[K-Drama Review] The Woman Who Still Wants to Marry (2010)

“The Woman Who Still Wants to Marry” (aka “Still, Marry Me”) is an MBC drama that aired from January 20, 2010 until March 11, 2010 (16 episodes total). It is a romantic comedy that focuses on the lives of three woman – Lee Shin Young, Jung Da Jung, and Kim Boo Ki – who are thirty-four years of age, career driven, and still single. Well into their 30’s, the lives of these three ladies are suddenly hit by a new beginning and their lives are forever changed.

Here is a little background to the drama but not so much that it’ll give away the hype of it!

Lee Shin Young, the main focus of this drama, is a quick-witted but oppressed reporter at the broadcasting station called UBN. She has a knack for reporting news that the normal eyes cannot see but has been looked down upon by her senior coworkers for the past 10 years. She challenges herself with new inquiries and is always the one sent to “die.” Her career however, is the weakness of her relationship and is the reason why she broke up with her long time boyfriend Yoon Sang Woo (who is a pilot). Shin Young is visualized as the strong-willed character of the trio.

Jung Da Jung is a professional and top of the nation live English-Korean translator. She is known for having helped the nation resolved some major international issues. Da Jung is visualized as the idealist & superstitious of the trio.

Kim Boo Ki is a professional restaurant consultant. A very stylish and chic female, Boo Ki has helped many restaurants revamp to become highly successful in the food & drink industry. Boo Ki is visualized as the most logical, independent and fashionable member of the trio.

Ha Min Jae is a genius singer, songwriter, and composer. Despite being 24 years old, he is still a college student because of his constant time off from school. He is the leader and guitarist of an Indie group called Purple Rain and composes songs for UBN programs. Min Jae is visualized as an “idol” (just think of kpop idols!) and contributes a major part in the lives of Lee Shin Young, Jung Da Jung, and Kim Boo Ki.

Enough with the summaries! Now let’s move on to the more technical issues!

I shall start off first with the script. The screenwriter for this drama series is Kim In Young who is known for writing KBS2 “Women of the Sun” and MBC “Me Ri, Dae Gu’s Attack and Defense Battle.” The dialogues between the characters, the brief soliloquies by Park Jin Hee’s character, and the situations that the characters are placed in are all so intricate and weaved together so well. Kim In Young’s creativity that is shown through this drama is just amazing. Although reading the initial summary of this series may create viewers to think that this is a typical Korean drama with a love triangle, you really need to watch the actual series to see what is so different about it.

The script was then polished with Chief Producer Go Dong Sun’s, Producer Park Chang Shik’s, Director Kim Min Shik’s, and Director Lee Sang Yeob’s amazing abilities to turn what may be the norm into something quite different. Chief Producer Go Dong Sun is known for producing MBC Queen of Housewives, Me Ri, Dae Gu’s Attack and Defense Battle, and Sweet Spy while Producer Park Chang Shik is known for producing MBC Beethoven Virus, Yi San, The Legend, and White Tower. Director Kim Min Shik is known directing MBC Queen of Housewives while Director Lee Sang Yeob is known for directing MBC Give Me Food. Looking from the few dramas that I have just listed, you can see some of the most memorable and breathtaking dramas from the last half decade! It is no wonder that “The Woman Who Still Wants to Marry” was produced and directed so well!

Watching this drama, I would classify it as a romantic comedy. However, the style of the drama and how it was shot remind me more of a sitcom (situational comedy – yes AP English Literature is coming back to haunt me o_o). Lo-and-behold! Director Kim Min Shik is a professional sitcom director! In an interview with Park Jin Hee (via Nate News and Dramabeans), it was said that Director Kim Min Shik made the funny moments to be acted out seriously so that they ended up being even funnier! It was also said that “He [Kim Min Shik] believes that you have to be sincere in order for the moment to play as funny.” I believe that this was one of the reasons why this drama stood out so much for me and proved itself to be one of the top dramas (although I would like to say it’s the best) so far this year.

The last element that contributed to such a great drama are the actors and actresses themselves! No matter how amazing the script is, or how awesome the producers & directors are at their job, you need talented and hardworking artists to express what is written and intended! Park Jin Hee is an amazing actress who is known for her lead role in SBS “Money’s Warfare.” It’s been about 2 years since she’s been on the small screen but I really loved her acting! Kim Bum is a fabulous actor who is known for his role in MBC “East of Eden” (omg I freaking love this epic drama & its OST), KBS “Boys Before Flower,” and his recent cameo appearance on MBC “High Kick Through the Roof.” He portrays a diligent and filial son, a player, and idol all so well! Park Jin Hee and Kim Bum are versatile artists and have an array of works (especially Park Jin Hee) that showcases their talent. Do check them out!

Oh! I would like to add in that sound (music, effects, etc.) is also an element that contributed greatly to this drama! I love the OST too! But I’m afraid, if I continue this review any longer, that it would be too technical and hard to understand! (yes… my undergraduate writing course from last year is haunting me again >_<)