Park's Contract Marriage Story (2023)

Park Yeon Woo is blooming in the "new Joseon"

I feel that the pilot does a good job of setting the premise of the story and introducing the characters. Park Yeon Woo is a free-spirited woman who’s feeling suffocated living in 19th century Korea. She enjoys making clothing and wants to be independent, something that her noble status and society in general is hindering her from. Unable to go against her parents wishes of marriage she gets married but her husband unexpectedly dies on their wedding night. Unable to mourn him she gets kidnapped, thrown into a well and gets sent to present-day Seoul. Here she meets the ML, Kang Tae Ha who looks exactly like her dead husband.

The FL rather quickly starts to adapt to her new life and feels more at home. I enjoy that she actually gets to be herself more and do the things she likes to do. The leads also start falling for one another and even get to kiss in episode 7. However, it all feels a bit rushed. That a woman from Joseon adapts this quickly to a whole new world and even kisses a “new” guy, even though he looks like her dead husband, in the span of a few days is kind of unrealistic. However, I get that things have to speed up because this drama only has 12 episodes.

Another aspect that’s interesting is the general mystery. Not much has been revealed to date. Who is the colored eye woman that keeps talking about fate? Who is the masked man that kidnapped FL? Is it all the work of the evil stepmother or is someone else the villain?

The grandfather is starting to act suspicious. He has that portrait of Yeon Woo and seems to dislike her. We will see what happens further down the line.

Overall it’s a beautiful drama that has a general romcom feeling. So far I give it an 8.5/10 rating. We will have to see how the rest of the episodes wrap up the story.

This review was written after watching episode 7. I will edit it when the series is completed.

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Is The Story of Park’s Marriage a time travel or a time slip Korean drama? I love this drama.

The Story of Park’s Marriage

The Story

The Story of Park’s Marriage begins in the later Joseon era. A complicated aristocratic young woman wants to be a fashion designer, an occupation shun for Aristocrats. Her parents arrange a marriage with another Aristocrat who has an undiscovered heart condition, which can take his life at any moment, especially if he is excited by love. She falls for him immediately, but he dies on their wedding night (action which takes place in the first episode, so this is not a spoiler). Through happenstance and a convenient body of water, the female lead finds herself time traveling to modern Korea. She is immediately confronted by her lost love, who is a Deputy CEO of a company. While this story may seem pretty bleak, her experiences and reactions to the modern world of “New Joseon” Korean is wholly hilarious and gives constant fodder for laughter, as she tries desperately to reclaim her lost love.

The Story of Park’s Marriage is well written. It is one of the most intricate meshing of what happened in the past with what is happening in the present. Like a top designer’s intricate threading of a garment, the scenes of the past are so tightly woven with the scenes of the present. The Story of Park’s Marriage is a bold mystery sewn into a RomCom. The story is a time travel Korean Drama, since there is a definite mode of time travel (a body of water). In time slips one accidentally travels through time by unknown means.

I really like The Story of Park’s Marriage. This drama gets better and better with each episode. At first, I thought that this drama would be an uncomplicated drama that would score in the high 8/10, but now for me, it is scoring 10/10. As dramatic actors are challenging themselves with RomComs of late, this is the first RomCom I have seen with Baeksang Arts Award winning dramatic actress Lee Se-young (The Red Sleeve and The Crown Clown). While actor Bae In-hyuk has played in RomComs like My Roommate Is a Gumiho, Bae In-hyuk (At a Distance, Spring Is Green and Why Her?) has been in challenging dramatic dramas as well. Bae In-hyuk is indeed a late bloomer in the acting business. His first Korean drama was only in 2019. Bae In-hyuk also has turned into a fine actor. And I must admit that the way he wears a suit is so reminiscent of Lee Jun Ho in King, The Land.

Chinese equivalent to The Story of Park’s Marriage is Miss Crow and Mr Lizard, because of the fact that falling in love could cause the death of the male lead who has a heart condition.

