2 Best Movies to Watch by Kim Do-wan

With a former girl group idol and ordinary college student as the main couple, Doona! naturally plays into the fantasy of becoming close with a K-pop star. Based on a South Korean webcomic, and the related Chinese animated series, the show has the highs and lows of other romance dramas, but it also has the coming-of-age anxieties everyone has in pursuing their dreams, and a grounded perspective on the K-pop idol machinery. With care crafted in its characters, and a perfectly matched female lead in former girl group idol Bae Suzy, Doona! presents a compelling story all about dreams and aspirations.

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Actor: Bae Suzy, Ha Young, Kim Do-wan, Kim Min-ho, Park Se-wan, Yang Se-jong

Rating: TV-MA

Wedding Impossible has all the hallmarks of your classic romantic Korean drama. Good-looking and likable leads who go on an enemies-to-lovers journey? Check. One is poor and the other is an heir to a big conglomerate? Oh, check. Funny friends, relatable hardships, fairy tale coincidences? Check, check, check. It’s standard to a tee, which is why it’s remarkable that despite all that, it’s still very easy to like. It’s funny enough, nice to look at, and features winsome performances. Jeon Jong-seo (Burning, Ballerina) may have cut her teeth in edgy roles, but here she’s effortlessly charming. And though his situation isn’t explored in depth, making Kim Do-wan a queer main character is a gusty move for a K-drama. If you want to put something on to pass the time pleasantly, Wedding Impossible is a good choice. But if you want something fresher, edgier, and have no patience for nonstop tropes and cliches, you’re better off exploring other entries in the genre.

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Actor: Bae Yoon-kyung, Jun Jong-seo, Kang Na-eon, Kim Do-wan, Kim Kwang-kyu, Kim Ye-won, Kwon Hae-hyo, Moon Sang-min, Park Jae-wan

Director: Kwon Young-il

2 Best Movies to Watch by Kim Do-wan

1. Doona!, 2023

2. Wedding Impossible, 2024