[비즈한국] Handsome and kind men are indeed the best. That’s the thought that naturally comes to mind when watching ‘My Perfect Secretary,’ the talk of the town these days. The actor playing the titular perfect secretary, Yoo Eun-ho, is Lee Joon-hyuk. When it comes to handsome looks, he is undoubtedly one of the top contenders these days. Even when I wrote about ‘Good or Bad Dong-jae,’ I noted that ‘being able to fully appreciate Lee Joon-hyuk’s ever-shining beauty is another charming point.’ And this time, he’s even using that beauty to act in a romance! There’s simply no way I could skip it.
‘My Perfect Secretary’ (Na-Wan-Bi), where Lee Joon-hyuk’s beauty is truly ‘working hard,’ depicts the ‘close-care romance between Ji-yoon, a headhunting company CEO who is only good at work, and Eun-ho, a secretary who is perfect at everything.’ The romance between a prickly boss and their supporting secretary has been featured in countless pop culture works, including the drama ‘What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim,’ and it is a trope that web novel fans absolutely love. In short, it’s a very familiar and predictable story. However, this familiar premise becomes fresh simply by flipping the formula of ‘male boss, female secretary.’ A male secretary who straightens the disheveled collar of a female boss—who is perfect at work but clumsy at everything else—is quite refreshing and strangely sexy.
Moreover, Yoo Eun-ho is set up as a man who divorced early and raises his daughter alone, making him adept at both parenting and housework. He is already a "pass" just for his fatherly love and dedication, willing to take parental leave for his sick child even if it means putting his career on hold; but on top of that, he is a great cook and perfect at tidying and cleaning. That common cliché of single fathers struggling to tie their daughter's hair? You won’t find that in ‘Na-Wan-Bi’ (By the way, tying and braiding a girl’s hair isn’t something mothers just magically do well from the start, either; it’s all the product of effort). Anyway, with his handsome face, kind heart, and proficiency in parenting and housework, isn’t he a perfect secretary—or rather, a perfectly prepared husband and father?
Perhaps because the male lead is depicted as such a unicorn, the description of Kang Ji-yoon (Han Ji-min), the head of the headhunting firm ‘People’s’ whom Yoo Eun-ho serves, feels a bit one-dimensional. Ji-yoon carries deep pain, such as suffering from insomnia after losing her mother young and then her father in a fire while he was trying to save another child. Perhaps as a reaction to her father’s accident, she is set up to be sharp about concepts like consideration or sacrifice, having no interest in others and keeping to herself like a hedgehog. While it is understandable to some extent since she is a character meant to change after falling in love with the warm Yoo Eun-ho, the setup still feels a bit lazy for a woman in her late 30s leading the second-largest firm in the headhunting industry. Her being clumsy in every area outside of work is also a bit puzzling, though it’s tolerable because of the lovely Han Ji-min.
Beyond this, the character settings and plot structure of ‘Na-Wan-Bi’ are quite plain. Kim Hye-jin (Park Bo-kyung), CEO of Career Way, the number one headhunting firm who is also Ji-yoon’s former superior and constant rival; Woo Jung-hoon (Kim Do-hoon), a wealthy young man who harbors secret feelings while looking after Ji-yoon; and Seo Mi-ae (Lee Sang-hee), a friend and colleague who gives affectionate nagging—these are all familiar archetypes, and the flow of hitting the midpoint of a 12-episode series to transition into a full-blown romance is also standard. This might sound like it’s being called predictable, but in other words, it means this simple story can be enjoyed with ease. Above all, the core of ‘Na-Wan-Bi’ lies in enjoying the fantasy-like perfection of the ideal secretary, Yoo Eun-ho.
Of course, it’s not without minor amusements beyond the male lead. There is the significance of it being the first drama to highlight the profession of headhunting, and the expectation of a sweet dynamic between Jung Soo-hyun (Kim Yoon-hye), a single mom and picture book author who had feelings for Yoo Eun-ho, and Woo Jung-hoon, who had feelings for Kang Ji-yoon. In episode 6, the strategic relationship between Kang Ji-yoon’s antagonist Kim Hye-jin and Woo Jung-hoon’s father, Chairman Woo Chul-yong (Jo Seung-yeon), who is also Ji-yoon’s benefactor, adds an interesting layer.
With no fatigue-inducing "makjang" elements or dopamine-heavy shocks, ‘Na-Wan-Bi’ is a burden-free, refreshingly light romance. Since it’s a pleasure just to watch the screen, I highly recommend it to any aesthetes who are weak for beauty.
Who is writer Jung Soo-jin?
I have worked for various magazines, covering and writing about movies, travel, and popular culture. I don't want to fall behind on trends, but I’ve become an "old person" who predicts every obvious cliché in the next scene while watching the latest dramas. I am currently drifting through the vast world of OTT, trying to regain my edge, and my current wish is for an integrated OTT subscription plan.