City Hall (2009)

Like everyone said, I was very hesitant to watch this drama at first since it's main focus was about politics and I'm not a fan of politics, I don't even know what goes around politics but after watching this drama it was just DAEBAK!!! It was so worth watching. I love Cha Seung Won especially in The Greatest Love so I looked up other dramas/movies by him and City Hall caught my attention. It's very very good.



My favorite thing about this drama is the chemistry between the two main leads. They're acting is just incredible. The way they acted made it all seem so real. They definitely reached out to the audience. They are both so cute and adorable. From the very beginning to the end, I loved this drama so much. I regret not watching this before. The many tears I had shed in this drama are just uncountable. The story was also very good. The way it paced evenly with the romance between the two main lead was just very well done. I'm really surprised how this drama isn't popular at all. I really thought that this show was going to bore to death but it really surprised me that it didn't. It now turns out that this is one of my favorite dramas.

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A must watch politically-driven romantic-comedy drama, City Hall is a story of two individuals who crossed paths in the arena of small town politics and corporate-political intrigues, infused with family secrets, driven with personal convictions and beliefs, and highly-charged with honey sweet, yet tastefully romantic scenes.



Shin Mi Rae, played by Kim Sun Ah, is a lowly government official, financially driven to join a beauty pageant, crosses paths with Jo Gook, played by Cha Seung Won, an ambitious and highly driven politician with a hidden agenda of political advancement. Propelled into the political arena in her small town, Mi Rae finds herself running for mayor, backed by her very supporting and hilarious friends, with Jo Gook as her campaign manager, only to be embroiled in small town and national partisan politics. City Hall is a trial of two opposite people's determination to keep their individual conviction, beliefs, and political ambitions, while keeping their blossoming romance under wraps from the critical and career damaging eye of the media, political intrigues and ambitions of others.



Kim Suh Ah continues to impress with her amazing acting in her role as Shin Mi Rae, whose conscience and idealistic nature, clashes with those who are more driven with personal benefits than social and political obligations, and torn between protecting the town and its people, keeping her personal beliefs and convictions, entangled in political intrigues, and her unflinching love for the ambitious Jo Gook.



Cha Seung Won unarguably pulled the stops as he embodies the smart, cynical, confident, charismatic, and ambitious Jo Gook, yet still charmingly capture the quirky, romantic side of a man pulled apart by his desire to follow his heart, achieve his political dreams, familial loyalty and paternal approval, and protect the person he loves most from the damaging life of politics.





Amazing chemistry and solid acting by the two leads, as well as the supporting casts, makes this a must watch drama with its witty lines, political and partisan intrigues, and touchingly wishful and uplifting romance. A hands-down, fantastic plot!

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This drama had me snagged by the end of episode one, and never let go, even at the end I was looking for just a little more!

I think like everyone else, I put off this drama for a while, but not because of the political aspect most seemed to, because I actually don't mind that as a plot-line, but because I heard from a friend the Kim Sun Ah's character was annoying and the typical stupid female lead. That was obviously very wrong, especially in later episodes. The story-line was semi-unique and new because it carried that political aspect, and was the cause for all of the main pairs trouble. While couples being separated because of their live's situation or social standing is nothing new at all, the politics made it fresh and something not quite the usual. While the beginning episodes were filled with just a little too much outlandish/slapstick humor, that didn't last long, and the humor developed into something more witty and intelligent. For the most part, the story focused really on the main couple the drama brought from Jo Gook's lies and manipulation and Shin Mi Rae's incorruptible beliefs, and their hesitancy to let themselves love each other. I loved watching Shin Mi Rae become an awesome Mayor and stand her ground and go head to head again the villain even when she knew she was out of her depth. She wasn't afraid to ask for help or admit her short comings, but she equally wasn't afraid to tell them to shut the heck up and fall in line either. Jo Gook was also so darn loveable, even when he was being a jerk, that you can't help but end up head over heels for him. He's sexy, adorable, and hilarious all at once. And when he cries...I seriously think my heart almost stopped during some of those scenes. There's just something so horribly heart wrenching about watching a man that looks so strong and confident shed tears or look so sad. There's so much good about this drama, I could go on forever, but I'm horrible when it comes to spoilers, so I'll move on.

