What's Wrong with Secretary Kim (2018)

What's Wrong with Secretary Kim (2018) – Movie Story

What's Wrong with Secretary Kim is a South Korean romantic comedy-drama centered on Lee Young-joon, a highly capable but extremely self-confident vice chairman of a major company, and Kim Mi-so, the secretary who has spent years managing both his demanding professional life and his complicated personality. Their relationship begins in a familiar workplace setting, but the balance between them changes dramatically when Mi-so decides that she wants to leave her position and build a life of her own.

Young-joon is accustomed to being admired. He is intelligent, successful, attractive and completely convinced that his presence makes other people's lives better. His confidence is so strong that he often struggles to understand why someone would not want to remain close to him. Mi-so, however, has spent years quietly handling the responsibilities surrounding him, and she eventually reaches a point where her priorities have changed.

Kim Mi-so Wants a New Life

Mi-so has devoted much of her adult life to work. As Young-joon's secretary, she has become exceptionally efficient at anticipating his needs, organizing his schedule and solving problems before they become serious. Her professional ability has made her indispensable, but the job has also required personal sacrifices.

After years of concentrating almost entirely on her career, Mi-so decides that she wants to experience ordinary parts of life that she has repeatedly postponed. She wants more time for herself, hopes to discover romance and dreams of eventually creating a family. Her decision to resign is therefore not simply a reaction to her employer. It represents her desire to finally become the central character in her own life.

Young-joon is completely unprepared for the announcement. He initially assumes that money, prestige or a promotion should be enough to convince her to stay. When those ideas fail, he becomes increasingly determined to understand what has changed.

A Boss Who Cannot Accept Rejection

Young-joon's reaction creates much of the series' early humor. He is used to controlling his professional environment and assumes that Mi-so's decision must have a logical explanation that he can solve. Instead of simply accepting her resignation, he begins trying different approaches to persuade her to remain.

His attempts reveal the unusual dynamic between the two characters. Young-joon may be her employer, but Mi-so is one of the few people capable of speaking to him honestly. She knows his habits, understands his weaknesses and has learned how to manage his enormous ego without losing her own sense of dignity.

As Young-joon spends more time thinking about Mi-so, he begins to realize that his feelings toward her may be more complicated than he originally understood. What he interprets at first as concern about losing an excellent employee gradually becomes something much more personal.

The Beginning of a Romantic Relationship

The workplace relationship slowly develops into a romantic story. Young-joon begins making a genuine effort to become closer to Mi-so, while Mi-so is forced to reconsider how she sees the man she has worked beside for so many years.

The transition is not simple. Their personalities are very different. Young-joon is confident, direct and accustomed to receiving what he wants, while Mi-so is practical, independent and increasingly determined to make decisions according to her own wishes.

Their growing attraction produces both humorous and emotionally sincere moments. Young-joon's attempts at romance are often filtered through his unusual confidence, while Mi-so has to determine whether the man she knows as her demanding employer can also become a trustworthy partner.

Office Life and Complicated Feelings

The story also explores the relationships surrounding the central couple. Their colleagues observe the changing dynamic with curiosity, amusement and occasional surprise. The company environment provides a lively backdrop for the romance, allowing the series to balance personal emotions with workplace comedy.

Mi-so's independence remains important throughout the story. She does not want her future to be defined only by Young-joon's wealth or position. Her character is presented as someone who has worked hard, supported her family and developed a strong understanding of responsibility. Her decision to seek happiness on her own terms gives the romance a meaningful foundation.

Young-joon, meanwhile, has to learn that affection cannot be treated like a business problem. He gradually discovers that being successful at work does not automatically make him successful in relationships. He must listen, understand and recognize Mi-so's needs rather than simply assuming that he already knows what is best.

A Mystery From the Past

Alongside the romantic storyline, the series introduces an important mystery connected to the characters' childhood. Certain memories and events from the past continue to influence Young-joon's personality and emotional life, even though he does not openly discuss them.

As Mi-so becomes more involved in Young-joon's personal world, questions surrounding his past become increasingly relevant. Memories that once seemed distant begin to connect with present-day circumstances, creating another layer to the story.

This element gives the romantic comedy greater emotional depth. The relationship is not only about whether two adults can fall in love. It is also about how people carry childhood experiences into adulthood and how trust can allow painful memories to be understood in a different way.

Family, Responsibility and Personal Growth

Family relationships also play an important role. Young-joon's family has expectations surrounding his career, personality and future, while Mi-so's family background has shaped her practical approach to life. Their different experiences help explain why the two characters initially misunderstand each other.

Mi-so's wish for a more balanced life forces her to reconsider the sacrifices she has made. She begins to think about what she wants beyond professional success, while Young-joon begins to understand that a relationship requires emotional openness rather than perfection.

Their development is gradual. Neither character changes completely overnight. Instead, their relationship creates opportunities for both of them to see themselves more honestly.

Love Beyond the Workplace

As the relationship becomes more serious, the boundaries between professional and personal life become increasingly difficult to maintain. The pair must learn how to communicate outside the office and understand each other's hopes, fears and expectations.

Young-joon's polished public image contrasts with the more vulnerable side that appears when he is with Mi-so. She discovers that beneath his confidence is a person with unresolved emotions and a strong need for genuine connection.

Mi-so also discovers that pursuing independence does not necessarily mean rejecting companionship. Her goal is not simply to escape work. It is to build a life in which her own choices matter, and the romance becomes meaningful only when Young-joon respects that principle.

A Romantic Comedy About Change

What's Wrong with Secretary Kim combines workplace comedy, romance, family relationships and personal mystery in a story about two people who begin from very different positions. Young-joon starts the relationship believing that he understands exactly what he wants, while Mi-so begins by trying to understand what she wants for herself.

The contrast creates much of the show's charm. Their conversations are often playful, their professional interactions are filled with awkward situations and their growing affection gradually changes the way they see one another.

The series also emphasizes personal growth. Young-joon must learn humility and emotional honesty, while Mi-so learns that pursuing her own happiness can coexist with building meaningful relationships. Their connection becomes a journey in which both characters have to move beyond the roles they have played for years.

Overall Story

At its heart, What's Wrong with Secretary Kim is a story about a woman deciding to take control of her future and a man discovering that love cannot be managed like a corporate project. The workplace setting provides humor, while the characters' family histories and personal memories add emotional depth.

The series moves between lighthearted romance, office comedy and more serious questions about identity, family and the influence of the past. Mi-so's determination to live for herself becomes the catalyst for change, while Young-joon's unexpected emotional journey forces him to reconsider the assumptions that have guided his life.

With its charming central relationship, lively supporting characters and mixture of comedy and emotional storytelling, What's Wrong with Secretary Kim offers a romantic story about two people learning to see each other beyond titles, appearances and expectations. Their relationship develops as they confront misunderstandings, discover hidden parts of their past and gradually learn what it means to build a future based on mutual respect and genuine affection.