Shoji Taishi is a new third-generation lawmaker who comes from a family of politicians and had a sheltered upbringing. The womanising and not particularly intelligent Taishi and his actress wife, Kurosawa Yui, who got her big break through a drama series, have been married for five years.
They act like a happily married couple for the sake of their work and public image, but their marriage has already broken down. Taishi and Yui barely have a conversation except when live streaming on social media and do not even see each other at home. Although they have grown disenchanted in their marriage, they cannot get divorced immediately due to pressure from their families and endorsement deals. The couple have no choice but to unite with the unshakeable goal of breaking up.
They act like a happily married couple for the sake of their work and public image, but their marriage has already broken down. Taishi and Yui barely have a conversation except when live streaming on social media and do not even see each other at home. Although they have grown disenchanted in their marriage, they cannot get divorced immediately due to pressure from their families and endorsement deals. The couple have no choice but to unite with the unshakeable goal of breaking up.
Both dramas explore themes of psychological tension, family drama, and mysterious threats. The protagonists face dangers from psychotic individuals tied to their families and pasts, with family secrets and unresolved issues forcing them to confront their history while being stalked. Both series blend suspense and psychological thriller elements to create intense, engaging narratives.
Baek Sa Eon comes from a prestigious political family, and he became the youngest presidential spokesman in Korea. His background also includes time spent as a war correspondent, hostage negotiator, and main anchorman. He married Hong Hui Ju 3 years ago. She is the daughter of a newspaper proprietor. She has mutism due to an accident she had when she was little. She works as a sign language interpreter in court and on television.
Sa Eon and Hui Ju got married largely due to convenience. For the past 3 years, they haven't communicated with each other or have meals together. They pretend they are a happily married couple. One day, Hui Ju is kidnapped by an unidentified person. This changes their marriage life.
Sa Eon and Hui Ju got married largely due to convenience. For the past 3 years, they haven't communicated with each other or have meals together. They pretend they are a happily married couple. One day, Hui Ju is kidnapped by an unidentified person. This changes their marriage life.
Baek Sa Eon comes from a prestigious political family, and he became the youngest presidential spokesman in Korea. His background also includes time spent as a war correspondent, hostage negotiator, and main anchorman. He married Hong Hui Ju 3 years ago. She is the daughter of a newspaper proprietor. She has mutism due to an accident she had when she was little. She works as a sign language interpreter in court and on television.
Sa Eon and Hui Ju got married largely due to convenience. For the past 3 years, they haven't communicated with each other or have meals together. They pretend they are a happily married couple. One day, Hui Ju is kidnapped by an unidentified person. This changes their marriage life.
Sa Eon and Hui Ju got married largely due to convenience. For the past 3 years, they haven't communicated with each other or have meals together. They pretend they are a happily married couple. One day, Hui Ju is kidnapped by an unidentified person. This changes their marriage life.
Baek Sa Eon comes from a prestigious political family, and he became the youngest presidential spokesman in Korea. His background also includes time spent as a war correspondent, hostage negotiator, and main anchorman. He married Hong Hui Ju 3 years ago. She is the daughter of a newspaper proprietor. She has mutism due to an accident she had when she was little. She works as a sign language interpreter in court and on television.
Sa Eon and Hui Ju got married largely due to convenience. For the past 3 years, they haven't communicated with each other or have meals together. They pretend they are a happily married couple. One day, Hui Ju is kidnapped by an unidentified person. This changes their marriage life.
Sa Eon and Hui Ju got married largely due to convenience. For the past 3 years, they haven't communicated with each other or have meals together. They pretend they are a happily married couple. One day, Hui Ju is kidnapped by an unidentified person. This changes their marriage life.
Baek Sa Eon comes from a prestigious political family, and he became the youngest presidential spokesman in Korea. His background also includes time spent as a war correspondent, hostage negotiator, and main anchorman. He married Hong Hui Ju 3 years ago. She is the daughter of a newspaper proprietor. She has mutism due to an accident she had when she was little. She works as a sign language interpreter in court and on television.
Sa Eon and Hui Ju got married largely due to convenience. For the past 3 years, they haven't communicated with each other or have meals together. They pretend they are a happily married couple. One day, Hui Ju is kidnapped by an unidentified person. This changes their marriage life.
