Hotel King is one of those dramas where I watched two episodes and bailed. It wasn’t beyond terrible but was bad enough that even the reunion OTP of Lee Dong Wook and Lee Da Hae wasn’t enough to keep me around. With that said, the three new pictures posted by Lee Da Hae on her social media account this weekend is luring me back to check out the drama. Maybe not the entire thing from where I left off, but I’m intrigued enough to want to watch the last two episodes of this sucker. HK had disappointing ratings in the high single digits for most of its run and only towards the end broke ten and hovered in the low teens. Even its predecessor the abysmal Golden Rainbow got mid-to-high teen ratings during its run. Can’t say what the problem was with the lack of viewer interest but the first two episodes were unnecessarily dramatic in doing stylish makjang and Lee Da Hae’s character was weird and not in an interesting weird way. Her face also started to sadden me with its stiffness but she still tries so darn hard, bless her heart. Lee Dong Wook acted like he has a stick up his rear he was so stiff, but very gorgeous doing so. The three pictures that piqued my attention are ones snapped by the OTP at a beach wedding scene for the final episode of this drama. I don’t think that’s a spoiler anyone cares about being spoiled, unless HK’s narrative called for a rocks fall down ending. Check out the lovely wedding couple pics below as well as the cast attending the well-deserved wrap party for giving it their all through 32-episodes. If folks who watched HK all the way want to chime in your thoughts on whether it’s a watch/avoid that would be much appreciated!
Lee Da Hae and Lee Dong Wook look incredibly sweet together in the way that only costars who really get along off camera can really muster up. I’ve heard they still really enjoyed working together again so fans of the DongHae couple might even have a third go from them one day. Who knows, Lee Da Hae and Jang Hyuk have done three dramas together already.
With Hotel King checking out, up next for the network is the terminal illness female empowerment weekend drama Mama with Song Yoon Ah, Hong Joon Hyun, and Jung Joon Ho.
So there is a popularity award in both the film and the television sections of…
I have such a soft spot for C-actress Yang Mi and it just makes me…
So Queen of Tears was filmed in 2023 and wrapped awhile ago so it's not…
I think viewers are being either honest or stingy with their votes but the latest…
Oh what a great surprise! This drama was announced two years ago and I've long…
So this drama was filmed a few years ago and hasn't been intentionally shelved but…
This website uses cookies.
View Comments
I started watching just for the main couple as well but I also stopped after watching 10 episodes. Despite how cute LDH and LDW are together, this drama was just too makjang for me and got really really hard to follow with all the birth secrets and fauxcest and all that unjazzy stuff.
I also found LDH's character to be kind of bizarre. I couldnt even feel how she came to like LDW's character. Plus, her nasally voice kind of irked me. I dont know why shes using that kind of voice because she totally wasnt like that before.
First time posting here but a regular reader of this blog. About this drama,it deserve a recognition not on the writing part but on based on the actors performance. The leads are the reason for it's success.It can be considered successful because its one of MBC's dramas that made them number one in their time slot even when angel eyes was airing. It's lowest rating is about 8.2% AGB nationwide for the whole run. True to its genre,its definitely a makjang that could put off some viewers to check it out. It has its flaws but it has its saving grace too. When it comes to the chemistry of the leads, well, Lee da hae and Lee dong wook reached a level that the scenes appeared real.Much better than My girl chemistry. They made a lot of adlib that make their scenes more believable and sweet. To judge the drama properly,one must finished the whole stretch.Just giving my opinion though.Thanks for the post about them Ms Koala.
Very well said..
Despite of some negative comments which I believed that all dramas will received certain level of negative comments due to different preference of human beings, I still got hooked onto the drama very much. Putting aside the storyline which may not a favourite to everyone, I really like the chemistry between the DongHae couple. I may not be a fan of them but I watched "My Girl" years back. They already having very good chemistry then and this time round even better. Looking so lovey dovey and looking so real. Was really surprised that they wasn't even nominated for the "Best Couple" in the MBC Awards. But that's not important coz I really hope to see them putting a step forward to become real couple. Also, looking forward to their 3rd collaboration.
You're absolutely right.. you must finished watching it.. in 4 straight days i did it.. woohhh
I love it very much!! Kudos to all the stars..LDW and LDH congrats!! Even its already 2017..
Very well said.I really loved watching donghae couple and the drama was also pretty good that I have rewatched it about 3-4 times already
I really hated the show. The story was one of the worst. What a waste of talent!
then how come you watched it if you hated it?
What?! Don't u know how to appreciate this drama?! Well you ... Idiot Hotel King ... Is the best Korean drama ever so shut your mouth .. Tss holy crap...
Despite the makjang elements that could've been normally dragging, I'm one of those who enjoyed the drama. I admit that the genre may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it did have its redeeming factors. Lee Da Hae's Ah Mo Ne may have started out as bizaare, but it was refreshing to see her mold into a headstrong and capable grown woman. And of course, the chemistry of the leads is just out of this world! Seeing them act all lovey dovey is enough reason to tune in. I'm gonna miss this drama badly. :(
Started then stopped. Even my love for Wookie couldn't help me passed the first few episodes. It was just too long and drawn out. They need someone to edit it down to 16 episodes, and then maybe I will give it another try. But Wookie, you were lovely to look at!
