The main characters are pathetic—that you need to know first. If you're drawn to easily likable characters you can root for, this might not be the right choice. The lack of communication didn't annoy me as much as I expected, and overall, the drama was pretty easy to handle. Personally, I had a lot of fun with it (not that it was always a good mood), but your experience may vary.

From the start, it was obvious this was a melodrama—mixing picaresque, noir, comedy, dark humor, makjang, and romance (not your typical love square). The drama carries a sly, cunning flow that won’t appeal to everyone. While some may find it frustrating, I found it very entertaining. Then some people say it's a mess, but isn't it the point? Anyway, I also enjoyed how theatrical it was. At the same time, the melodramatic subtleties are noteworthy, and the drama is more meaningful than one might expect. Besides, I love it when Korean dramas have footage filmed abroad. In this case, the USA.

The beginning is straightforward, setting the tone perfectly. The story may drag at times, but if you're invested or ready to fully grasp its depth, you'll see why. Character development is key in this drama. At times, looking back, I found myself impressed—especially by the end. The conflict builds like a crescendo, intensifying until it reaches a boiling point. It's a pretty complex and bold drama that you need to experience yourself. For me, it turned out to be interesting in many ways. Obviously, the drama uses clichés, a lot, and yet... I could go on for long about its uniqueness. Yes, it is clever and nuanced in many ways that I can't detail here.

I also expected the characters to be selfish and detestable, and well, they weren't as detestable as I thought. The female lead is the most innocent here, being the youngest character. Haha... the hate I've seen on her by some international viewers is totally not deserved, but what did I expect. You can watch it if you are searching for a toxic melodrama, but overall it's not that bad. It remains pretty light, except in the last episodes.

Hands down, one of the best OSTs: a mix of old-school techno, classical music with a Spanish swing, and great songs. The cinematography is surprisingly thoughtful. At first, the saturated colors sharply contrast the bright, beautiful world of the rich. However, as the narrative unfolds, the colors gradually soften, mirroring the drama's evolving tone. All in all, loved the overall vibe—both fitting for its time and uniquely distinct. It remained firm and snob.

Shin Se Kyung is well-praised in Korea, though she has her share of critics here. Personally, I find her acting natural and sophisticated. While you don’t have to love her or her roles/dramas, she’s admired for her personality, intelligence, beauty, and subtle delivery. Her tone, nuanced expressions, and command of the Korean language are often deemed perfect. In fact, she’s even considered the Sageuk queen due to her voice and expertise in the genre. She's my favorite actress, and I really appreciate how she sensibly portrays her characters in such a genuine way. Actually I was shocked to see how good she was already in 2012. Same for the rest of the cast.

Kwon Yuri, as an idol making her acting debut, did a commendable job as the classy Choi Anna. I respect idols who venture into acting, and while her role may not have been the most challenging, she performed well. Some criticize her for a monotone, repetitive demeanor, but I found it fitting for the character she portrayed.

Unsurprisingly, Yoo Ah In and Lee Je Hoon faced no criticism. About the fashion, I also really appreciated how each of them were dressed, following closely the narrative once again. Old K-Dramas are known for their questionable fashion, but I mostly liked it here.

Don't go into this drama expecting to cry your eyes out—you won't. I don’t think it’s meant to evoke that level of emotion. Maybe I teared up and shed a few tears, but to be honest, that’s coming from someone who cries easily when watching shows.

At its core, the real struggle is mostly between the men. Fashion King presents an unconventional story about humanity and society, ultimately conveying the hopelessness of class conflict and what capitalism can do to a person. Reality, as we all know, can be even stranger and more wicked—more unfair—than the cruel and ugly scenarios depicted in the drama. Clearly, the fashion industry isn't an exception where everything has to be pretty.

I always like to add some facts that I find interesting, so I'll do it here too, but under spoilers, in the comments.

Although Fashion King didn’t perform well internationally, it was popular in Korea and well-received by local audiences. Finally, if you watched the drama, I shared my thoughts on the ending and more in the comments.

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Version of the opening that was not where I watched it (check description) : https://youtu.be/5GDVpO1bWoM - I also uploaded the one from Viki.

Teaser : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtNDnfaM8TA (If you're looking for a teaser with actual content from the drama, MDL has a high-quality one.)

As part of my character study, I also created a page on the MBTI personality database, on which you can vote if you create an account : https://www.personality-database.com/profile?pid=2&cid=2&sub_cat_id=47408

Thanks for reading :)