Four episodes into watching K-drama The King: Eternal Monarch and it’s a steady stream of “buh” and “huh” and “snooze…..” The story may be disjointed but there have been way worse written K-dramas that have worked better thanks to the onscreen romantic chemistry of the leads – not talking about acting ability, just whether the two leads make the viewer believe they are mere seconds away from boning if the camera wasn’t there. The leads of The King don’t just have no chemistry, they might have negative chemistry like two same sided magnets pushing off each other. I thought to make my list of when there has been a stupid/far-fetched,/preposterous/fantasy K-dramas and whether chemistry made it work. This isn’t about a well-written or substantive K-dramas as that can allow the story and directing to keep the interest and carry the day. This is about when everything is actually quite stupid but viewers love it because the leads sell it. Here goes!
Chemistry to Stupidity Scale – K-drama Leads Edition
Scale from 10 (high) to 1 (low). The higher both the chemistry and stupidity level shows how the two leads high chemistry managed to save an equally high level of stupid story. And remember – this list does not include dramas considered well-written by the general public, just silly fluff that either worked or flamed out spectacularly.
Lie to Me (2011) – Yoon Eun Hye and Kang Ji Hwan.
Lead chemistry – 10, Story stupidity – 9
Crash Landing on You (2020) – Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin
Lead chemistry – 10, Story stupidity – 6
The King 2 Hearts (2012) – Ha Ji Won and Lee Seung Gi.
Lead chemistry – 10, Story stupidity – 5
Descendants of the Sun (2016) – Song Joong Ki and Song Hye Kyo.
Lead chemistry – 10, Story stupidity – 7
Goblin (2017) – Gong Yoo, Kim Go Eun and Lee Dong Wook.
Lead chemistry – Gong Yoo and Kim Go Eun – 2, Gong Yoo and Lee Dong Wook – 10, Story stupidity – 5
Why Secretary Kim (2018) – Park Seo Joon and Park Min Young.
Lead chemistry – 9, Story stupidity – 6
Moonlight Drawn by Clouds (2016) – Park Bo Gum and Kim Yoo Jung.
Lead chemistry – 9, Story stupidity – 6
You From Another Star (2013) – Kim Soo Hyun and Jeon Ji Hyun.
Lead chemistry – 8, Story stupidity – 5
Secret Garden (2010) – Hyun Bin and Ha Ji Won
Lead chemistry – 8, Story stupidity – 5
Goong (Princess Hours) (2005) – Yoon Eun Hye and Joo Ji Hoon.
Lead chemistry – 8, Story stupidity – 5
Pretty Noona Buys Me Food (2018) – Son Ye Jin and Jung Hae In.
Lead chemistry – 8, Story stupidity – 8
Dream High (2011) – Suzy, Kim Soo Hyun, Taecyeon
Lead chemistry – all three with each other an 8, Story stupidity – 5
Full House (2004) – Rain and Song Hye Kyo.
Lead chemistry – 7, Story stupidity – 8
Big (2012) – Gong Yoo and Lee Min Jung.
Lead chemistry – 7, Story stupidity – 10
Boys Before Flowers (2009) – Lee Min Ho and Goo Hye Sun.
Lead chemistry – 7, Story stupidity – 8.5
Uncontrollably Fond (2016) – Suzy and Kim Woo Bin
Lead chemistry – 7, Story stupidity – 6
Legend of the Blue Sea (2016) – Lee Min Ho and Jeon Ji Hyun.
Lead chemistry – 6.5, Story stupidity – 7
Blademan (2014) – Lee Dong Wook and Shin Se Kyung.
Lead chemistry – 6, Story stupidity – 10+++++++++++
The Moon Embraces the Sun (2012) – Kim Soo Hyun and Han Ga In
Lead chemistry – 5, Story stupidity – 7
Heirs (2013) – Lee Min Ho and Park Shin Hye.
Lead chemistry – 5, Story stupidity – 8
Hotel Del Luna (2019) – IU and Yeo Jin Gu.
Lead chemistry – 5, Story stupidity – 4
Arthdal Chronicles (2019) – Song Joong Ki and Kim Ji Won.
Lead chemistry – 4, Story stupidity – 9.9
Memories of Alhambra (2018) – Hyun Bin and Park Shin Hye.
Lead chemistry – 3, Story stupidity – 9
Vagabond (2019) – Lee Seung Gi and Suzy
Lead chemistry – 2, Story stupidity – 10 + 10 = 20
Melt Me Softly (2019) – Ji Chang Wook and Won Jin Ah.
