User reviews

Master's Sun (aka The Sun of My Master, etc.) is a 2013 Korean TV drama; it's a cute romantic comedy with a fantasy/ghost element to it. It's pretty effective for this genre, and, I found it rather enjoyable.

SPOILERS AHEAD!

This show reminds me a lot of 'Greatest Love' (a 2011 KTV romantic comedy) for a number of reasons; it's basically the same show format, characters, writers, and tone, and it also stars the same lead actress. So, if you were fond of that show, you'll probably like this one too.

This show gets right to the point as we're quickly introduced to the two protagonists and their concerns. Gong Hyo Jin stars as the main character (Sun); she's earnest and well meaning, but is a misunderstood outcast that's always down on her luck. She can't have relationships or hold a regular job because she sees ghosts everywhere since having a near death experience not long ago. Everyone thinks she's crazy, and the ghosts that visit her won't stop pestering her. She has to help these ghosts resolve their remaining earthly issues so they can move on to the afterlife, and, so that she can get on with her life.

Sun quickly meets our male lead by chance (who's played by So Ji Sub); he's the rich, narcissistic handsome dude who owns an upscale shopping mall and is only concerned with acquiring more wealth and status. Sun realizes that whenever she's in physical contact with this particular person, ghosts will not visit her; as such, she does everything she can to be close to him as often as possible purely for this reason. He initially thinks she's a mentally unstable nut who's only after his money, but he eventually sees she can indeed communicate with the dead and tries to use this to his advantage; after all, he's got business interests and various projects that are (of course) plagued with ghostly problems, not to mention the long ago death of his former girlfriend that still "haunts" him to this day.

As is mandatory with KTV dramas, these two opposites become more attracted to each other as time goes by while they work out their own feelings for each other and deal with various problems in their lives past & present, etc. In the meantime, new ghosts are introduced and have their issues resolved each episode, while the central story and main plot progresses throughout this series. Attractive secondary leads with their own agendas & love interests are mixed in, along with some auxiliary characters and ancillary story lines. And, there's the potential "doom" angle at play (where certain ghosts &/or hidden pasts may ruin everything for everybody). That's basically the deal here. All that remains is to follow along with the two leads blossoming relationship to see if they can indeed be together in the end.

The 2 leads (So Ji-Sub & Gong Hyo-Jin) are absolutely TERRIFIC; So Ji Sub has become a really good & well rounded actor over the last decade or so. He's just now entering the prime of his career IMO, and, he's a big time star with a commanding screen presence. Gong Hyo Jin is a more than capable actress, and she just exudes an easy going on screen likability that's really hard to ignore; her only flaw (if you want to call it that), is that she's so good at portraying the adorable 30-something KTV female rom-com drama lead, that I'd rather just watch her do this stuff all the time, instead of seeing her take on other roles. The supporting cast gets their jobs done well enough as well; they include the salary man security guard and the model/actress to fill the back half of the 2 + 2 love angle format these shows often employ, along with the typical host of side characters (i.e. wealthy mother, estranged father, trusty assistant, best friend, uncle, etc.). Not many complaints with any of the performances, but the 2 main stars clearly rule the day here!

Aside from the 2 leads & secondary performances, the other thing that benefits this show is the work from the people behind the camera; they clearly have the "A" team working on this series, and, it shows. Everything is sharply produced and pretty to look at and the production/direction team moves everything along at a consistent and snappy pace. The writing is also very good, as the Hong sisters are in charge, and they really know how to pen a solid melodramatic rom-com script for Korean TV. They use similar tropes you'll find in the genre, but they regularly put out some of the better work in this business, and they can definitely keep a show moving along; it's easy to recommend almost any show they're involved with.