The cast was just AWESOME! I am truly a fan of Kim Sun Ah, and have recently been watching a lot of her dramas. She's such a fantastic actress that no matter what role she plays I believe it whole heartedly and always fall in love with her characters. I was rooting for her from the get go, and I only ended up rooting more as the story progressed. And Cha Seung Won is just awesome. I first found him in The Greatest Love, and I was so surprised by just how much I ended up loving him as an actor, and my awe of him only grew in City Hall. He really played his character well, and the growth and changes he goes through are a true pleasure to watch. Just try and watch this drama and not end up wanting your own Jo Gook! He's the pure form of MAN and he projects that in just the way he walks. The supporting cast was also a blast to watch, and even if their motivations or personal stories weren't expanded on as much as they could have been, it didn't detract from the story. Even the silly side characters that granted comedic relief were well acted and believable.

The music could have been better to be honest, but I don't really think it took too much from the drama. The only thing I thought was during some of the sadder scenes, it would have been nice to have a song that matched the emotional pain that was less...upbeat sounding?

Overall, I'm really glad I watched this drama, and I'll definitely re-watching it (again XD). The chemistry and love between the leading pair was so heartwarming and the politics only added to the drama. If you're unsure if you'll like this style of drama, just give it a shot, stick in for a few episodes, and I promise you'll fall in love. If you don't, send me a strongly worded e-mail. :P

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Personally, I'd have to say this is by far the best Korean drama I've seen. Primarily, I was hesitant to watch it; seeing how this drama isn't 'popular'. Compared to the dramas I watched before this specific one, I wasn't certain if I would be prepared to watch another with a more serious storyline, and a political setting. I thought it would bore me. But watching it, I was never bored. In watching this, I had no regrets.



So why do I find this drama so great? The story, the acting, the music, everything.

Storyline is really interesting. The acting -- let's just say I cried oceans while watching. When the characters were sad, I was sad. When they were aggravated, I was aggravated. They made the viewers feel their pain. And the leads. THE LEADS. I enjoyed seeing their relationship develop from the beginning to the end. Their chemistry together was ELECTRIFYING. The yearning, and the expressions; I couldn't handle it. It was just captivating. To add on to the dramatizing, the selection of music for scenes jerked more tears. Although I had no idea what the words were in the songs, they just set the right mood.



Don't miss out on this drama.

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I think this is the first k-drama I have watched that isn't based in Seoul. Even though it's quite political, this drama is really funny and really romantic! Shin Mi Rae is extremely gross in the beginning. I don't think she even combed her hair until she became the mayor x) And top of that, she's such a narcissist! And even though it had a really boring start (I barely made it through the first episode; took me like a week; watched Japanese dramas and BOF in between), it picked up really well halfway through and the ending was just awesome! I love their chemistry. The lead pair, I mean. Council woman and manager Lee are cute too. The Plastered-smile fiancee is scary and emotionless.The Assistant is HOT (Procecutor Daddy Long Legs from City Hunter)! The directors are lame. Her friends are awesome! (: Ji Gook's mom is surprisingly nice. His dad is a jerk. His adopted son is sooo cute. Ji Gook is adorably jealous. Haha. And the time he compared his text to manager Lee's. So cute! x) But seriously, why are all of Kim Sun ah's dramas named after Al Pacino's movies? First 'Scent Of A Woman' and now 'City Hall' :P

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From start to finish I loved this Drama. It's funny because I put off watching it thinking the political storyline would bore me. When will I learn that Kim Sun Ah can never bore me? What I liked about this drama was foremost the chemistry between the two leads but the way the storyline developed was so evenly paced. The characters and the romance built along with the storyline in this really believable way. I found it interesting how much I came to love Jo Guk even though he was flawed and not at all a perfect cookie cutter leading man. Whoever wrote and directed this drama they deserve some applause. Very well done! Jo Guk and Mi Rae rock.

