King the Land (2023)

Wholesome Romance with Inspiring Female Lead <3

What a lovely romcom! It is definitely very sweet (perhaps overly sweet for some), with some rather predictable (and somewhat unrealistic) moments. But interestingly, those aspects did not worsen the experience for me in the least.

This is actually one of those few romances that you would want to aspire towards. So wholesome!!

The main female lead (Sarang) is both beautiful and smart, with her own ambitions. My fav kind of gal. ;) And ofc Won, played by Lee Jun-ho, is quite dapper himself. A pleasant surprise to see my bias from 2PM doing such a good job in a modern Korean series.

At last, I was surprised how funny this series is. I giggled or laughed several times in each episode! Won's assistant was such a delight as well.

And the visuals were on point as well, every episode the main leads were dressed to the nines, I felt like I was watching models haha.

If you are looking for a light series with sweet romantic moments, strong friendship, ambition, good acting and good vibes, don't miss out on this one!

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??HONEST REVIEW ??

First of all the cast its so spectacular Yoona & Junho is the BESSTTTTTT OF DE BEST ACTOR!! especially the 6 siblings they make this drama more alive and not too lonely.. I really.love the cast, hope they're gonna make a drama together again!

🩵🩵🩵💙💙💙💜💜🧡🧡
I think Junho (Gu Won) character is too innocent man, its not good as is, I like Junho being a badass and badboy like he's previous drama the "Good Manager (2017)" he is such energetic and annoying man, I love that kinda plot, Sarang its the cute and innocent its enough, Gu won must be the bad one too balanced the plot and more realistic conflict !! poor the director didn't make it like that 😣😣

the drama its too light, there is many many scenes that I skip like while sarang and gu won talking too much.. its kinda little bit boring in the latest episode, in early episode it was ok 😊🩷 And it was so predictable, there no such TWIST conflict that make us waitingg like damn cry to thr next episode, too light 🥹🩷☺️

hope to see Junho in next drama such an asshole man not like this one, trust me guyss if u didn't watch "Good Manager" u will regret, u have to see Junho act in that drama! its so badass but in that drama there is no romance, just accounting and law crime drama 😌

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Hang on it gets better

* Minor Spoilers

"King the Land" was highly anticipated after watching the trailer. Since I watch genres by mood, I was pretty much in the mood for an upbeat Rom Com.

Gu Won (Lee Jun Ho) is a handsome and successful manager for the King Group. On the surface, he seems to have everything in life with little trouble. Aside from a few company problems, there are also family and personal issues, past and present.

In and around the King Hotel, Cheon Rang (Im Yoon Ah) has fond memories as a child. She has the sweet girl next door looks and a heart to match. She is bright, smart, and has an endearing smile. The King Group is not an easy company to work for, especially if you are a low-level employee. Despite not having a formal education, Cheon Rang excels in crisis management, language skills, and interpersonal relations. Despite circumstances that work against her, she benefits from this.

My first impression of the lead characters was that they were likable. However, to me, the first 4 episodes seemed to be a series of color by number circumstances. This caused a slow feeling of dislike for the series. As time went on, I became more and more disinterested in the show, sometimes even skipping it temporarily for another series. That is until about episode 7.

As things started to pick up, things got better. While the acting was still solid, the relationships, characters, and situations were becoming more clear and relatable. Despite being wrong, I'm glad I didn't drop the series. It was well worth giving the show a chance. Thus far, this couple has been my second most-loved. (#1 belongs to the Crash Landing leads) Although the story was initially appeared painted, everything began to make sense to me once it took shape. Things no longer appeared forced. The ML couple became more adorable and so fun to watch.
Im Yoon and Lee Ho seem to be a perfect match for each other in context of the story.

For lack of a better cliche, I get impatient if the ML couple don't have "chemistry" or are constantly in each other's faces. The two of them in this case had me smiling. I wanted them to be together more.

"King the Land" was well shot from a cinematic perspective, however the set design wasn't all that spectacular for the big hotel. It was pretty and elegant, but nothing regal. The show really didn't portray the elegance much. (wasn't a deal breaker) Overall, I give "King the Land" a positive rating. As it wasn't flawless, it worked for me.