As a result of the off screen efforts, this series never really gets dull or bogged down during its 16 episode run time, and that's not always the case with these types of shows. Being a "ghost story", some CGI and visual effects are needed as well, and, they're effective enough overall. The effects aren't overly emphasized and seldom are they used for scares; this show clearly leans more on the fantasy side of ghost stories as compared to the horror side, and it mostly falls in line with other similar modern romantic KTV genre shows in this format (i.e. shows that utilize time travel, magic potions, afterlife spirits, etc...).

The show does tend to rely a bit too much sometimes on overly analogous dialogue instead of normal conversations, and the whole dyslexia and twin sister angle could've been omitted IMO. But, all in all, there's plenty to enjoy here; certainly enough to recommend, and, particularly so for those fans of this genre. It's a sweet and lighthearted KTV rom-com that does come with the typical melodrama you'd expect from these shows, but it's not so overly groan inducing that it puts you off. It's a likable & effective series on the whole!

Bottom Line: 8 out of 10 stars. Well Recommended!

This drama is incredible one of the best Korean series drama ever. I had so fun watching the whole episodes. I loved how they combine (romance, comedy, horror) scenes in one series. Absolutely recommended.

As a fan of Kong Hyo Jin, but a big scary cat who hates horror, I was fifty fifty whether to watch it or not. But, turned out that the horror stuff weren't difficult to handle. They were scary, sure, and well made and presented, with nice SGI, but they were brief as well and the story tended to leave them behind and move on with the main story. So, the plot was good, though I found it a bit slow. The love triangle was nice as well, but ended quickly and the drama focused on the main couple, who were really cute together. The small ghost cases, moreover, were interesting and saved the otherwise weak plot. The performances were good as well. Finally, the side stories were a bit annoying, and the final twist was predictable. So, 6.5 out of 10.

This is a fun k-drama penned by the Hong Sisters. For those who aren't familiar with their work, they're a pair of Korean television screen writers known for their quirky romantic comedies/adventure dramas. While yes many Korean Drama tropes appear in their work, the two seem to relish playing with conventions, and have fun with tropes rather than relying on them.

This is basically a Korean re-imagining of The 6th sense. Much like their wonderful re-imagining of the American film Overboard (entitled Fantasy Couple/or sometimes Couple or Trouble) - they take the basic premise and change everything making something nicely familiar but wholly new and surprising. This is no exception.

It's fun, sweet, and often extremely funny. In addition to the smart writing, the direction is top notch and the amazing cast constantly deliver. Highly recommend this one - and if ya like it, look up the Hong Sisters and seek out their work, all of it is great (except for their one misstep, the painfully bad remake of Big)

This is my first K drama and my my it's addicting so much so that this would surely not be my last! it's so much fun to watch and has lovable characters. horror/comedy/romance/suspense all rolled into one perfect drama. the lead, tae gong shil, sees dead people after her accident and only joo joong won makes the spirits go away. he is the usual imperious businessman but has a soft spot too! he has a mysterious past and it will uncover in about three episodes into it. I absolutely love the supporting characters and each episode brings a new mystery which makes watching it so worth it! anyone who loves this genre must watch this! i was unsure about watching it with subtitles but still it was all the same fun!

This is a ridiculous screwball romantic comedy / horror / thriller that is lots of fun to watch. The hero is self-important pompous son of a Pancho who never lets anyone get close to him or touch him. He has strong disbelief in anything supernatural. Our heroine is a down on her luck girl who has the misfortune of being a veritable ghost magnet who discovers that our hero is just what the doctor ordered for her condition and nothing he can do will shake her off. The characters are all adorable, the special effects are obviously done on a budget so I recommend you hold your breath for Hollywood effects and just sit back and enjoy the ride. Even the characters at the beginning of the series that you don't like much, you find things to love about nearly all of them as the story progresses. This is absolutely one of my top 10 favorite k-drama TV series (yes, with subtitles). I highly recommend it for anyone who likes screwball comedy and doesn't mind subtitles.

This drama is definitely a must watch !!

It's not horror at all don't worry !! It only starts off like that ... definitely one of my favorite dramas !

