 9, 11–12 & 16)
* Lee Min-ki as young Mi-so's father (Ep. 10)
* Jung So-min as young Mi-so's mother (Ep. 10)
* as Magician (Ep. 10)
* Son Seong-yoon as the kidnapper (Ep. 11–12)
* Gil Hae-yeon as the woman at the reserved parking space (Ep. 12)
* as Psychiatrist (Ep. 12)
* Park Na-rae as the lewd devil (voice) (Ep. 13)
* Jung Yu-mi as Jung Yu-mi, a childhood friend and former classmate of Lee Young-joon (Ep. 14)
* Kim Ga-yeon and Lee Se-young as the staff who talked behind Kim Mi-so's back (Ep. 14)
* Lee Byung-joon as a wedding dress designer (Ep. 16)

Production

Development

Much of the visual styling of the series protagonists have referenced the comic version's cues, including clothing designs and reenacting the comic cover for the drama's promotional stills and images.

The first script reading was held on April 10, 2018, at Studio Dragon in Sangam-dong, Seoul, South Korea.

Maserati Korea provided the cars of Lee Young-joon, Lee Sung-yeon and Yumyong Group. The cars featured in the show include a Maserati Ghibli (driven by Yoo-sik), a Maserati Levante (driven by Sung-yeon), a Maserati GranCabrio (driven by Young-joon), and a Maserati Quattroporte (driven by Young-joon).

Promotion

The press conference for the drama was held on May 30, 2018, at the Times Square in Seoul with the attendance of the main cast and crew.

Original soundtrack

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Viewership

Awards and nominations

Adaptations

In November 2023, ABS-CBN announced a Philippine remake for the series. It premiered on March 18, 2024 on Viu.

Thailand will produce an adaptation of the series titled ''Dear My Secretary'' and is set to premiere in 2025.

China will have its own adaptation title ''My Dear Secretary'' and will release in 2025.

Notes

References

External links

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What's Wrong with Secretary Kim webtoon
at TappyToon

{{TvN (South Korean TV channel) television dramas (2006–2019)

Korean-language television shows
TvN (South Korean TV channel) television dramas
2018 South Korean television series debuts
Television series by Studio Dragon
Television shows based on manhwa
South Korean romantic comedy television series
Television shows based on South Korean novels
2018 South Korean television series endings
South Korean workplace television series
Television series by Bon Factory Worldwide