Witch Yoo Hee/aka Witch Amusement (SBS KR 2007) 마녀유희

(pics Asianfanatics/wikipedia)

마녀유희 (Ma-nyeo Yuhui) 魔女遊戲

Witch Yoo Hee (aka Witch Amuseument)

16 episodes-SBS Played in Korea earlier this year in the Spring
CAST

Han Ga In 한가인. as Ma Yoo Hee 마유희
Jae Hee 재희 as Chae Moo Ryong
Jun Hye Bin 전혜빈 (Singer/actress) as Nam Seung Mi (Moo Ryong's girlfriend)
Kim Jeong Hoon 김정훈 (actor/singer/model) as Yoo Joon Ha (Yoo Hee's first love)
Dennis Oh 데니스 오 (Model, Actor-Dennis Joseph O'Neil) as Johnny Kruger (Yoo Hee's old friend)

Extended Cast
Ahn Suk Hwan as Chae Byung Seo (Moo Ryong's father)
Song Ok Sook as Moo Ryong's mother
Jung Dong Il as Lee Tim Chang
Hwang Ji Hyun as Han Sae Ra (Yoo Hee's friend)
Byun Hee Bong as Ma Yoon Hoon (Yoo Hee's father)
Jo Kye Hyung as Chae Song Hwa (Moo Ryong's brother)
Jennifer Bae as Alison

Synopsis (Dramawiki)

As the director of her father's advertising company, Ma Yoo Hee (Han Ga In) is known as a witch for her ruthless, no nonsense character. After a string of failed attempts to hire a housekeeper, she (literally) runs into Chae Moo Ryong (Jae Hee), ex-medical student turned aspiring chef. As a way to work off his debt for crashing into her car, he agrees to become her housekeeper and personal love affairs coach for one month. Gladly, he gives her a makeover that attracts both her old friend Johnny Kruger (Dennis Oh) and her first love Joon Ha (Kim Jeong Hoon). Despite having a girlfriend, Sung Mi (Jun Hye Bin), Moo Ryong eventually finds himself falling for Yoo Hee.

Thoughts:

I was excited to watch this drama. It is my first time watching Han Ga In (married to the second male Yeon Jeong-hoon lead in SAD LOVE SONG). She was great as Ma Yoo Hee. Some forums were looking forward to her wardrobe in this drama supposedly rivaling the one in "The Devil Wears Prada". I can say there were some cute outfits. But I dislike the trend of having the guys (especiall Chae Moo Ryung) wear skinny pastel colored scarfs (I have seen in Goong and Hello Miss). Luckily Dennis Oh's character was saved from wearing these ridiculous scarves!

This time around it is three guys like one gal. Usually it is a love triangle and the twist is the rich girl is falling for the poor guy Chae Moo Ryong (Jae Hee) who is helping her to "learn to date and love" though he has a patient and loving girlfriend. But it all starts with a car accident and big debt Moo Ryong owes Yoo Hee. I have to give props for Dennis Oh for saying his lines in Korean (I have yet to see Daniel Henney do it). It was my first drama seeing him. He is well suited for his role as the reclusive, handsome but renowned French chef Johnny Kruger. One of the high points of this drama are the cooking, food prep scenes that Johnny and Moo Ryung are in as well as Moo Ryung's dad who makes a mean bowl of Jajangmyeon 자장면 炸醬麵.

My sister and I found the OST to be very cute. The ending was kind of unsatisfying (I agree with some forums I have read) and the last few episodes dragged a bit. Kim Jeong Hoon (Goong) as Yoo Hee's first love does not seem too believable to me. He has too much of a baby face and seems weaker than Johnny Kruger and Chae Moo Ryong as a love rival. I do like how Johnny despite liking Yoo Hee realizes the feelings are not returned tries to be a great friend to Moo Ryong (a mentor and friend) and Yoo Hee and bring them together.

Overall, I would watch this drama again (with some better subs than this version I watched!). I dislike that they do not translate the texting scenes or have the correct food terms during the cooking tests.