Sa Eon and Hui Ju got married largely due to convenience. For the past 3 years, they haven't communicated with each other or have meals together. They pretend they are a happily married couple. One day, Hui Ju is kidnapped by an unidentified person. This changes their marriage life.
Baek Sa Eon comes from a prestigious political family, and he became the youngest presidential spokesman in Korea. His background also includes time spent as a war correspondent, hostage negotiator, and main anchorman. He married Hong Hui Ju 3 years ago. She is the daughter of a newspaper proprietor. She has mutism due to an accident she had when she was little. She works as a sign language interpreter in court and on television.
Sa Eon and Hui Ju got married largely due to convenience. For the past 3 years, they haven't communicated with each other or have meals together. They pretend they are a happily married couple. One day, Hui Ju is kidnapped by an unidentified person. This changes their marriage life.
Sa Eon and Hui Ju got married largely due to convenience. For the past 3 years, they haven't communicated with each other or have meals together. They pretend they are a happily married couple. One day, Hui Ju is kidnapped by an unidentified person. This changes their marriage life.
Although the storylines are very different, the intense longing and protective love that the male lead has for the female lead makes both a feast for Romance Enthusiasts.
The series starts with ambiguous relationship between the leads, the viewers cannot comprehend how these two people would have a future with such dissimilar background. However as the series progresses, viewers find the leads have a deep connection with eachother. Their relationship and the undeniable chemistry between the leads, captivates and enthralls the viewers.
The series starts with ambiguous relationship between the leads, the viewers cannot comprehend how these two people would have a future with such dissimilar background. However as the series progresses, viewers find the leads have a deep connection with eachother. Their relationship and the undeniable chemistry between the leads, captivates and enthralls the viewers.
There's not much in common between these two shows but I will say there is one key detail that makes them similar...
In Secret Garden,
the second lead, Choi Woo Young (also known as 'OSKA'), has a difficult relationship with the second female lead, Yoon Seul, after she overhears him dismissively telling a mutual friend—who happens to be interested in her—that she was just a fling and meant nothing significant. This deeply upset her, prompting her to break up with him and take a long trip to work on herself. Upon her return, she sought revenge by making herself an unavoidable presence in his life, serving as a constant reminder that he wasn’t the only one affected by their breakup. Her actions eventually drove him to make reckless decisions.
In When the Phone Rings,
the leads Baek Sa Eon and Hong Hui Ju are two married strangers, who happen to be put in a hostage situation over the phone. Baek Sa Eon response leaves Hong Hui Ju devastated and disappointed. Right then and there she decides to seek an opportunity for revenge. She impersonates her kidnapper by calling him through the phone the kidnapper used. She seeks an opportunity to make him miserable for not caring enough for her on the day of the kidnapping. While seeking freedom from her marriage she is given the chance to speak out her bottled-up feelings.
These stories are not the case of a usual misunderstanding in dramas but a case of miscommunication of feelings.
In Secret Garden,
the second lead, Choi Woo Young (also known as 'OSKA'), has a difficult relationship with the second female lead, Yoon Seul, after she overhears him dismissively telling a mutual friend—who happens to be interested in her—that she was just a fling and meant nothing significant. This deeply upset her, prompting her to break up with him and take a long trip to work on herself. Upon her return, she sought revenge by making herself an unavoidable presence in his life, serving as a constant reminder that he wasn’t the only one affected by their breakup. Her actions eventually drove him to make reckless decisions.
In When the Phone Rings,
the leads Baek Sa Eon and Hong Hui Ju are two married strangers, who happen to be put in a hostage situation over the phone. Baek Sa Eon response leaves Hong Hui Ju devastated and disappointed. Right then and there she decides to seek an opportunity for revenge. She impersonates her kidnapper by calling him through the phone the kidnapper used. She seeks an opportunity to make him miserable for not caring enough for her on the day of the kidnapping. While seeking freedom from her marriage she is given the chance to speak out her bottled-up feelings.
These stories are not the case of a usual misunderstanding in dramas but a case of miscommunication of feelings.
Both series have a seemingly cold/uncaring male lead that gets into dangerous situations and hides secrets but in actuality cares deeply for the female lead. Both series have a mystery element and both series have great visuals. The chemistry/tention between the lead characters is uncharted and it keeps the viewers in a chokehold.
