The Plot
Young, smart, and handsome presidential spokesperson Baek Sa-eon (Yoo Yeon-seok) has the whole world hanging on to his every word. Ironically, his mysterious wife Hong Hee-joo (Chae Soo-bin) cannot speak and is a sign language interpreter. They’ve been in an arranged marriage for the past three years and look doomed to be in a loveless relationship for the rest of their lives. That is until someone kidnaps Hong Hee-joo and attempts to blackmail Baek Sa-eon. Now, he’s questioning everybody around him, including his own wife.
Our Review
What if k-drama dipped into Wattpad-style contract marriages and somehow made it look amazing and...(gasp!) high-brow? All this cheesy fanfic energy is exactly what When the Phone Rings delivers, and we all ate this show up. From the tsundere, cold-hearted husband slowly melting for his muted wife to the surprisingly engaging kidnapping subplot, this show was a wild ride that knew exactly what it was and leaned into it unapologetically. The show even stayed true to the sultry, erotic undertones of the manhwa it was adapted from. Yoo Yeon-seok and Chae Soo-bin’s sizzling chemistry elevated every scene, making us believe that this fanfic-esque romance could inspire thousands more fanfics of its own.
All good things, however, must come to and end. And with a tightly packed 12 episodes, the show knew exactly when to stop on a high note and leave us all wanting more. If you’re looking for a drama to fill the Friday-Saturday void, we’ve got some recos for you.
What to watch if you want suspenseful romances...
The Trunk (2024)
To quote the biophysicist and Nobel Prize winner Max Delbruck, “I don’t understand this. It must be wrong.” There is something so off-kilter yet so compelling in The Trunk that if you came aboard looking for a warm, middle-aged contract marriage romance, you’d immediately be disappointed. But you’d also be too intrigued to stop watching powerhouses Gong Yoo and Seo Hyun-jin try to figure out their growing attraction to each other despite the dangers lurking at every turn.
Read the full review here.
Perfect Marriage Revenge (2023)
Han Yi-joo (Jung Yoo-min) is an adopted child of a wealthy family who alternately ignores her and uses her artistic talent for dubious means. She spends most of the time trying to be inconspicuous and not rubbing her adoptive family the wrong way. Things take a turn for the worse, however, when she realizes her husband Yoo Se-hyuk (Oh Seung-yoon) is secretly in love with her younger sister and her adoptive mother (Lee Jung-hye) tries to frame her for a crime. Faced with a near-death (full death?—it’s not quite clear) experience, she gets a second chance at life when she wakes up from a coma, one year earlier. Now that she’s no longer in the dark about the extent of her family’s betrayal, she vows to take revenge. Enter Seo Do-guk (Sung Hoon) whom Yi-joo’s younger sister is hell-bent on snagging. Now with a chance at a re-do of her life, Yi-joo convinces Do-guk to a contract marriage with her. And what ensues is wonderful mayhem in the lives of those around them.
Read more here.
Marry My Husband (2024)
King Ji-won (Park Min-young) is a cancer patient who is slowly deteriorating. She is constantly visited and cared for by her loyal best friend Jung Soo-min (Song Ha-yoon). One day, she comes home from the hospital to find her husband Park Min-hwan (Lee Yi-kyung) and her best friend in bed together plotting to collect her life insurance when she dies. A scuffle ensues and she dies when her husband pushes her towards a glass table.
She then gains consciousness and finds out she has returned ten years to the past through some mysterious circumstance. Thinking to change her fate with her second shot at life, Ji-won soon discovers that fate is not so easy to control. Whenever she attempts to evade a painful event, she notices that it is passed on to someone else around her, making those close to her, including her boss Yoo Ji-hyuk (Na In-woo), victims of her fate. Armed with this knowledge, she plots to transfer her fate to the very people who destroyed her life in the future— her best friend, whom she now hopes will marry her husband.
Read more here.
If you want more contract/ arranged marriages read our article here Saranghae for Show: Contract Relationships in K-drama
If you want more of Yoo Yeon-seok
Hospital Playlist 1&2 (2020-2021)
Yoo Yeon-seok plays the saintly pediatric surgeon Ahn Jeong-won who longs to be a priest in this hit slice-of-life drama about five doctors who've been best friends and bandmates since college. Dr. Ahn is not only a child whisperer; he’s also a singer/drummer, a secret CEO of a charity, a dutiful child, and one of the kindest people around.
If you're in the mood for a fun and laidback watch full of friendship, food, and music (and some medical cases, of course), it doesn't get any better than this drama from the makers the beloved Reply series.
Mr Sunshine (2018)
Yoo Yeon-seok stars as Gu Dong-mae, the mercenary caught in turn-of-the-century Korea, whose love for a noblewoman (Kim Tae-ri) puts his principles and loyalty to the test. His disheveled and bloodied ronin look may be a far cry from the upright bank teller in crisp button up shirts in The Interest of Love, but trust us on this one: he can certainly rock the warrior look and is at home with bloody sword fights. With its stellar cast and massive budget, Mr Sunshine has everything you could want in a turn-of-the century drama. While some may need a bit of context in Korean history to fully enjoy the scale and the symbolisms of the drama, it is enjoyable in and of itself.
If you want more of Chae Soo-bin
Where Stars Land (2018)
Chae Soo-bin plays Han Yeo-reum, a rookie on the Passenger Services team at Incheon International Airport. Yeo-reum is a relatable mix of ambition and vulnerability. She often strives to excel at her job but finds herself entangled in tricky situations due to her impulsive, emotion-driven decisions. Chae brings warmth and complexity to Yeo-reum's character, and her interactions with Lee Yeon (Lee Je-hoon) form a poignant part of the story.
Rookie Cops (2022)
In the 2022 Disney+ series Rookie Cops, Chae Soo-bin is Go Eun-kang, a spirited and determined freshman at the Korean National Police University. Eun-kang's journey is driven by her unrequited love, leading her to enroll in the academy, where she navigates the challenges of rigorous training and relationships.
Read the full review here.
The Fabulous (2022)
In the 2022 Netflix series The Fabulous Chae Soo-bin embodies Pyo Ji-eun, a passionate public relations manager navigating the dynamic world of luxury fashion. Ji-eun's character reflects the aspirations and challenges of young professionals striving to make their mark in a competitive industry. Chae's on-screen chemistry with co-star Choi Min-ho, who plays freelance photographer Ji Woo-min, provide a look at relationships set against Seoul’s urbanities. Her portrayal also captures Ji-eun's unwavering dedication and resilience, offering viewers an authentic glimpse into the demanding nature of the fashion sector.
Read more about Chae Soo-bin here.