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City Hall - One place where life-changing events happen to the people around it.

Story: The story highlights the political status of a certain underdeveloped city mainly because of poor governance and how a civil servant who only knows to make different types of coffee made a transformation for herself, for her citizens and for her love. From a humble coffee-maker to a beauty queen and then a town mayor, these unconventional path towards politics made the story hilarious along the way. I loved the realistic struggle of the main character. She's not someone who rose to heights because of the connections from high-ranking officials that because of it, she faced many difficulties. From someone who only follows orders, she became someone who handled the responsibility to serve her people with dedication and honesty. The interconnecting lives of the public servants on City Hall were also amusing and fun to watch. Its subplots didn't seem to be fillers for the story for they're interesting to see as well. The main couple's love was caught in the middle political ambition and arranged marriage.The romance was a mature one, but there were a lot of cute and sweet moments too. The ending was my favorite episode, it's definitely a happy, sweet and endearing one. But what's more loveable was that there were multiple happy endings here! So, don't miss this one! :D

Acting/ Cast: Kim Sun Ah is really a versatile actress, that's why I love her. She can be funny, serious , and can make me cry as well. Cha Seung Won really fits his character here, he can be funny and arrogant but can also be sweet and loving too. I love their chemistry! They really seemed experts on falling in love onscreen! The supporting casts did a great job too, they played their characters well.

Music: The songs were nice, it combined with the story well. There was a song here that was really fun to hear, it left me a joyful feeling upon hearing it at that time I was watching this.

Rewatch Value: The rewatch value was high because I find it entertaining to watch, I love the couple and this had become one of my favorites.

Overall: Give this a shot if you're looking for something different-- a political drama with comedy and a romance. However, it didn't concentrate on politics only, for me, it's seeing and developing yourself in a different light, you never expect it, but it turned out to be the best in you. :)

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I'm a huge Kim Sun Ah and Cha Seung Wong Fan and I have to say that I loved every minutes of this show. And man All of Cha Seung Wong Dramas have great ending ... I really applaud their dedication in touching subjects that people usually shy away from, because it's a know true that very few people want to mention the themes of unemployment, poverty, agricultural sovereignty, political and corporate corruption, pollution( although not really something hammered on.) and collusion this drama presents.Besides partisan politics and what constitutes democracy. Although the drama start a little slow it's doesn't slide awa y of the marks once it find it's marks. It's definitively a wonderful feel-good romance with adults, adult feelings and drama that was believable and compelling.I personally was one of those person who didn't want to watch it because I didn't feel like getting into a political show, and deal with all political jargon and all other headaches that usually comes with politics but after starting it I realize that though there were obviously political issues throughout the show, it was first and foremost a love story that put a huge mile high smile plastered on my face and make you say wow. Since watching it last year ( well we are in 2012 and all) I have rewatched it times. It is the top ten of my recommended drama.

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This is one of my favorite dramas of all time. I am pretty terrible at rewatching things but this is one I liked so much that I would not mind.
In short, please watch this. You will not regret it. The storyline is interesting, the characters are amazing, the ost is great, the chemistry is off the charts, it will make you laugh, cry, worry and cheer and fall in love not only with the main characters, but everyone around them. Highly recommend.

If you just read the blurb you might just go: Blah! small town and politics, how boring!. But that is not the case. This drama has it all.It's funny, mysterious, heart tugging, etc. The acting is outstanding. SunAh is one of my favorite Korean Actresses. She is uninhibited when she is goofy and amazing when she goes all emo. I cry and laugh according to how she is playing her role. And *sigh* Cha Seung Wok, how do I love thee?. I really don't know what it is about this man, but I really, really like him. This character fit him like a glove.

