You can only pick one, and boy the pressure is on. The DB team will answer a new prompt in each post, and you’re invited to do the same in the comments. Ready to play?
You can only pick one Park Min-young drama
missvictrix: This is a tough one, because I’ve seen and enjoyed most of her dramas. Though she’s firmly situated in the rom-com queen throne by now, I think I like her scrappier roles from earlier in her career more, and so I guess it’s City Hunter that I’ll pick here for that reason. This was the first time I saw Park Min-young (if I remember correctly!) and I was pretty much obsessed with Kim Nana, from her fearless kick-butt behavior, to how she evolved into a bubble of cuteness when she was in her apartment with her bunny ear headband. This will probably always be the image of Park Min-young I keep in my mind’s eye — proof of the power of a first impression.
mistyisles: I’ve written quite a bit recently about the extremely special place City Hunter will always hold in my heart and why I can probably never, ever watch it again. So if I can only choose one of Park Min-young’s dramas… I’ll go with Healer, since I’m much more confident it’ll hold up to a rewatch after all this time.
DaebakGrits: I’m not a fan of Park Min-young’s acting because it feels like she’s constantly using a customer service persona — always smiling sweetly and looking beautiful and poised, like a flight attendant featured in an airline advertisement. Ironically, that shortcoming worked to her advantage in What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim because that’s exactly the kind of facade her character had to exude when in the presence of her boss. What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim was also one of those dramas that had a supporting cast that was so fun and likable that I enjoyed when the plot deviated and featured their antics extensively.
Dramaddictally: I know Park Min-young is the rom-com queen but my favorite of her dramas is the non-comedic I’ll Find You on a Beautiful Day. This one stands out for being what I think is her best role and also one of my favorite dramas. It’s a slow-moving, slice-of-life drama that shows her range and gets better as it goes on. All the winter weather paired with the characters’ frozen emotions make the feels pile up before everyone’s pasts come to the fore — generating some serious sobbing. I really like Park Min-young and Seo Kang-joon together here, creating the cozy center of this cold world.
jenzy: Gosh, this is like being asked to choose between your parents. Among the many gems of her career (and there are many!), I think I’d have to say City Hunter takes the top spot of Park Min-young dramas. She just glows as the bubbly and badass Nana. I also feel like while many later action shows also executed the balance between gritty high stakes, comedy, and romance excellently — I mean Park Min-young would later go on to star in the also amazing Healer — in my mind, City Hunter is the first exemplar of compelling storytelling and morally gray heroes that still holds up present day. And not to mention the absolutely killer OST. If you haven’t listened to “Suddenly” by Kim Bo Kyung you’re missing out!