Park Min-young’s Remarkable K-Dramas

Written by: Priyanka Bhoi, Bargarh, Odisha

Edited by: Tahoora Charfare, Yanbu, Saudi Arabia

Park Min-young is a South Korean actress managed by Hook Entertainment. She debuted in an SK Telecom Commercial in 2005 and started her acting career with the drama High Kick in 2006. Later in 2008, she featured in Big Bang’s hit song Haru Haru where she plays G-Dragon’s girlfriend. In 2010 Park Min-young made her comeback with Sungkyunkwan Scandal where she showcased her exceptional acting skills. She also debuted on the big screen with the horror film The Cat in 2011.

_{Picture Credits: hellokpop}

SUNGKYUNKWAN SCANDAL- The Historical Breakthrough

Genre – Historical, Romantic comedy 

Park Min-young’s Sungkyunkwan Scandal (성균관 스캔들) is based on Jong Eun-gwol’s 2007 best-seller novel “The Lives of Sungkyunkwan Confucian Scholars”. This historical drama takes place in the late Joseon period and tells the story of Sungkyunkwan’s scholars. It starred some of the most versatile actors like Song Joong–ki, Yoon Ah–in, and Park Yoo-chun in lead roles along with Park Min-young. The story and exceptional acting skills helped boost the careers of all the actors along with Park Min-young.

The plot revolves around the Joseon period when men and women were not given the same rights in society.  Men were considered superior. In this drama, the school would not accept female Scholars, while Kim Yoon-hee (Park Min-young) disguises herself as his sick brother to help her struggling family. Disguised as a man she enters Sungkyunkwan University where she faces many challenges to achieve her dreams.  But situations make it hard for her to keep her secret when her emotions and feelings get involved. The drama shows her struggle to fight those situations. The drama highlights the struggles of women in a male-dominated society along with other themes such as love and friendship.

HEALER- A Blend of Mystery and Love

Genre – Thriller,  Action 

Healer (힐러) is a perfect combination of action, romance, and comedy. The drama starred Ji Chang -wook, Park Min-young, and Yoo Ji-tae as the main leads. The 20 episodes of the drama aired from December 2014 to February 2015. The series received praise for its well-developed storyline and amazing portrayal of the characters.

The story revolves around the lives of the three main leads. An old incident occurred in the life of five friends who were involved in pirate radio broadcast broadcasts to expose the government.  But their friendship ends in betrayal and crime. As the story progresses the story introduces three characters and their lives that unexpectedly get linked together, while they try to solve the mystery from the past. A star reporter Kim Moo-ho (Yoo Ji-tae) assigns a task to Seo Jung-hoo/Healer (Ji Chang-wook) to investigate a woman named Chae Yeong-shin (Park Min-young), who thinks that they share a past connection. To carry out this task Healer approaches Yeong-shin and gets involved with her life. Together they uncover their past connection in the pursuit of truth.

QUEEN FOR SEVEN DAYS – A Tragic Love Story

Genre – Historical, Political, Romance

Queen for Seven Days (7 일의 왕비 ) is a historical drama based on the real life of Queen Dangyeong, Queen of 11th monarch of the Joseon dynasty.  The drama showcases the journey of the queen as she becomes queen for just seven days and loses her title. Park Min-young plays the role of queen, while Yeon Woo-jin and Lee Dong-gun play the character of the royal brothers. The series explores themes like power, politics and love.

Lee Yeok later King Jungjong (Yeon Woo-jin) and Shin Chae-gyung (Park Min-young), the daughter of a prominent politician, arranged to marry each other. Lee Yung (Lee Dong-gun) is the elder brother of king Jungjong, the brothers have a love-hate relationship. The inevitable showdown between the brothers causes the story to take an intense turn. Shin Chae-gyung finds herself in the middle of the conflict between the brothers’ power struggle within the palace.  The drama shows Chae-gyung’s struggle and how she becomes a puppet in a political game. She is dethroned and executed shortly after her coronation. 

WHAT’S WRONG WITH SECRETARY KIM?– A Romantic Comedy Hit

Genre – Romantic comedy 

Based on a popular web novel by Jung Kyung-yoon ‘What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim ( 김비서가 왜 그럴까 ?) released in 2018. This 16-episode Korean drama series stars Park Seo-joon and Park Min-young as the main leads. The drama has everything one wants in a rom-com from humorous storyline to the phenomenal chemistry between the characters.

The story unfolds as Lee Young-joon (Park Seo-joon) vice president of a major corporation, tries to figure out why his secretary Kim Mi-so who has worked 9 years with him now wants to resign. As the story moves further, the relationship between the boss and the secretary evolves into sweet lovers. The story takes on new dimensions as the past begins to unfold and both the characters have to confront their pasts forming an emotional connection.

HER PRIVATE LIFE- Indulge in the Fandom Culture with Love

Genre – Romantic comedy 

Her Private Life (그녀의 사생활) was adapted from a web novel named Noona Fan Dot Com by Kim Sung-yeo. It stars Park Min-young, Kim Jae -wook, and Ahn Bo-hyun in lead roles.

Sung Deok-mi (Park Min-young) is an art museum curator and also a proud fan-site manager of celebrity Si An (Jung Jaewon). Ryan Gold (Kim Jae-wook) becomes the new art director of the gallery where Deok Mi works as an Art Curator. Ryan who initially comes across as cold and distant gets intrigued by Deok-mi and her secret life of a devoted fan. The two characters get involved in a situation where they come close to each other and develop a romantic relationship. The drama shows a fresh take on the idol- fan relation and explores the fandom culture.

Park Min-young has shown her diversity in acting with the characters that she portrays. She is famously known as “The Queen of Office Romance” for her work in dramas like ‘What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim’, ‘Her Private Life’, ‘Forecasting Love, and Weather’, ‘When the Weather Is Fine’. 

Share your favorite Park Min-young dramas in the comments below.