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Totally worth watching!

I would really recommend this drama. Each episode was worth watching.

For me, the OSTs were definitely a 10! I watched it when it was being aired and i was enjoying each and every episode till the very end. Every relationship had its own enjoyments. The boss and his secretary were more like friends most of times. I don't get it why people are giving negative feedbacks but this drama is incredibly awesome! The sophistication, the optimism this drama had was really satisfying. The friendships, the romantic entanglements of the main leads and supporting leads, the other family relationships were amazing. Sometimes there were emotional roller coasters too which led to further curiosity. If you like k-dramas like A Business Proposal or What's Wrong with Secretary Kim, then you would definitely like this drama. Go ahead and give it a try!

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All the ingredients of the recipe, but the whole remains bland

Highly anticipated romantic series starring Jun Ho in ML (excellent as usual) and Yoona ((who lacks expressions, apart from his smile)) in FL.

Classic plot of the meeting between an heir of a large group, including a palace (with serious family and inheritance problems) and a FL working at the hotel, poor, hardworking, warmhearted.

What I liked :
+ Thanks to the cast, it's quite well done in the romantic comedy style. There are many kissing scenes (1 or even 2-3 per episode, passionate, almost too many.... Just fan service ??).
+ the working conditions of subordinates are accurately mentioned for Korean society: weight of hierarchy, nepotism, etc. Same thing for the pressure put on the shouder of working women (work + children + household chores, etc.)
+ no break up :) in the CL.
+ The narration is fast and the OSTs are very suitable.

BUT :
- some characters are caricatures: the assistant (idiot, with inappropriate behavior), the Arab prince (caricature who speaks fluent Korean), the Duty Free store's manager, the hateful sister, etc. I know it's for the touch of humor, but the dose is too strong to be acceptable!
- the recurring message “to protect those you love, you have to be strong & have power” is so neo-capitalist. There are other ways to protect workers...
- the product placements (numerous) are too obvious and clumsy.
- 2aire characters (including the CL2 romance) are not developed. The entire storyline remains centered on the CL.

=> Fun to watch but never to be remembered.
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Série romantique très attendue avec Jun Ho en ML (excellent, comme d'habitude) et Yoona en FL ((qui manque d'expressions, à part son sourire).

Plot classique de la rencontre entre un héritier de grand groupe, dont un palace (avec lourds problèmes de famille et de succession) et une FL travaillant à l’hôtel, pauvre, travailleuse, chaleureuse.

+ Grâce au cast, c'est assez bien fait dans le style comédie romantique. Il y a de nombreuses scènes de kisses (1 voire 2-3 par épisodes, passionnés, presque trop).
+ les conditions de travail des subordonnés sont évoquées avec justesse. pour la société coréenne : poids de la hiérarchie, népotisme, etc. Même chose pour la pression mise sur les femmes actives (travail + enfants + taches ménagères,...)
+ pas de break up :)
+ La narration est rapide et les OST sont très adaptés.

MAIS :
- certains personnages sont caricaturaux : l'assistant (idiot, avec comportement déplacé), le prince arabe (caricature qui parle coréen), la chef du magasin Duty Free, etc. Je sais que c'est pour la touche d'humour, mais la dose est trop forte pour être acceptable !
- le message récurent "pour protéger ceux qu'on aime, il faut être fort & avoir du pouvoir" est si néo-capitaliste. Pour protéger les travailleurs, il y a d'autres moyens...
- les placements de produits (nombreux) sont trop évidents et maladroits.
- les personnages 2aires (y compris la romance du CL2) ne sont pas développés. Toute la storyline reste centrée sur le CL.

=> Tous les ingrédients sont là, mais l'ensemble reste fade. Un divertissement agréable à regarder mais qui ne restera pas dans les mémoires.

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Typical Rich man poor girl Romcom in all Asian dramas. Predictable

"King the Land" is a Korean RomCom drama about a rich guy and poor girl from a different background. This story has played out in many Asian dramas, especially Cdrama, so nothing special.

I usually don't watch many Kdramas because I multi-task while I am watching; hence don't like reading subtitles.