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A História do Contrato de Casamento de Park começa muito bem. Comecei a assistir despretensiosamente, sem muitas expectativas e simplesmente me apaixonei. Na primeira metade do drama eu passava a semana ansiosa pelos próximos episódios. Porém, a partir da segunda metade todo o charme do drama acaba sendo um pouco eclipsado pelo plot de mistério e as intenções traiçoeiras do avô do protagonista, da CEO Min e do secretário dela. A partir daí eu já não esperava ansiosa pelo episódios, continuei a ver pelas migalhas das interações entre os protagonistas. Os atores que deram vida a Park Yun Woo e Kang Tae Ha tiveram uma química maravilhosa de assistir, não por acaso eles ganharam o prêmio de fim de ano de melhor casal pela MBC, prêmio merecido.

Mas apesar da química dos protagonistas, a segunda metade do drama foi bem arrastada. O final foi satisfatório. Podemos dizer um "final feliz", contudo não posso deixar de dizer que fiquei com pena do Kang Tae Ha do passado, tadinho. Mesmo tendo sobrevivido a emboscada da madrasta, acabou perdendo o grande amor de sua vida para ele mesmo do futuro rs.

Gostaria que os roteiristas esquecessem essa necessidade de colocar plot de mistério em drama de romance. As vezes só um bom romance é suficiente para cativar a audiência. Mas hoje em dia parece que é obrigatório inserir um mistério, muitas vezes desnecessário, e que acaba deixando a história chata.

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Honestly a pretty solid show.

This show is not bad at all and actually very watchable and fun as a general show. The couple never had any huge issues and they were pretty cute overall. The story was not bad, the only critique I would give is that I don’t understand why they forgave the “evil” characters so easily. I totally understand that in the real world it sometimes is better to forgive and forget but I wish there was more character development in that area where they showed how they forgave the “evil” characters. The fact that they just gave the grandpa amnesia and never really talked about him again is like letting it go and I didn’t really like that part. I wish the show could be longer but I really liked the watch overall and would rewatch as a fun side show or if I’m multitasking. Definitely not as bad as how others may say it is because to me it only got better as the show progressed!

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Good chemistry, plot holes, unsatisfying ending

Positives points :
- What I love the most about this drama is the chemistry, dynamic and relationship of the leads. I continued mostly for that.
- I love the comedy and the friendship
- the cinematography is beautiful
- the second couple, they are fun to watch

Negatives points :
- the plot was promising, but in the end not that good for me and boring for some eps or moments. I actually wasn’t that hooked after the first 2 eps. But some thing still surprised me, I actually didn’t see it coming that his grandpa was a bad guy.
- Could stand ML’s brother for most of the drama. For me, he was a creep, weird guy for many eps. His comments or reactions regarding FL and mostly his liking for her made me uncomfortable and that was weird.
- the plot holes, feel like things weren’t explained or didn’t make sense
- how the time travel plot is written
- the ending is surely the part that made my rating go down a little. Didn’t like it. Waste of time, why made her stay in the past for the entire ep. It was just sad moments and uninteresting for me since she didn’t want to have a relationship with past him, she loves present ML. I found it weird people wanting her to stay in the past, have a relationship with past him. I just wanted more moments and a good ending in the present. She could have gone back sooner, like 20-30 min before than end so we can have a good and satisfying ending. We also didn’t see her reuniting with her best friend. But no, they went with the 1-2 min reunion. I’ve seen that annoying ending enough in Cdramas. First time I see an ending like this for a kdrama, expect my Dearest ending maybe. For me an ending like this seems like just wanting to dump a « HE » for the viewers. Also, the whole thing with the 2 Tae Ha and the kinda love triangle was weird. Plus, I agree with some comments that they could have made her appear in the pool and recreate the first ep.
Yeah, they added like 2 more minutes at the very end with the wedding. Cute, but still not satisfying. I would have like better to see more of them living happily for like 20 min or with kids or what happens with her career than seeing a wedding again.

Overall for the romance, it’s a good watch, so I would recommend even if I didn’t like it that much. I was expecting something better before starting.

