This looks so intriguing! I’ve never run across this kdrama. How you’ve framed it makes me want to binge it on a rainy day.

I remember watching the 1st or maybe even 2nd episode, but don't remember why i stopped/dropped it. Thank you for this article, now adding it to my to watch list during kdrama slumps.

I remember enjoying this drama so much back in the day, and then found out that DB dubbed it as "too dry to be entertaining". So I'm happy to see @night owl writing a great piece about this drama. It's a rather unusual and interesting concept to have a drama that put a whole family's journey as its main story. We got snippet of everyone's lives and problems, and most of the times they are worlds apart, yet they still banded together as an inseparable family unit when the other need it. And it's a heart warming experience.

Lovely article. I really enjoyed The Suspicious Housekeeper. Bok-nyeo was just what the bratty children and their irresponsible father needed, and the character growth all-round was fascinating to experience.

The drama took me two tries to finish, but it was well worth the watch. The child actors (some of them now carrying their own dramas) were excellently matched by the adults, and the writing, acting and direction was very strong from start to finish.

Bok-nyeo's bizarre policy of carrying out every instruction meant disaster, hilarity and/or heart-rending
consequences at each turn. I remember thinking at first, 'She's not going to do that?!' and later, 'Where is Bok-nyeo?' when someone or something needed handling.

That stalker... even now I'm shaking my head at the man. So good looking and so vile.

The scenes between the family and the nosy neighbor made me laugh, and then you discovered what was going on behind her own closed doors. This was so typical of the writer's message throughout the drama - nothing is ever completely as it seems.

Thanks for a brilliant reminder of a thought-provoking drama.

Thanks for this @nnnnnn Night Owl. It was thanks to this show that I knew to expect the kind of backstory the housekeeper in 30 But 17 had. She too was a 'robot' with a heart, someone who thought she did not deserve to be happy, while still caring for the family she decided to take under her wings.

I remained intrigued throughout by Bok Nyeo, wondering what horrors had reduced her to automaton, being aghast at the unfair treatment she had faced and then rejoicing in her smarts and triumph. This show mixed nicely the weird, the human, the melo and the thrills and ended up warm and hopeful. 😊

The kids were lovely to watch as they started coming together as family and attached themselves to Bok Nyeo. I still recall their attempts to make her laugh, and how she managed to barely hold it in. I guess it was really one of those shows that made an impression on me, if I remember this much.

Thanks for the memories! 😄

Is that little nam dae reum?? He was such a smol bean back then!! And now he grew up so much and got so handomse and give him maybe another 3-4 years soon enough he's gonna be main lead in kdramas

I have only watched the J-drama. Which I liked, but didn't love. It had a good story but strange execution. Sounds like the kdrama may have actually improved upon it? Maybe I'll check it out. I like the idea of fleshing out both the suspense and the bonding with the kids (and dad).

After this review I have to watch it!

Thank you for this essay, night owl! Suspicious Housekeeper was my first "vintage" show and I binged with great curiosity. The first few episodes I kept saying, "This show is ... so weird!" As annoying as the children were, it made their growth as a family more heartwarming. I grew to love Bok-nyeo and her backstory broke my heart. It was also thrilling to watch her thaw a little even as she dispatched the various assh*les in the family's life with cold efficiency.

Sung-chul is a challenging character to like but I did grow to understand him and respected him for making an effort to finally love his children. The Japanese version's dad remains an unrepentant piece of trash and pretty much spoiled the show for me. I prefer the Korean makeover, which added some lightness without whitewashing away the pain.

I can’t believe someone else watched this! It was one of my first dramas and I loved the weird, quirky yet suspenseful vibe it wrapped itself in but no one watched it. Ughh I loved how she got the family together and the funny scenes with her bag and skills were hilarious.

thank you for the neat write up! i really enjoyed it and it kept me coming back to see what would happen all of them. oddly wonderful!

This was one of the earliest Kdramas I've watched and I remember being intrigued by the stalker issue. Upon watching it again, I appreciated the relationships built among the family members and Bok Nyeo. Unfortunately I also had to deal with annoying characters like the neighbor, her horrid mother-in-law, the Dad's mistress and that selfish boyfriend of the eldest daughter.
That scene when she smiled, ohhhhh tears were shed. I felt like I was a part of that family, anticipating her smile then feeling all sorts of emotions when she finally did.