The Synopsis: Heir Goo Won cannot stand fake smiles. When he meets Cheon Sa Rang, her sincere smile is at the ready. The pair seek to create happy moments where they can smile brightly at each other. King of the Land is a VVIP business lounge, a paradise catering to wealthy hoteliers. It is owned by The King Group, with hotels, distribution companies, and an airline in its portfolio. Now Goo Won has been thrown into an inheritance tug-of-war. With his brilliant mind, innate grace, and captivating charm, he has everything but lacks common sense when dating. Cheon Sa Rang makes the world brighter with just her smile. She is thrilled to land a job at the King Hotel, where she had some of her happiest times as a child. She must now put those sweet memories away and mature quickly to face the frequent workplace prejudices and misunderstandings that come her way.

Because the story is not special and the characters are not complex, I fast-forward many scenes and only focus on the main CP. Their onscreen chemistry is cute, and I have to credit Kdrama because their kissing scenes are more passionate and sensual than Cdramas, where there were no passionate or sensual kissing scenes for the romantic genre.

Overall is an okay drama, and I give it a 7.0 rating

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Not for everyone

But for me ✨️yes✨️
I enjoyed this one so much. I can say that it was a dose of peace,a happy place after a long day.

The chemistry>>>

It was simple,no plot twist ,and when it comes to obstacles,these two knew very well how to not make them important...Just two people who wants to be together,to matter what.
I'm crazy to see a fantasy ? It was a romcom , some people might call it boring,but for me was pure,they knew how to communicate and did not end up with an absurd break-up. Let's be real,if there's a word that can describe very well that situation ,it would be "rare".

That's all I can think when it's about King the land,no stress,Just a love story that everyone would like to be part of.

Hermès❤️

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Definite must watch

I loved it. I smiled. I laughed. I loved how they displayed emphasis on the service industry and how hard these people have to work to keep a job in addition the little politics at play. It was a good balance of everything. I enjoyed the relationship between the leads. They had really great chemistry and the acting of the grandma was so amazing. No excessive drama. No psycho people. No stupid love triangle’s. No ridiculous break ups.

The cast did an amazing job. I honestly liked them all. Of course there was an antagonist but you’ll get a clear idea why. Yes there was a little plotting but I can finally say in this series that the little traps, mishaps passed like wind.

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Accept it's a fluffy rom-com, not RL, and it'll be a fun watch

Aug 2023
A great big squishy ball of fluff, in the traditionally wonderful vain of many successful rom-com K-dramas.

You get the flashy backdrop of a wealthy family run conglomerate; the main story centres around the successful 5 Star hotel, while also featured are the company's Airline and a high end clothing branch, where each of the FL's 2 besties work.

Within these settings are power struggles, prejudices over education, divorce and social standing, with a smattering of greasy palms, connections and the usual jealousy, spite, bitching and abuse of the have nots/underlings. Some characters are wonderfully nasty and underhand... I was having a right go at the TV on many occasions! ;-D

Then, of course, there is the most important, most focussed on, romance between our drop dead gorgeous ML and effervescently can-do, pretty FL, who when at work speaks in the same way UK announcers did in the 50s ;-D and smiles through 99% of everything that a busy day as Hotel Concierge can throw at her.

Due to a childhood trauma, our ML hates what he sees as the false smiles automatically plastered on the faces of a large percentage of the hotel's staff and refuses to either conform, or acknowledge them.

With our FL gaining success with her attitude and having more and more dealings with our ML, it's very much an enemies to tolerated colleagues, to friends, to lovers.

There is almost every cliché in the book, from one falling into/onto the other, a bike ride, fairground visit and sudden overnight stay, to money getting offered to get rid of people.

There are also the trials and tribulations of the FL's 2 best friends sewn into the story and plenty of light moments with the ML and his dork of an assistant.

This fit absolutely perfectly with what I wanted to watch. There are imperfections (I never really understood why someone who disappeared, did) and realism is often overlooked to make things and people beautiful, and the story work... but the drama is a rom-com and from the very amusing first arrival of our ML, does not set itself up to be anything remotely true to life, so no disappointment in that respect, for me.