Anyhow, I, like many people who have watched this drama, wondered which direction it was taking for the first 6 episodes. It's not that they were not enjoyable or confusing, but they were not really congruous and cohesive. Mostly they were funny and still worth watching but after that, the story just takes off in a level beyond anyone watching those first episodes could have imagined. And it is from that episode on, that makes this drama go from ha! good to wow! incredible.

This drama is basically about two people that unknowingly really do become stronger and better from knowing each other. This, I feel is really an adult drama. Not only does it have THE BEST KISSING SCENE EVER! (I challenge you to find me a better one in a K-drama) but in the way this couple interact with each other, the other characters and the situations presented are very real in my opinion. The growth the characters show from beginning to end is one of my favorite things. When their personalities and essence does not necessarily change in a 360 way, but instead they find in each what the other one lacks. The weakness of one becomes the other's strength and they both learn from each other and in this way become better.

Yes, it is based on politics (it is called city hall for a reason.) but I just found that it was just like other dramas based in hospitals or what have you. The politics are there, but they are there to compliment the story and present the challenges, but it is how they move within this environment that is really interesting. It worked for me.

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WOW!
I didn't want to do the drama marathon again but I did it. The reason is of course this drama. It pulls you in with most ordinary things that you had found boring in other shows.
I wanted to give it 10/10 but I'm trying to restrain myself and be objective so that I don't seam easily impressed or a crazy fan (which perhaps I've already become).
Cast was amazing. All of them! Their acting even better.
Kim Sun Ah is my favorite Korean actress. Characters that she plays are always so vivid and interesting. Role of Shin Mi Rae is not an exception. She transforms from loud and weird (in a fun way) low-ranking government official to assertive and respected figure.
I haven't watched Cha Seung Won before but after this I plan to. He plays Jo Gook a flawed main character but yet very interesting. I felt sorry for him every time he went to see BB. Cha Seung Won played his part so well that 3/4 of the drama I wondered whether he'll betray her out of his own will even though you can clearly see that he is in love with her. And you keep wondering, can she change him?
Other supporting characters were also great. Their stories were fun and interesting. I cheered for Lee Jeong Do and Min Joo Hwa (even though she is a bad girl). Girlfriend from hell Go Go Hae played by Yoon Se Ah (btw. she is very beautiful) also scored few good points at the end.
And one of my favorites from supporting cast is... (drum roll)... Lee Joon Hyuk who plays Ha Soo In. Now I'm going to cry if something happens to him in City Hunter. I've became a fan girl. He is so cute! Like a lost puppy. Kyaaaaa! No, that's not me that's some other crazy fan girl screaming.

But let's get back to the subject of this review.
Story didn't have any unexplainable misunderstanding. You probably seen it before in other drama. Suddenly main characters drift apart without solid enough reason and make a big deal about it. Thankfully there is no such thing here. Almost all plots are logical. And there are not many plot-holes in the story.
The only thing that that I may reprimand writers is that they didn't show enough about Jo Gook everyday moments with his family and when I say that I mean with his mother and child and also their interactions with Shin Mi Rae. Thankfully Jo Gook mother isn't Korean mother-in-low from hell hellbent on making his son's life miserable even though she may seam at first like that.

I wonder if mentioning that Shin Mi Rae ex-boyfriend looks like Hyun Bin is a reference to Kim Sam Soon?

Music was great! I loved it! I've seen translated lyrics and they match the drama perfectly.
Will I rewatch it? Maybe.



Are you still reading my review? Go ahead and watch it! You really should! Even if you don't like political dramas. This one is great!I tried not to make a drama marathon with this one but I failed because I couldn't wait to see what happens next.

You are still here? Why? I told you to go watch it. Okay, I'm ending this review now.
The End. Fin. Das Ende...

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