Lead chemistry – 1, Story stupidity – 10000000000000 to infinity.
Currently airing The King: Eternal Monarch (2020) episodes 1-4 – let’s see if this rating changes by the end of its run but so far no bueno.
Lee Min Ho and Kim Go Eun.
Lead chemistry – 1, Story stupidity – 8
Alternaships – Kim Go Eun and Kim Kyung Nam, Lee Min Ho and Maximus. Also “off with your head!” and scenes of the bamboo forest.
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Hhahaha. Hilarious article Koala gotta give it to you. I may agree to disagree with you here but still love the article tho. It's hilarious.
I Love the pairing of Lee Min-ho and Kim Go-eun for odd reasons and I can't put words on it why. Is it me being to horny or what not maybe but I don't know they just seem right to me maybe because of the same age-range
Lmao heirs hahahaha. it deserves 4 while 5 is to generous. Melting softly gosh that was horrible tbh especially the story I completely agree with you on that.
Maybe I am an outsider but I love LMH X KGE. I am waiting for dating rumours for these 2
In Defense of Legend of the blue sea couple getting only 6.5 chem? I mean really Koala? Or Have I been living under a rock or that chemistry was legendary imho seems like the mermaid and ML romance the hell out of each other.
Hotel del Luna lead chem 5. Noooo that is one of my favourite chemistry between any couple. I would give them 8.
I agree with melting softly on both fronts you nail that one and couple of others
I agree with you Keisha on Legend of the Blue Sea and Hotel Del Luna
Where is Itaewon Class? double couples! I would give the main couple 7 and stupidity 6. I haven't still gotten over it
There are certain dramas that I believe do not need any romantic arc to sell cause their script and acting is good anyway. IC was one such. The story started on a high note but ever since the romantic angle came into forefront,other things took a back seat. That's why I think it couldn't maintain its ratings growth in the latter half unlike TWOM which is climbing the ladder with each passing episode. Over all IC was a great drama but I m just saying that the second half faltered in comparison to the first half. Although it already has good ratings but still could have broken the 20 pc barrier.
Korean writers tend to insert romance in every existing genre. There maybe some dramas without any romantic angle but I m yet to come across one.Saw a video where koreans were asked what they think of kdramas. They said that all dramas will definitely have a love story in the background in any possible scenario.
@Asta
Then check out Misaeng, a deliberate exception to that rule. The production insisted on no romance despite the public pressure to do the contrary. I have also seen a number of revenge kdramas or thrillers on OCN with no romantic plots whatsoever. A lot depends on the genre and whether or not such kdramas are your cup of tea. They tend to have pretty heavy subject matter and are not for everyone. There’s a reason why PDs like to insert to insert romance in most dramas no matter how unnecessary - they are crowd pleasers and often guarantee ratings. However, not all PDs are able to insert such subplots seamlessly, that’s why there are messes like the second half of IC - what a waste of an otherwise good drama.
@ Adal
I have heard about Misaeng being a fabulous slice of life drama. I will watch it soon. Thanks for the suggestion.
Misaeng, what a great drama !
“My mister” is truly a state of the art, please watch that drama, it is a story of humanity and kindness. It is truly truly one of the best dramas that I have watched that everything is good from cinematography to the acting, the script and the story unfold.
Nobody knows had no romance involved n yet I found it an amazing kdrama
Task Force 38 or Squad 38 from OCN about delinquent tax evaders and the police force that try to catch them has no romance. Underrated gem with a great ensemble cast. Need more dramas like this with no romance.
I died Blademan, Vegabond and Melting Me Softly.....good list. Please do one for second lead vs. first lead chemistry. Honestly, the story stupidity in Goong and DOTS should be higher.
Great article Koala. Very Insightful. You are too generous in not assigning a Zero for no chemistry. I think The King has less chemistry than MIS so if MIS is 1, the king will have to be 0.5 if not 0. Thank you for a very enjoyable read. Keep up the good work!
*MMS
I dropped TKEM, but I have to praise its relevance for an article on chemistry, or lack thereof, to pop up hahaha.
Hahaha, It’s so funnyyyyy to read this article,
Okay I confess. I like the pairing of Lee Min-Ho and Kim Go-Eun. Stranger things have happened in my life but I find myself cheering for them to end up in this drama. They alert my shipper sense when I see them together
I would add Strong Woman. Ridiculous story partially saved by great chemistry by leads.