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O que começou bem mas terminou não tão bem

Confesso que demorei pra assistir esse drama e desde já digo: ele não é ruim. Com certeza tem momentos divertidos, a química do casal principal é boa, os personagens secundários são ótimos e os vilões fazem um bom trabalho.
Dito isto, qual seria então o problema afinal? A questão é que ele não termina tão bem como começa porque os roteiristas se perdem um pouco a partir da metade do drama.
O drama começa muito empolgante. Eu já havia assistido dramas com temática de viagem no tempo da era Jeoson, mas foi minha primeira vez vendo uma mulher ser transportada. O primeiro episódio é simplesmente maravilhoso e os próximos episódios seguem sendo cativantes e interessantes (até mais ou menos metade dos episódios). Infelizmente muitos furos de roteiro começam a surgir. Coisas pras quais não nos dão nenhuma explicação. A personagem da Cheon Myeong (a causa da protagonista ter sido transportada) simplesmente desaparece no fim, nos deixando sem nem uma dica de como foi possível a volta dela pro futuro no final. Também não há uma explicação plausível do porquê a presença da prota é uma ameaça pro coração (literalmente) do seu par. Simplesmente nos jogam a informação de que a presença dela fez ele piorar, e assim que ela volta pro seu tempo ele fica completamente curado. Mas adivinha? Ela volta de novo no final e aparentemente não tem nenhum problema.
Outra coisa é o número de vilões que nos foram jogados. Houve pelo menos 3 trocas de vilões, e na tentativa de nos fazer empatizar com eles, nos foram providenciadas backstories que (pelo menos a da primeira vilã principal) foram boas.
Também não parece que o passado influencia de forma considerável o presente, de forma que algumas coisas pareceram ter sido feitas em vão.
Enfim, chega num ponto que o drama se tornou cansativo e nem o tempo de tela do casal principal segurou o tranco, pelo menos pra mim.
É um drama que começou ótimo mas terminou mediano, com muitos furos e muitas explicações não dadas.

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No wonder I wished for the couple to stay in the 19th century..

I didn't have any expectations going into this drama. Well, then the first episode happened and set my expectations high - way too high. The chemistry between the two main characters was endearing and even though I usually can't wait for the plot to proceed into the present day, I loved the 19th century so much that I feared the present wouldn't be as interesting. My fear was justified, sadly.

Firstly, the potential to make Park Yeon Woo struggle in the modern world wasn't fullfilled at all. Not only that, she adapted way too well. I know adults who were born towards the end of the 20th century and struggle with using modern inventions, if they do then how come a 19th century woman gets a grasp on everything so fast? In the end it plays an insignificant role in my overall rating, but yeah, the way she adjusted was too unrealistic.

What makes my rating so low, however, is the plot and all the twists - It's one big mess. Although I paid attention the whole time, I don't think that anything important happened throughout most of the present day episodes. I feel like the story wasn't moving at all, sometimes the mysterious woman appeared for a while, sometimes the main lead's heart condition made presence and then left lol, honestly I started liking it just around the time the main leads warmed up to each other.

Saying all of that, watching it was still sufferable and I thought the last episode would make me settle on a decent 7/10 - oh god, how wrong I was. I won't spoiler, but what the hell. Not only nothing got really solved at all, it turned out to be even worse. No need to mention it dragged until the last moments, so our couple spent like 30 seconds together before the show ended. Sigh.

I honestly would've given it a lower rating, but the cast saved it and even made me slightly sad when it was over, because if the plot made a bit more sense, I would've enjoyed it a lot. Bae In Hyuk is the reason I started watching this kdrama and I ended up loving Lee Se Young as the main female lead as well. They both along with all the supporting characters and villains did a really great job with what they had.

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A Delightful Journey

Having completed 'The Story of Park's Marriage Contract,' I can confidently say that it's been an incredibly enjoyable experience from start to finish. This drama had everything I love – a perfect blend of fantasy, romance, and comedy that kept me thoroughly engaged and left me with a sense of fulfillment.

The storyline was not only engaging but also emotionally resonant, and the characters' development throughout the series was both heartwarming and relatable. The incorporation of fantasy elements added depth and intrigue to the narrative, and the romance was beautifully portrayed. The comedic moments were a delightful bonus, providing much-needed laughter. 'The Story of Park's Marriage Contract' has left a lasting impression, and I'm grateful for the wonderful journey it provided. If you're a fan of these genres, this drama is undoubtedly a must-watch!

