My secret hotel
I just started watching "My Secret Hotel" that parodying mystery drama, because of the talented actor Jin Yi Han/Kim Ji Han is one of the lead characters, Goo Hae Young.
The satire story is about a young prodigy architect Goo Hae Young that falls in love at the first sight with a waitress (Nam Sang Hyo portrayed by Yoo In Na) in a restaurant in Las Vegas. They get married after 6 weeks of dating because they are really in love with each other. However, the story indicates that being in love (can fade over time) is not really loving someone (accepting the weaknesses and strengths of the partners) that is needed for a long-lasting marriage. When Hae Young’s architect partner calls and needs his presence at work in New York, Hae Young pleads Sang Hyo to come with him to New York. In the mean the time, Hae Young notices that Sang Hyo must deal with sexual harassment at her workplace. But Sang Hyo declines to go even though the air ticket is given to Sang Hyo by Hae Young. Sang Hyo cries for days feeling sorry for herself and angry at her husband when he leaves for New York. In my opinion as an outsider, Sang Hyo character is selfish and not even wants to see how the job opportunities in New York and be with her new husband. They could talk about job opportunities in New York instead of stubbornly wants to work in Las Vegas.

After 7 years Sang Hyo meets Hae Young again in Korea because he is getting married at the hotel where Sang Hyo is employed at as a wedding planner. Hae Young intends to get back to Sang Hyo. I am watching episode 1 to 3 with dismay as Nam Sang Hyo keeps on beating Goo Hae Young whenever they meet up. She must still be in pain and angry at Hae Young that is getting married to the point of physically abusing Hae Young. I notice there are no parents during the wedding ceremony between Goo Hae Young (episode 1), the prodigy-son, and his young “daughter-of-wealthy-family” future wife, Ha Yun Joo. Usually in Asian cultures, parents are the most important individuals especially for wedding ceremonies. Hae Young is so relieved that the wedding is disrupted because there is a murdered body falls into the wedding hall.

In the meantime, the managing director, Jo Sung Gyum (portrayed by Nam Goong Min) at the Secret Hotel where Sang Hyo is working is attracted to Sang Hyo. The attraction is mutual, and Sang Hyo is trying to flirt with Sung Gyum to make Hae Young jealous and to show that she is dating too. To make the story short, Sang Hyo and Sung Gyum can convince both Hae Young and Ha Yun Joo to have their second wedding ceremony at the Secret Hotel (pleasantly, both the groom’s and bride’s parents are present at the second wedding ceremony). Lo and behold, Ha Yun Joo runs away with her lover chauffeur on her wedding day. Hae Young persuades Sang Hyo to be his “substitute wife”, even both groom’s and bride’s parents agree to this idea. For the sake of her job performance, Sang Hyo accepts to be his “substitute wife”. After the wedding though, Sang Hyo leaves Hae Young to be flirting and dating Sung Gyum again. Hae Young’s intense pain in loving Sang Hyo is so palpable. He realizes that Sang Hyo really loves her job more and wants to perform well at the Secret Hotel instead of loving him. The story is depicting Sang Hyo as not even interested in trying to take the time to start courtship with Hae Young and talk about their failed relationship, fears, successes, career during their “fabricated honeymoon prepared by the Secret Hotel for the Secret Hotel promotion”. The Secret Hotel emphasizes to much on flashbacks and daydreaming about ‘what ifs”. I do not see the Secret Hotel employees and Architectectural and Design Company employees working hard; the hotel looks so empty. It is always a breath of fresh air whenever I see Goo Hae Young wearing his optical eyeglasses working hard at his desk. I am not going to spoil and tell the story.

I would recommend this drama since the murder case in the Secret Hotel is made into satire, and the talented veteran actor Ahn Kil Kang that is portraying Chief police Kim Geum Go, is an excellent catalyst in this series that is parodying a mystery drama. Whenever I am getting fatigued from this round-and-round “love triangle” (even though I am sympathetic to Sung Gyum, and feel sorry for Hae Young), Chief Police Kim appearance on the screen erases overloaded “love triangle” in the Secret Hotel. I can feel tender on-screen chemistry between Sung Gyum and Sang Hyo, Sung Gyum always maintains his lingering eye contact with demure Sang Hyo whenever they are together. But I do not feel any on-screen chemistry developing between Hae Young and Sang Hyo. Probably Sang Hyo always physically beats and caresses Hae Young whenever they are together. The appearances of adorable actress Yoo In Na and both actors Jin Yi Han (fresh from “Empress KI”) and Nam Goong Min (from “Hur Jun, the Original Story”) are pleasing to the eyes. There are many new up and coming young actors (including Ahn Bo Hyun) in the Secret Hotel that are eye candy as well. Actor Choi Jung Won that is portraying architect Yoo Shi Chan is rather entertaining. Finally, too many scenes are taken inside the hotel that make the series look cold and distant. The Secret Hotel is enjoyable for weekdays drama and a glimpse of living in high society and high heels but does not exude heartwarming story.