I always enjoy this concept of the living helping ghosts move on as it gives tv shows mystery and thrill wrapped in drama. I really loved Hotel Del Luna so I had high hopes for this. Sadly I am disappointed. I'm annoyed at all the high ratings, which seem to not really breakdown what makes this series good. These ratings gave me false expectations to this series,

1) The make up and hair is so poorly done that it's comical, Why does all the ghosts look like they had a whip cream smooshed on their faces? Hard to remain spooked when people are just covered in white powder. Also, hair seems to be perfect all the time, even when in dialogue one character would say otherwise.

2) special effects was laughable, this kept pulling me out of the story and just chuckling at the poorly stitched composition. I may be a bit harsh, but Hotel Del Luna and Kingdom does this much better to create the scary atmosphere.

3) the script is not very cohesively written as it never established why the main female character is so loveable. As well, the relationship seems to happen very suddenly without much time spent developing it. The main female made me feel very awkward a lot of the time with her almost childish-shy-flirting smiles-this combo is not very pleasant.

4) Many over used cliched plot points just to try and wrap up stories.

Overall, I only really enjoyed the subplots of ghost stories, but there wasn't much surprises nor twists. Mediocre 6/10.

A successful but ruthless businessman meets a girl who can see ghosts but they disappear in his presence. She latches onto him and as she gets peace in his company but over time will his indifferent feelings towards her change ? The series could have benefitted from being a little shorter but stars Hyo-Jin Kong who I love in any role and therefore I can forgive the length. Excellent acting from all the cast with some funny and endearing moments means this series is well worth a watch.

I've had a hard time getting into Korean TV dramas, mostly due to the sappy romanticism and general melodrama. Master's Sun was the first member of the genre that I've actually liked, as it brings both a fun supernatural angle and a lot of humour to the proceedings.

Central to the series's appeal is Hyo-Jin Kong as the heroine, Tae Gong Sil. Not only is Gong-Sil endearing in her weirdness, but she actually has a pretty impressive character arc over the course of the series, going from an outcast who can barely handle everyday life to a confident woman that can stand on her own. While her relationship to a rich CEO is a part of this growth, the series also acknowledges her need for independence, which is nice considering that the romance genre (on both sides of the Pacific) generally encourages a very unhealthy codependence. The other characters are all endearing in their own way, especially the ghosts, who are both visually striking and straddle the difficult line between scary and funny.

Master's Sun is still very much of its genre, containing within it evil twins, amnesia, tragic misunderstandings, questionable gender politics, kisses shot from five different angles, and the same K-Pop songs in every episode. At 64 minutes a pop, the episodes drag on too long for what is ultimately a fairly lightweight narrative. But even the soapier elements are executed better than one would have any right to expect. Even with my limited knowledge of K-Dramas, I can say that this isn't the best one out there, but judging from my experience it just might be a good gateway drug.

This is the first Korean Series that was extremely difficult to watch. The acting is bad, the storyline is weird where the characters love each other but are not able to articulate or understand like small kids.... it is one of the worst series i have ever seen.

She's a very accomplished actress and this series is enjoyable for the most part - just the obligatory K-drama daftness that gets a little irritating if it's done too often, e.g. long drawn out staring before a dramatic scene ends, half explanations - where a bit more info would avoid another unnecessary conflict etc. It's good fun though and well worth watching.

This kdrama I could watch a hundred times! I LOOOOOVE it so much. The cast are amazing, the writers did an awesome job!!

Exquisite plot, steadily nurtured romance, friendly and cute ghosts. All these help create a gem in kdrama.

I enjoyed this very much. The dynamic between the two main characters was really pleasing and funny. The dynamic changed during the final episodes of the series. The roles may have shifted but it was not the same. It lost that magic that kept us in from the start of the series. So Ji-seob made a great performance in this series. I was quite disappointed with Oh My Venus but this part really brought him back for me. This series overall is a great watch and will surely satisfy.