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A pleasant watch though a bit rushed

Strong and smart FL literally falls through a time hole like Giselle from Enchanted. She learns to navigate the new strange world and makes a space for herself. ML is not your typical cold, rude robot; just a bit reserved due to his past.

You need to keep your logic in the back pocket. Then you can enjoy this rom-com. It’s not very fluffy, has a just-right balance of mystery, romance, comedy and drama. But logical it is not. The time travel theory, as in most cases, trips on its own feet and leaves a few open questions.

A few more episodes would have helped for sure. The romance feels rushed and the ending even more so. We don’t get much of an epilogue either.

It’s aesthetically pleasing with clever dialogs. It is mostly carried by the actors. Lee Se Young absolutely rules. I don’t think the role challenged her a lot. In spite of it being his first lead role, Bae In Hyuk does very well. I’d love to see what he does next. Just somebody do something with his hair. Except the last scene, you don’t much see his fore head. I found it very distracting and weird. The supporting cast is pretty solid.

Overall, if you want something light, not-much-challenging, pleasant watch, give this one a try.

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STUNNING

I totally didn’t expect that I’m gonna like it so much, I started to watch it because I couldn’t find anything that would interest me at that moment, I saw familiar lady as a female lead so I decided to give it a shot ( don’t mean to be rude but I’m still kinda new to the kdramas world and don’t know too many actors)😂😂😂🤦🏻‍♀️ and you probably know that feeling when you finish few dramas that you in love with and you don’t know what to do afterwards. Stunning cast and performance, I really really enjoyed that show. I’m happy it was only 12 episodes otherwise it could’ve been boring, tho I’m a little confused how she came back, there was no reasoning behind it but I can let it slide because there is no other cons for me. Overally I’m really glad I watched it 😁

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entertaining, but confusing ending

Park Yeon Woo is a Joseon woman who finds herself suddenly in modern day Seoul after a botched murder attempt sends her through a time portal. The first person she meets is Kang Tae Ha, a young executive of a large retail corporation. Tae Ha not only looks exactly like the husband she had just married in Joseon & who passed away on their wedding night, he also carries the same name but doesn't recognize Yeon Woo. Gradually, she meets others in Tae Ha's circle who also look exactly like those who were around her in Joseon, including the vengeful mother-in-law.

The story then falls, as the title suggests, into the contract marriage trope in a tale of repeating fates as Yeon Woo's "new Joseon" adventure parallels her previous Joseon life, including finding a profitable high end market for her embroidery & dressmaking skills. Past secrets gradually get revealed in a sordid tale of family betrayal all in the name of social status & greed.

In spite of the dark undertones the show was light & funny with a few LOL moments, but as the ending approached it got rather confusing . Yeon Woo is given a chance to change the course of her family history but her behavior didn't seem consistent with what I thought her character might do with a 2nd chance with her past love. The last episode also felt very glossed over, after a dragging previous episode which was basically an hour long good-bye scene, & a longer epilogue would've been nice. One important character, the mysterious spirit who catalyses Yeon Woo's time travel, is never really fully explained.

Finally, Lee Se Young as Yeon Woo showed more spunk & comic flare than she did in the early eps of Red Sleeve & remained strong throughout. Bae In Hyuk as Kang Tae Ha, is obviously more inexperienced with his performance. Veteran Jin Kyung as the mother-in-law deserves special mention with her portrayal of one of the more complex characters in the show.

Overall, an entertaining watch but too bad the ending fizzled out.

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A subtle, feminist show

Had a drop in quality towards the end, but the last episode redeemed it. The message was consistently strong (but cleverly subtle in its delivery): this is a show about female emancipation and self-determination. This message elevates it from fluff fantasy to meaningful storytelling.

The lead actors deliver 10/10 in terms of acting, but the villains fall flat, with uninspired motivations. The true “villain” in the show is patriarchy and social conventions derived from patriarchal norms so that partially explains it, but suspension of disbelief is required from the viewer to put up with their brainless, illogical actions.

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