The worst part for me was Wookie looking constantly constipated....
First time I have posted on here, but always come to have a look at what Koala has to say.
I agree that it started out abysmally, apart from the 'falling through the glass ceiling', however, it did drag with all the confrontations between LDH and LDW. So much so that I actually fast forwarded, which is something I rarely do. LDH's character was beyond annoying and I found it hard to understand how the 'General Manager' could fall in love with her. But then...who knows how men think? LOL
Trying to watch it from start to end was beyond me and I had to find a Kdrama not so intense. My worry was that LDW might die in the end after all his suffering. Actually, if you can hold on until about ep 15 onwards the drama is truly worth watching. So many surprises. I am up to ep 29 and am not bored.
Not sure what 'makjang' means not being Korean. I am assuming that it refers to a drama that is beyond 'dramatic' and into melodrama! I kept thinking that Joan Crawford would have played the Director Baek part as well as the actress already in the drama.
The stand out portrayal for me was the Roman Lee role. It wouldn't have been easy to have brought out all the nuances required but this actor was superb. He had to appear pitiful, flawed, strong, trustworthy and, eventually, loveable. Not an easy task. I have seen him giving a bravura performance in Monster and he steals every scene, much as he does in this drama.
Nothing need be said about the 'Vice-Chairman'. Every drama that he is in that evil grin sends shivers up my back.... He was born to play the villain. LOL
I bet someone made a OTP compilation vid, and that's all most people need to see. The acting ranged from passable to atrocious minus the veteran actors and the guy who played Roman.
In any case, HK was a massive waste of time and the only good character to come out of it was Cha Soo-wan. Makjang frenzy aside, I'm really mad that they built up this huge mystery only to give zero payoff for it.
you should have stopped from the very beginning instead of you wasting your time in watching. no wonder you did not understood the story coz from the very beginning you did not understand it....
I would say that you are too harsh in your assessments. It certainly wasn't a story that could be watched half-heartedly whilst fiddling around doing something else. If you watched it earnestly I can't understand why you didn't understand the varying plots and devices.
I think the weakness can be put down to LDH. She was unable to bring out the various levels of her character. She does improve later on in the show, around about where she is dumped as the Chairwoman. Give it another try, I don't think you will be disappointed.
Unpopular opinion, but this is one of the few makjangs that I really, really enjoyed watching. That I love Lee Dong Wook and Lee Da Hae is one thing, but I appreciated all the other characters as well, even the hotel staff. True, the plot is ridiculous, but getting past that admission helped me enjoy this drama so much, because everyone's acting was really beyond good. I hope you try watching it again! :)
Couldn't agree more! I enjoyed the acting, especially that of veterans Kim Hae Sook and Lee Dok Hwa. Hands down!
At last!!!! Another two people who enjoyed it as much as I am.
Hi Capt. Koala! Thanks for this news and picture. I watched "Hotel King" from start to finish. Its story held my interest, perhaps because of the makjang elements. But I think it is more because I found all the actors played their characters very well. LDW, I thought, was outstanding in this drama. If you only saw the first 2 episodes and then watch the last 2, you will miss out on many of the amazing acting scenes from LDW.
LDH's character had many shining moments as well, which you will not find in the first 2 episode because her character's growth, I believe, started in the middle episodes. Her chemistry with LDW is undeniable in this drama, which made me cheer for her character even more.
Then there were the villains outstandingly performed by Lee Deok-Hwa and Kim Hae-Sook. Their being veteran actors were in clearly display in this drama. I've seen Kim Hae-Sook in several dramas before, as recent as in Wang's Family, but here in Hotel King, is where I really began to appreciate her.
I also liked the supporting characters and the actors who portrayed them. I thought they played a significant role in the growth of LDH's character and in reinforcing the fact that LDW's character is the hero of this drama.
The story of this drama may not have broken any new ground, but I'm still glad I watched it in its entirety because I got to witness some amazing acting performances.
Thanks again for this article and for inviting us to share our views on "Hotel King".
I agree with you! LDW was able to portray such great emotions here and not just the usual cutie look other k actors show in usual drama
Ockoala, the way you wrote about the rating and the story, sounds like double standard. I can feel you are not really fans of the main stars. Just for the sake of writing.
double standard, how? Ockoala has never been afraid to voice her opinions whether she did or didn't like something. Actually, if you'd read her earlier posts regarding this drama, you'd have known how happy she was with this reunion. Just because the drama was not to her liking, did you want her to be insincere "just for the sake of writing"?
Love hate relationship with the drama. Loved the chemistry between Wookie and Dae Hee but hated the contrived way the writers separated and reunited them, and repeat.
Loved two of the supporting characters, Cha Su Wan and Sun Woo Hyun but hated how the writers underutilized the rest. And don't get me started about the villains and antagonists. I was so disappointed in Lee Duk Hwa since I normally like his acting. But he was just painful to watch in this drama. It's like the writers never cared about the direction the show was going into.
BUT for all its awful points, I stuck with this drama till the end because of the chemistry. I really hope these two do another project again, one with better writing.
Totally agreed the two main leads hv good chemistry. Its was melodrama. I praise the script writer who unravelled the mystery of who the real murderer , the relatioship intertwained and the jig jaw pcs eventually placed well. I loved to watch the two main leads to act together.. chemistry is there definitely.