Really great Korean drama, with excellent story and script by the irreplaceable Hong sisters. Everything here is good: production, actors, writing, music. Great mix of comedy, light horror, and romance. Most Korean dramas follow a very specific formula, as anyone who has watched them knows, but the Hong sisters are very good at injecting just enough novelty into their dramas that the show becomes engaging both because of the familiar drama tropes, but also because of the story's willingness to diverge from the norm. My wife has seen the whole series twice and wants to see it again! If you don't have tears streaming from your face by the end of the first episode, your emotion chip must be malfunctioning. Also, If you like this drama, you will probably like The Greatest Love, also written by the Hong sisters.

Watch this drama because of SJS/ the leading actor, loved his show but not so much the leading actress. He is so good in "Oh my venus" & "My secret Terrius" & also here. Worth watching just for him!

The storyline for her is not favourable but as expected from the leading man.

Its not swoonworthy romantic interaction between the 2.

Even it is meant to be romantic comedy with a twist of horror, her scriptline & character could be much better than portrayed.

All the supporting actresses are more attractive than the leading one, not a match for the leading man.

It's a drama that you can watch but not again.

Find this series hard to review. Nothing really is great, but at the other hand nothing is really bad.

The story was okay, but it didn't really moved me. There were some side stories that were moving but they didn't really touched my heart.

Besides that, the mystery part, I saw the twist plot coming from miles away.

The FL's character acted so strange and unnatural... The way she hid behind her hands when she was supposedly scared or how she acted when she was startled. I didn't think the actress did a great job on that level. Luckily her character developed and she became more believable.

The ML wasn't a guy I would fall in love with, but also he went through some chances and became more mature and took care of her.

I didn't feel chemistry between ML and FL. The romance was limited to three "statue-kisses". A pity cause in fact chemistry can be shown without kisses, but in this series they didn't manage to show us chemistry at all.

The most likeable character in fact was Kang Woo. He was a down-to-earth guy. I would have liked it better when he would have laughed more.

The series wasn't really funny either.

So no, I'm not that convinced...

I enjoy watching this series. I didnt expect before that this drama could be interesting. But I was wrong. This drama combines horror, romcom, and mystery. I like the great chemistry between the leads, plot twist, and all the ost. I rewatched it more than 4 times.

This series masterfully intertwines the supernatural with romance, creating a unique and captivating storyline.

Gong Hyo-jin and So Ji-sub's on-screen chemistry is electric, making their characters' interactions a delight to watch.

The show brilliantly balances spine-tingling ghostly encounters with heartfelt moments that tug at your emotions.

The character development, especially the growth of Gong-shil's character, adds depth and authenticity to the narrative. Set against a backdrop of intriguing mysteries and eerie happenings, The Master's Sun keeps you hooked from the very first episode.

With its blend of supernatural elements, romance, and a dash of humor, this drama is an absolute must-watch for any Kdrama enthusiast seeking an unforgettable viewing experience!

I fell in love with so ji sub oppa and gong hyo jin unnie after watching this. Love their chemistry. She is super adorable and lovely. Her messy hair shows the realistic of the ghostly world in a subtle way. For those who are afraid of ghost no worries. The ghost scene may be a tad worrying at the beginning but on going the fear waned of. The drama starts to change direction after lead male actor forget his past , worth the watch. I became an official Korean drama addict after digesting this drama.

I did enjoy this odd romantic comedy. The interplay between the two leads built effectively on the character traits that made them incompatible and the plot device that made them essential to each other.

So Ji-seob captured his character's growth and transition well. And Kong Heo-jin really did shine as her character found strength. These actors made the most of their parts.

On the downside I didn't always find the script (or it may have been the subtitle translation) easy to follow. At times I had to ignore the words and focus on the character interplay in order to understand what was happening.

But if you can rise above such a quibble and enjoy an unusual romance then I recommend you give this a go.