There was one scene near the end, with the FL's grandmother (played by a favourite senior actress, Kim Young-ok) that was so touching, I needed tissues.

The music I did find exceedingly odd at times, especially when a group of them visited Thailand... it was almost hilarious, with what sounded like bangra, and Ska!!! I've heard traditional and modern Thai music and it didn't sound like that!

It's no more than a bit of fun, and a great feel-good drama. I quickly ate up every second of it!

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the couple oozes chemistry, I loved it

Watching the Kdrama “The King Land,” my experience was simply captivating in every aspect. Every meticulously crafted scene kept me hooked from the very first episode. The gripping plot, coupled with exceptionally well-chosen actors, elevated this drama to a new level of excellence.

In particular, I must highlight the phenomenal acting of Lee Junho and Lim Yoona. Their impeccable talents brought depth and authenticity to the characters they played. The way they portrayed their emotions, challenges, and growth throughout the story was simply impressive. Every scene they shared on screen was brimming with chemistry and skill, adding rich layers to the narrative.

Lee Junho once again proved himself to be a versatile and charismatic actor, masterfully capturing the essence of his character. His ability to immerse himself in the emotions of the role is undeniable, and he truly embodied the spirit of the character, making him memorable and endearing.

Lim Yoona likewise delivered a remarkable performance, displaying talent beyond her years. Her captivating and genuine performance brought a unique vitality to the character she portrayed. Her presence on screen was magnetic, and she excelled in every moment she shared with the cast.

In addition to the performances, the direction and cinematography deserve applause. Every frame was carefully composed, taking advantage of stunning settings and visually appealing aesthetics. The soundtrack also perfectly complemented the tone and pace of the drama, adding an emotional atmosphere to the more intense scenes.

I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a thrilling journey and full immersion in a world rich with emotion and meaning.

Congratulations to the production team, cast, and everyone involved in creating this incredible Kdrama.

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Fun story fun characters fun show

TLDR: Popcorn fun with cute moments and great chemistry

Disclaimer: Average for me is a 5 so everything above that is pretty good to perfect and everything below that is pretty bad to horrendous. I know nothing about film making so couldn't tell you anything about how well the technical aspects of the show were executed, but I can give my opinion on how much I enjoyed it relative to other things I've watched.

Overall: If I could describe this show in one word it would be refreshing. Simple story with enjoyable characters trying to be their best selves. Everything adds up to be one of the most fun shows I've watched recently

Story: I liked the story a lot more than a summary would suggest. Its not super complex, there isn't a masterfully crafted plot that will keep you glued to your seat, but I think that is what made it so enjoyable for me. The main focus of the story is the romance, friendships and the politics/inheritance. The romance had its ups and downs but overall it was a fantastic watch. I will I admit I almost dropped this at episode 5/6 when the obligatory major accident happens that forces a lead to realize their feelings, but thankfully that was the only instance of eye rolling cliche that really got to me. The rest of it was a fun ride watching the leads get together and just enjoy life. Maybe this comes down to preference but I am a huge fan of just letting things happen organically. If there is no reason for a couple to break up then forcing it for the extra drama only detracts from the show. If two grown ass adults know they both have feelings for each other it makes no sense to complicate things unless there is a legitimate reason outside of "we needed to fill 2 more episodes". The show even pokes fun at this trope in the latter half of the show. This drama creates a great balance of having outside pressures in the relationship, but also realizing that talking to your partner and open communication can in fact solve many problems. Can't tell you how much of a breath of fresh air it is to not see a couple who supposedly love each other break up at the drop of a hat all while pining for each other. Like no, you can be together, you are in fact 30 years old, be an adult.

