Secret Garden review (old but gold)
Secret Garden is a South Korean TV series from 2010 that weaves romance together with fantasy elements.
The series follows Kim Joo-won, an arrogant and eccentric department store owner who unexpectedly falls in love with Gil Ra-im, a humble stuntwoman. The magical twist comes when their bodies swap after a mysterious incident in the woods.
Original title 시크릿 가든 (Secret Garden)
English title Secret Garden
Country South Korea, 2010
Genre Romance, Fantasy, Drama
Written by Kim Eun-sook
Directed by Shin Woo-chul, Kwon Hyuk-chan
Cast and a short look at the characters
Hyun Bin as Kim Joo-won
As Kim Joo-won, Hyun Bin gives a brilliant performance as a self centred business tycoon whose life is turned upside down after he meets Gil Ra-im. His ability to show complex emotions and his chemistry with Ra-im are at the heart of the series.
Ha Ji-won as Gil Ra-im
Ha Ji-won excels as Gil Ra-im, a fearless stuntwoman with a mysterious past. Her strong, independent character, together with her fragility, gives her role depth and catches Joo-won's attention.
Yoon Sang-hyun as Oska
Yoon Sang-hyun plays Oska, a popular but struggling pop singer and Kim Joo-won's cousin. His comic approach and complicated relationships with the other characters bring lightness and humour to the series.
Kim Sa-rang as Yoon Seul
As Yoon Seul, a successful director and Oska's former love, Kim Sa-rang brings complexity and emotional turmoil to the series, which spill into the main love story.
Lee Philip as Im Jong-soo
Lee Philip plays Im Jong-soo, a loyal action director who secretly admires Gil Ra-im. His character is key to Ra-im's career and her personal growth.
The official trailer for the series
What is it about?
Secret Garden is a South Korean TV series from 2010 that won the hearts of viewers all over the world thanks to its original take on romance, comedy and fantasy. The story follows Kim Joo-won, an arrogant and wealthy department store director who suffers from mild phobias caused by a traumatic childhood experience. His life suddenly becomes entangled with the life of Gil Ra-im, a beautiful and independent stuntwoman who works on film and TV sets.
Their first meeting in a women's changing room, which Joo-won walks into by mistake, is full of misunderstandings and clashes, but Joo-won is instantly fascinated by Ra-im's personality. The series picks up speed when, after a visit to a mysterious house in the woods, something unexpected happens and their bodies magically swap. This twist brings plenty of comic and complicated situations, as both of them have to navigate everyday life in the other one's body, which lets them understand each other's very different worlds better.
As Joo-won and Ra-im try to get back into their own bodies, their relationship deepens and together they start facing many challenges, including social differences and family pressure. Joo-won gradually overcomes his phobias and Ra-im helps him understand how demanding and dangerous her work is. The tension peaks when Joo-won makes a huge personal sacrifice to save Ra-im during one of her stunt scenes.
My verdict
The series' appeal was also boosted by a parody from the popular Korean group Big Bang, who recreated some of its iconic scenes and added lightness and humour to the story. The parody not only celebrated the original series, but also highlighted its cult status in Korean pop culture.
Big Bang, one of the most influential groups in Korean pop, has gone through a number of major changes and challenges in recent years. After a period of nonstop popularity and success, the members faced personal and public trials. G-Dragon, Taeyang and Daesung came back from military service and are working on a comeback, while T.O.P, after his controversies around marijuana and mental health, focuses more on art and approaches his role as a public figure with more caution.
The Burning Sun scandal, which hit member Seungri, exposed the dark side of the Burning Sun nightclub and had a deep impact on the whole group. Seungri left the group and public life after accusations of involvement in illegal activities connected to the club. The scandal shook the trust of fans and the public in the group and showed how quickly fortunes can turn in the world of celebrities.
K-pop fans, especially second generation ones who started falling for the genre when Big Bang were at their peak, have a special relationship with this group. They grew up on hits like "Fantastic Baby" and "Bang Bang Bang" and watched K-pop change from a niche genre into a global phenomenon. The way Big Bang developed and kept adapting to new trends and personal challenges mirrors the wider changes in K-pop that this generation lived through with them. For second generation K-pop fans, the story of Big Bang isn't just about music, but also about personal growth and the changes that come with time. As one of those fans, that's at least how I see it.
Secret Garden ends sweetly and hopefully, as both characters reach a happy resolution to their dilemmas together, which gives viewers an epilogue full of love and mutual support. All in all, Secret Garden is more than just a TV series. It's a deep look at how love and empathy can overcome even the biggest differences in life.
Character development 9/10
Plot development 10/10
Cast 10/10
Soundtrack 10/10
Enjoyment 10/10
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Mimosa Confiante
By day, I work somewhere between marketing, copy and campaigns; by night, I usually end up somewhere between fanfiction, cosplay and yet another “what if” that refuses to leave me alone. I write mainly in the Harry Potter and Mo Dao Zu Shi fandoms, most often Snarry, Snamione, HarryLu and WangXian. My healthcare background means that anatomy, medicine and far too much research occasionally find their way into my stories. Cosplay is another way for me to play with the characters I love, whether I stay close to canon or turn them into my own fanfiction and AU versions. In Diary of a Slytherin Girl with ADHD, I write openly about life with a brain that usually has far too many tabs open at once.
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