What's Wrong with Secretary Kim

What's Wrong with Secretary Kim

What's Wrong with Secretary Kim (Korean: 김비서가 왜 그럴까 / gimbiseoga wae geuleolkka) 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

What's Wrong with Secretary Kim

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 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)

• Baek Eun-hye as Kim Pil-nam

Mi-so's second oldest sister who is a urologist.

• Jo Deok-hyun as Kim Young-man

• 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.

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.

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.

• Lee Yoo-joon as Jung Chi-in

A team leader in the vice-chairman's office, who frequently organizes after-work gatherings.

• Lee Jung-min as Lee Young-ok

A member of Chi-in's team, who has a strict adherence to dieting.

• Kim Jung-woon 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 Bae Yun-sung, 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) • Choi Hee 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) • Choi Hyun-woo 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) • Jung Woo-suk 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.

Viewership

What's Wrong with Secretary Kim

<table><thead><tr><th>Ep.</th><th>Original broadcast date</th><th>Title</th><th>Average audience share</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Nielsen Korea</td><td>TNmS</td></tr><tr><td>Nationwide</td><td>Seoul</td><td>Nationwide</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>June 6, 2018</td><td>I Want to Pick Up My Life Now</td><td>5.757%</td><td>6.446%</td><td>6.3%</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>June 7, 2018</td><td>She Just Doesn't Want to Get Married</td><td>5.403%</td><td>5.529%</td><td>5.6%</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>June 13, 2018</td><td>Go on a Date</td><td>6.950%</td><td>8.252%</td><td>8.3%</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>June 14, 2018</td><td>I Come Back to Forgive You</td><td>6.379%</td><td>6.945%</td><td>6.3%</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>June 20, 2018</td><td>Ordinary Relationships</td><td>6.855%</td><td>7.500%</td><td>7.0%</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>June 21, 2018</td><td>What's Wrong with Vice Chairman Lee?</td><td>7.687%</td><td>8.554%</td><td>7.7%</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>June 27, 2018</td><td>Memories Should Stay Buried</td><td>7.281%</td><td>8.201%</td><td>8.5%</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>June 28, 2018</td><td>I Like You Too</td><td>8.120%</td><td>9.326%</td><td>8.3%</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>July 4, 2018</td><td>Let's Make it Official</td><td>7.767%</td><td>9.428%</td><td>8.8%</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>July 5, 2018</td><td>It Was You All Along</td><td>8.403%</td><td>9.545%</td><td>9.2%</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>July 11, 2018</td><td>Why Hold Back the Truth?</td><td>8.665%</td><td>10.565%</td><td>10.6%</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>July 12, 2018</td><td>I Don't Want to Waste Away Tonight</td><td>8.393%</td><td>10.052%</td><td>9.7%</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>July 18, 2018</td><td>Nothing Can Stop Us</td><td>7.673%</td><td>8.717%</td><td>8.7%</td></tr><tr><td>14</td><td>July 19, 2018</td><td>I Will Always Stay with You</td><td>8.100%</td><td>9.506%</td><td>9.2%</td></tr><tr><td>15</td><td>July 25, 2018</td><td>Wedding Bells</td><td>7.107%</td><td>7.725%</td><td>8.0%</td></tr><tr><td>16</td><td>July 26, 2018</td><td>What's Wrong with You, Kim Mi So?</td><td>8.602%</td><td>10.001%</td><td>9.8%</td></tr><tr><td>Average</td><td>7.446%</td><td>8.518%</td><td>8.3%</td></tr></tbody></table>

Awards and nominations

What's Wrong with Secretary Kim

<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Award</th><th>Category</th><th>Recipient</th><th>Result</th><th>Ref.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2018</td><td>11th Korea Drama Awards</td><td>Top Excellence Award, Actor</td><td>Park Seo-joon</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Excellence Award, Actor</td><td>Hwang Chan-sung</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Hallyu Star Award</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Popular Character Award – Female</td><td>Pyo Ye-jin</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Best Original Soundtrack</td><td>"Because I Only See You" (Kim Na-young)</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>6th APAN Star Awards</td><td>Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries</td><td>Park Seo-joon</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries</td><td>Park Min-young</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>K-Star Award, Actor</td><td>Park Seo-joon</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>K-Star Award, Actress</td><td>Park Min-young</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>2019</td><td>14th Annual Soompi Awards</td><td>Best Actress of the Year</td><td>Park Min-young</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Best Actor of the Year</td><td>Park Seo-joon</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Best Couple</td><td>Park Seo-joon and Park Min-young</td><td>Nominated</td></tr></tbody></table>

Adaptations

What's Wrong with Secretary Kim

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.

Indonesia also produced its own adaptation titled What's Up With Secretary Kim, released on November 8, 2025.