The politics were ok. There wasn't a whole lot of drama and the outcome was pretty clear from the outset even without knowing all the tropes, but I thought it served the show well. Sometimes there don't need to be all these unnecessary obstacles just for the sake of artificial drama and this show understood that. The office drama I thought was handled very well. Sometimes it was a bit over the top but relative to what some other dramas bring to the table this was downright tame. I often get annoyed when the villains/antagonists/bullies in a show are super aggressive and openly antagonistic because I feel that realistic bullying looks much more subtle. The off hand remarks, office gossip, and tensions between co workers were subtle enough while also showing how oppressive the tiny things can be. The way the characters handle these things is also well done and had a mature flair to it that isn't often seen. The multiple perspectives from the friend group also allowed them to explore how different people can successfully navigate these situations while still being an adult. Whether it is the snarkiness/sarcasm of the department store worker or the kill them with kindness attitude of the lead, there are different ways to handle this without exploding. (Not that one way is better than the other, and sometimes a good explosive scene is just what the doctor ordered, but in dramas it has become the norm and hence much less enjoyable to watch)

I'll give the show credit for balancing the multiple story threads well. I was invested in all three of the friend group's lives and wanted them all to succeed. Sometimes this idea can be hard to do well because certain parts of individual stories are going to be more interesting than others which makes it very easy for me to dislike a character just because they aren't part of the more interesting plotline. But as I was watching their lives play out I was genuinely interested in every characters life. Nobody overstayed their welcome or made me wish I was watching a different character. I think Kang Da Eul's story was the only one I was sort of mixed on. Her home situation wasn't meant to be taken as seriously as the others given the shows portrayal but I kind of wish they did. Instead of the uno reverse they did which I think was supposed to be funny I wish there were some scenes where she gave some serious thought about what she wanted and the pros/cons of staying or leaving.

Characters/acting: I loved the leads but the FL was always going to be the standout from episode 1. It was great to see a FL that was competent and independent without needing the ML to simply exist. She was consistent throughout the show and stuck to her guns even when things didn't go her way. She had a direction and goal in life and just happened to meet someone that she wanted to share that with rather than being directionless before running into her other half. The performance was excellent, though I don't think the role demanded too much from the actress, she did a fantastic job with what she needed to do. The ML was good as well. I think the story failed his character early on, the whole petty act during episode 5 was the only real point where he acted out of character but everything else was good. If he had stayed a 30 something year old adult throughout the show I would've put him squarely in great but for those 2 episodes he turns into a middle schooler who is afraid to admit he has a crush. Spoiler but in an alternate universe not too different from the show the FL dies because the ML was petty which is something that was kind of hard for me to get over but I eventually did. That aside the performance was good with some great chemistry between the leads. I liked that the ML stayed out of the way of the FL and didn't start to dominate her life in the way that is all too common in the office romance shows. I loved their cute vibe and wish I could've seen more of it.

The second leads were also good. My personal favorite was Kang Da Eul. The performance was fantastic and I loved the sarcastic energy she brought to the table. Sort of mixed feelings on her story but I thought the character added a lot of fun to the group that would've otherwise been missing. Her relationship was kind of played for laughs with some mini revenge/comeuppance which was kind of sad to see as I wish she did find someone better for her but can't complain too much. Oh Pyeung Hwa was also good. I thought her storyline was a bit more basic than the other two on both the office and romantic side but I think she served as the baseline which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I still enjoyed her character and her relationship but don't think the chemistry was as strong as some of the others in the show. The standout though was always going to be how the 3 bounced off of each other because they were the definition of the sum is greater than the parts. Their friendship felt real and I enjoyed all their scenes together. The dialogue felt smooth and real while also showing how the personalities of the characters mix together.

For the side characters No Sang Sik is the MVP. He was over the top and goofy in a way that the show desperately needed and he never felt overbearing. When he slid those glasses down in the airport I was like, yes. I'm glad they didn't give him too much of a romantic side story because his character really shined in not taking him super seriously. The actress for Lee Ye Jeo was also amazing and I loved the performance despite the little screen time. The rest of the side characters were good in their roles but nothing too amazing for me to comment on.

Music: Not much to say, I watch in 1.5x speed and didn't really go back for any of the songs but they weren't bad either.

Rewatch: Rewatch value is the most subjective category for me because there are some fantastic shows that I know I will never rewatch while some objectively worse dramas I'll watch 5 times over. The story is good but not great, the leads are fun but not my favorite, and none of the side characters would crack my top ten list, but gun to my head this is the first drama I'd watch again if I had to choose one. Maybe everything just combined well together to create the perfect version of popcorn fun or maybe this just fits my guilty pleasure but I already know I'm going to be watching this one again regardless.

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