What's Wrong with Secretary Kim

What's Wrong with Secretary Kim is a 16-episode romantic comedy series adapted from Jung Kyung-yoon's popular 2013 web novel and KakaoPage webtoon. Set within the polished corporate corridors of Yumyung Group, the narrative centers on Lee Young-joon, the narcissistic Vice Chairman of the conglomerate, and Kim Mi-so, his exceptionally competent executive secretary who has anticipated his every whim for nine long years.

The incisive inciting incident occurs when Mi-so suddenly tenders her resignation. Having worked tirelessly to pay off her father's debts and establish financial stability, Mi-so decides it is time to step away from the 24/7 corporate grind to rediscover her identity and pursue personal happiness. Thrown into psychological disarray by the prospect of losing the woman who has been the pillar of his adult existence, Young-joon embarks on an absurdly grandiose, self-centered campaign to keep her—initially offering promotions and even marriage as contractual incentives before confronting his genuine romantic feelings.

As Young-joon attempts to woo Mi-so, the comedic workplace dynamic broadens into a deeper narrative mystery. Both leads harbor buried childhood traumas linked to a harrowing kidnapping incident that occurred decades prior. Across its 16 episodes, the series balances lighthearted workplace antics with an exploration of shared memory, emotional healing, and the transition from a codependent professional partnership into a healthy romance.

The central thesis of What's Wrong with Secretary Kim is that true intimacy and healing require shedding self-protective facades. Through its dual romantic and psychological storylines, the creators assert that narcissism, hyper-professionalism, and emotional isolation are often defensive shields forged in childhood trauma.

Across the full narrative arc, the series conveys that personal identity is not found by completely casting away one's past or obligations, but by choosing one's path autonomously while allowing oneself to be vulnerable with another person. Young-joon learns that love cannot be controlled or bought like a business transaction, while Mi-so discovers that claiming her own life does not mean abandoning her passion for service, but reclaiming her agency within it. Ultimately, the show argues that past trauma does not have to dictate one's destiny when met with mutual honesty, understanding, and love.

Psychological Reading (Narcissism as Trauma Defense): Under a psychological lens, Young-joon's grandiosity is not genuine vanity, but a survival strategy. Having carried the horror of the kidnapping and the burden of faking amnesia to keep his older brother from psychological collapse, his ego became a fortress. His obsession with Mi-so stems from her being the only living witness to his unmasked trauma.

Released in 2018, What's Wrong with Secretary Kim coincided with a growing social discussion in South Korea around corporate burnout, overwork, and the desire for work-life balance among millennials. Mi-so's desire to quit her job after nine years of relentless service reflected real-world societal fatigue with oppressive corporate cultures.

The show set the modern standard for workplace romantic comedies in the Korean entertainment industry. Its success proved that cable networks like tvN could produce global romantic hits that rivaled main public networks. The series was officially remade internationally, most notably in the Philippines in 2024, starring Kim Chiu and Paulo Avelino, cementing its long-lasting global legacy.

Overall Audience Rating: 8.5 - 9.0 / 10.

Praise: Audiences and critics praised the electrifying chemistry between Park Seo-jun and Park Min-young, hailing them as one of the best rom-com duos in K-drama history. Kang Ki-young's comedic supporting performance and the show's lighthearted tone were universally lauded.

Criticism: The primary criticism directed at the series centers on its narrative pacing. Many viewers noted that because the central mystery surrounding the kidnapping and childhood trauma was fully resolved by Episode 12, the final four episodes lacked dramatic conflict, relying heavily on wedding preparations and slice-of-life filler.