Why South Korean actor Park Seo-joon’s arrogant executive is a hit with viewers of ‘What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim?’
Appealing performance as a rich, arrogant executive who falls for his secretary has helped make romantic comedy a huge success
“Young and super-rich, a self-centred cold urbanite.”
The popular South Korean television series ‘What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim?’ features all the drama clichés.
It is a Cinderella story depicting the rise of a girl from humble beginnings to become the girlfriend of her boss – a good-looking man born to a rich family – after stealing his heart.
Despite the same old story, the romantic comedy has been a big hit since it premiered on June 6 on the South Korean cable network tvN.
According to rating company TNMS, the 11th episode, aired on July 11, attracted a 10.6 per cent viewership level – a rating two or three times higher than the dramas airing at the same time on the rival Korean networks MBC and KBS.
What makes this cliché romantic comedy so popular?
Critics said the male lead, Park Seo-joon, played a key role behind the “unexpected success” of the show.
“The romance between a super-rich guy and a Cinderella character is the same old story that has been duplicated in many previous television series,” culture critic Ha Jae-keun said.